Describe symbolism in What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver

In the story, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, the main character, Mel, is a cardiologist. Symbolic of his profession, he attempts to dissect the topic of love with the precision with which he normally operates. Analysis and science have no bearing on the emotions of the human heart which frustrates the cardiologist. The author plants Mel as the perfect irony of daily tending to the physical ailments of the heart but unable to grasp the concept of fixing one broken by unrequited or imperfect love.