How often does someone become aware of their heartbeat? Maybe they feel it thumping in their chest during a run or listen to it stutter during a scary movie. For Dr. Alejandro “Alex” de Feria Alsina (BS Biology '10), listening to heartbeats is the cornerstone of his profession.

De Feria is a cardiologist at the center for inherited heart disease at the University of Pennsylvania. As an assistant professor of clinical medicine, he works closely with patients and their families to navigate the complex challenges of genetic heart disorders. While the science is cutting edge, his approach is deeply human.

From Small Town to Big Medicine

Genetic heart disease is still a relatively young field. The completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 opened new doors for medicine, including treatments for heart disease. Much of what de Feria teaches today wasn’t covered in medical textbooks when he was a student.

For de Feria, genetic heart disease is personal. At the age of 15, his brother was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common genetic heart disease. There were no local cardiologists so accessing specialized cardiac care from small-town Georgia presented a major challenge for his family.

“We used to drive an hour and a half to see a heart doctor in Atlanta,” says de Feria, who graduated with a biology degree from UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “It was especially frustrating when I was a kid. I think it makes a difference as a provider when you can personally understand how intimidating long-awaited medical visits can be.”

Read more about Dr. de Feria and his experience here.