Accepting new patients

Thomas Kern, Ph.D.

Accepting new patients

  • APOM Director of Pain Psychology
  • Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, School of Medicine

Specialty

  • Psychology

Clinical focus

  • Health Psychology

Locations and contact

I see patients at
Tall building with the ariel tram to its left
Center for Health & Healing, Building 1
503-494-8311
Read clinic details

About me

Dr. Kern specializes in helping patients manage chronic pain and other chronic conditions.  His emphasis is on improving quality of life and increasing functioning within the reality of having a chronic condition.  Pain affects much more than the part of the body that hurts and Dr. Kern helps patients manage all of the life disruption that accompanies a difficult medical problem.

 He spends his spare time with his family and he enjoys hobbies including making pottery and sculpture, working on an old sports car, and going fly fishing.

Languages spoken

  • English

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • Ph.D., 1992, University of Missouri
Read faculty profile

Insurance

Before scheduling an appointment

  1. Check your network. If you have health insurance,  call your company to find out if the OHSU Health location or provider you plan to visit is part of your network.
  2. Ask what you will pay. Your insurance company can tell you what your costs are likely to be.

If you schedule an appointment and your health insurance does not include OHSU Health, you may have to pay more than if you go to a provider in your insurance network. 

Visit our billing and insurance page for more information.

Ratings and reviews

Overall: 5 out of 5 (30 Ratings, 12 Reviews)

The patient ratings score is an average of all responses to the question "How likely would you be to recommend this provider to your family and friends (on a scale of 0 to 10)" on our nationally-recognized NRC patient surveys.

  1. I have been seeing Dr. Kern for 12 years and I feel so lucky when I get an appointment with him. He very special and so effective at his job. He understands your needs and he remembers things from your last visits and your history. He's just incredibly wise and I'm not being effusive. And he surprises me sometimes .. Because he gives a creative response that you're not expecting and it's just the perfect guidance.

  2. I have been Dr Kern's patient for approximately 11:12 years he is always there for me extremely professional and kind. The continuity of his care has helped get me through some rough times not to mention the laughter as well, it's like having a friend to talk to, with his guidance and support I've become more positive about the overall outcome of things in my life that I have no control of.

  3. Mr Kern was attentive, interested, and knowledgeable. I could not be happier with the experience. I learned a lot and feel comfortable going forward.

  4. He listens really well, and gives constructive advice, that is tailored to my multiple medical conditions

  5. I feel heard by this provider. He helps me by affirming my plan and helps with solutions for the pain, fatigue, pacing and planning ahead for feeling poorly. Also for pre planning events known to exacerbate symptoms.

  6. He's personable, professional, and kind.

  7. As always I had access to wonderfulHelpful support by a competent compassionate knoledgeable provider

  8. I feel this clinician understands how so many matters with mind and body are interconnected. I appreciate how he works backwards to help identify where and how new issues emerged to then address with him and when to pull in my PCP. He doesn't brush off new matters that concern me

  9. Being able to talk about my feelings with someone who is knowledgeable and understanding regarding my pain,depression and anxiety has been very therapeutic for me. Dr. Kern always listens intently, so he knows ways to encourage and uplift me when I am feeling down and hopeless. He tells me ways to do things differently so that I can still feel somewhat normal. When my pain and inability to do the things I once enjoyed in my life get me down, I look forward to him reminding me to chin up and make use of what I am able to do. Sometimes I just need those reminders to stay afloat.

  10. This clinician shows me that he's actively listening and engaged in the conversation. I appreciate all of the tips and suggestions for my daily personal and work life

  11. I value my time with Dr. Kern very much!

  12. He's always supportive and has solutions that help make personal growth and overcoming obstacles easier and quicker. He's the best I have ever seen. I am 75 years old, so I've seen several pain specialists.