Brian R. Kann, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Dr. Brian R. Kann is the chief, Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and a member of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. He also serves as the program director of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency Program at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Brian was born in Mount Holly, NJ, and attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. After graduation, he received his medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, and did an internship in general surgery at Cooper Hospital/University Medicine Center, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (UMDNJ-RWJMS), Camden, NJ. This was followed by a residency in general surgery at Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, UMDNJ/RWJMS, Camden, which included a year of research. After this, Brian completed a residency in colon and rectal surgery at the Alton Ochsner Clinic Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, LA.

Brian started his career in the Divisions of General and Colorectal Surgery at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, and progressed to become the program director of the General Surgery Residency Program. In June 2010, he moved to Philadelphia where he assumed his current positions. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Brian remains an active clinician and manages many patients with Crohn disease. He is an assistant professor of clinical surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and teaches residents on a daily basis. He is an active participant in multiple surgical societies including the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Brian's contributions to the medical literature include 19 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 2 book chapters. He has made multiple presentations at national meetings.

Brian, his wife Nicole, and children Elyse and Ethan live in Swedeshoro, NJ. When not working, Brian enjoys coaching his children's sports team, working out, traveling, and resting for the philadelphia Phillies.

Crohn disease remains a challenge for colon and rectal surgeons and our patients. Brian and his colleagues have produced a superb and enjoyable issue on several important aspects of Crohn disease. On behalf of the readers and staff of Clinics of Colon and Rectal Surgery, I sincerely thank Dr. Brian R. Kann for serving as the guest editor.