Dr. Joerns is a native Texan who received his initial medical training at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston Texas.  Initially drawn to the broadness of internal medical training he completed his residency at The Barnes Jewish Hospital / Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. There he developed an interest in critical care medicine, acutely caring for the sickest patients, and enjoyed early exposure to advanced therapies for heart and lung diseases, including transplantation. Fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine followed at Yale school of medicine. 

At Yale he further refined his clinical skills and experience and spent time in the lab of Jon Koff M.D. working on potential therapies for respiratory viral infections. His current areas of focus revolve around the care of lung transplant patients, investigations into donor–directed antibodies post-transplant and therapies for severe ARDS.

Areas of interest:

• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) therapies including ECMO and certain advanced ventilator techniques
• Bedside ultrasound to aid in diagnosis and procedural guidance
• Better identifying and treating disease causing antibodies after transplantation
• Quality improvement in thoracic organ transplantation
• Teaching trainees how to approach Lung Transplant patients