When Chris Wolf makes rounds with transplant patients, he's bringing more than just medical expertise.
Dr. Michael Acker says, " The uniqueness of Chris is the life experience and insight that he brings to the disease patients he's taking care of."
You see, in 1996, when Chris was just 14-years-old, HE was a patient here at the University of Pennsylvania.
He says at first his problem didn't seem like much.
"I just thought it was a regular cold," remembers Chris.
But doctors discovered Chris's heart was failing.
Before long, he was put on the transplant list, and when his body couldn't wait any longer.
He was put on an early generation ventricular assist device, to keep his own heart going.
Within a few months Chris got a donated heart.. It saved his life, and determined his future plans.
He decided then to become a physician assistant.
During a training stint at Penn, Chris re-introduced himself to Dr. Acker - the surgeon who implanted his heart pump - and new heart years ago.
Soon after Dr. Acker asked Chris to join his team.
Chris says he didn't hesitate at the invitation.
"It was a no brainer to work with the best surgical team in the world at an institution I have so much trust in myself so it was an opportunity of a lifetime for me," Chris says.
Now, he cares for transplant patients, drawing on his own experience.
One of his patients says, "He's prepared me for what to expect tomorrow, next week, and stuff, because he already knows."
Chris says it's a two-way street.
"They're learning from me, I'm learning from them," he notes.
