The Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic is a highly integrated, collaborative department of physicians. Virtually all subspecialties of medicine are represented among our department's faculty members, many of whom are international leaders in their respective fields.

The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is regularly recognized as one of the premier divisions of its kind in the United States and is responsible for many innovations and advancements in the care of patients with respiratory diseases.

The Interventional Pulmonology faculty at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, includes seven board-certified interventional pulmonologists, including one dually appointed thoracic surgeon.

Mayo Clinic has a long history of interventional pulmonary practice dating back to the 1950's, and current faculty members include past presidents and board members of the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, committee chairs and executive committee members of the World Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, and committee chairs and committee members of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Our group benefits from a strong collegial relationship with Mayo Clinic's Divisions of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Radiology. You can expect to collaborate very closely with members of these groups during your training.

Program director

Dr. Kern's medical career began at Rush University Medical School, followed by residency in internal medicine and fellowship in pulmonary and critical care at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Between his residency and fellowship, Dr. Kern worked as a hospitalist for a year in Alaska, where he balanced his medical responsibilities with the unique opportunity to catch salmon and trout from his backyard and explore the incredible natural surroundings.

In 2014, Dr. Kern joined Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for an interventional pulmonary fellowship and subsequently became a faculty member in 2015. He has held the position of fellowship program director since 2020 and Section Head of interventional pulmonology since 2024. Professionally, Dr. Kern is engaged in all facets of interventional pulmonology, with a particular focus on complex airway management and device innovation. He values the opportunity to guide interventional pulmonology fellows in their development toward becoming specialists in the field.

Outside of his professional obligations, Dr. Kern values spending time with his family, exploring new destinations, and pursuing his passion for fishing.

Ryan Kern, M.D.
Interventional and Advanced Diagnostic Pulmonology Fellowship Program Director

Faculty members

• Dagny Anderson, M.D.
• Eric Edell, M.D.
• Ryan Kern, M.D.
• David Midthun, M.D.
• John Mullon, M.D.
• Darlene Nelson, M.D.
• Gabriel Ortiz, M.D.
• Janani Reisenauer, M.D.
• James Utz, M.D.

Advisers and mentors

Faculty advisers are available to provide comprehensive educational guidance and personal support. You meet with your adviser periodically throughout the fellowship program to review your progress and career goals, as well as to ensure that your educational needs are being met.

Visiting professors

Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year. They present their work during lectures, participate in hospital rounds and have informal discussions with trainees. You are encouraged to take full advantage of these educational opportunities.

Facilities

The Interventional Pulmonology facilities at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota are state of the art and include two complex procedure suites and two minor procedure rooms. Our operating room at Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, Saint Marys Campus, is reserved for diagnostic/therapeutic bronchoscopy and pleural procedures during the week and is available for emergent cases on weekends. An additional bronchoscopy suite is being developed on Alfred 6 on the Saint Marys Campus.