John M Kern, DO

As a child, John Kern, DO, suffered from severe asthma. He got used to seeing the doctor, and those experiences have informed his own approach to medicine.

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Specifically, he knows the importance of having clear communication with his patients and their loved ones.

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“If you don’t have good communication with your doctors you feel helpless and don’t know what’s going on, so having a rapport and communication with family is very important,” says Kern, a critical care physician at AtlantiCare. “If you take the time to really explain to people why a medicine or treatment works they’re much more likely to follow your advice.”

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Kern received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Drexel University and both a Certificate in Bio-Medical Sciences and his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency, including a stint as chief resident, at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and followed that with a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care at the University of Southern California.

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Working in critical care at AtlantiCare’s Mainland Campus, Kern cares for the sickest patients and is involved with starting a General Pulmonary and Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic. He has always been attracted to the critical care environment and appreciates how his work to diagnose and treat patients can positively impact their lives.

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“Blending the detective work of what’s causing their condition and the relief you can give your patients is gratifying,” he says. “Seeing the difference I can make is incredibly rewarding, and that’s what continues to motivate me.”

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