Jonathan D'Cunha. I work for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery is a sub-specialty practice which deals with the organs of the chest. This includes the heart, lungs, esophagus, the airway, and even extends into the abdomen.

One of the exciting things about our specialty and practice is the ability to be innovative and in the approach to diseases of the chest, and this includes minimally invasive approaches and robotic approaches. This is a huge advantage in the way the patients recover, shorter length of stay, and less pain after surgery.

As part of our innovative approach to pain control after surgery, there are several things that we use. One of the most exciting things to come is the use of cryoablation for pain control after surgery. What it is is a probe which then freezes the nerves in the chest to basically numb the nerve endings temporarily, thereby allowing minimal pain after surgery.

We have a phenomenal care team here at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Cardiothoracic Surgery. One of the exciting things not only is the growth, but the expertise that we have within our department to handle any complex cardiothoracic problem.

One of the exciting advantages of being in the Mayo Clinic system is also our collaborative approach that we use with other colleagues in Rochester and Jacksonville to make sure we're providing the best care possible for all of our patients who walk in through our doors. The healthcare experience here at Mayo Clinic is unparalleled, especially as it relates to our department. And when a patient comes to be evaluated, they're thoroughly evaluated, with specialists collaborating in a seamless way to give the best possible care to that patient and their family.