Alvin C. Kwok,
MD, MPH
Languages Spoken: English, Mandarin
Dr. Alvin Kwok, MD, MPH is a fellowship trained Plastic Surgeon at the University of Utah and specializes in breast reconstruction. His clinical interests are in implant as well as tissue based breast reconstruction including microsurgical free tissue transfer (DIEP). He also has research interests in clinical outcomes and patient safety.
Dr. Kwok grew up in the Northeast and earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his medical degree from the University fo Utah School of Medicine, and his Masters in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. He completed a General Surgery Residency at the Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston and a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency at the University of Utah. His fellowship training is in Breast Reconstruction and Microsurgery which he completed at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital.
Dr. Kwok is an Eagle Scout and enjoys hiking and skiing. Most of all he loves spending his free time with his wife and three children.
He sees patients at the Huntsman Cancer Center, the Primary Children’s Hospital, the University of Utah’s Main Hospital and the Farmington Health Center.
Clinical Locations
Farmington Health Center
801-581-7719
Huntsman Cancer Hospital
801-581-7719
University Hospital
801-581-7719
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Surgery
-
Assistant Professor |
| Academic Divisions | Plastic Surgery |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
4.9/ 5
Care provider spoke using clear language
5.0/ 5
Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.9/ 5
My confidence in care provider
4.9/ 5
Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.9/ 5
Wait time at clinic
4.3/ 5
Time care provider spent with me
4.9/ 5
Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.9/ 5
Care provider's friendliness and courtesy
5.0/ 5
Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
October 08, 2018
Dr.Kwok is always kind and is my daughter's favorite doctor. He explains everything thoroughly and takes the time to answer our questions.
UofU Patient
September 29, 2018
I love Dr. Kwok! He spent a lot of time with my husband and I and answered all of our questions. When I had follow up questions, he also called me and answered everything and eased my worries.
UofU Patient
September 25, 2018
One good question that was asked and emphasized with breast reconstruction was "what outcome are you expecting?". This gives the patient an opportunity to set realistic goals and increases satisfaction with the process
UofU Patient
September 12, 2018
wonderful experience with the provider, I was very impressed
UofU Patient
September 11, 2018
very good
UofU Patient
September 10, 2018
Dr Kwok and Joanna are the best team! I would and have recommended him more than once.
UofU Patient
July 10, 2018
Dr. Kwok, and Joanna are amazing. The whole team that I see make an experience that could be scary, hard, and tedious easier. They are excellent at making a patient feel confident and very cared for!
UofU Patient
June 26, 2018
..very informative and capable..
UofU Patient
June 07, 2018
best experience I've ever had with a clinic. will recommend it to everyone
UofU Patient
May 19, 2018
I loved Dr. Kwok's bedside manner and his over all concern about my problem. I will see him again in December, 2018
UofU Patient
May 18, 2018
Dr. Kwok was very good. He was kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. If I need help in the future I have confidence in his ability.
UofU Patient
May 11, 2018
being able to meet with both the surgeon and plastic surgeon in one visit was perfect since we had to travel 4 1/2 hours.
UofU Patient
April 27, 2018
Outstanding!
UofU Patient
April 10, 2018
Dr. Kwok has been fantastic through my entire experience. He has taken plenty of time to explain things, answer my questions and I feel that he is very concerned with performing his job to the highest standard.
UofU Patient
March 02, 2018
Dr. Kwok was great. I have nothing negative to say about him, but I don't know if I will return for follow up care due to the time I had to wait after my appointment time to see him.
UofU Patient
February 08, 2018
I have full confidence in Dr Kwok and his team.
UofU Patient
February 05, 2018
Dr Kwok and his staff
UofU Patient
January 30, 2018
First time meeting Dr. Kwok. Feel I am in good hands. Impressed that he was involved in all aspects of my care and coordination of the schedule between providers.
UofU Patient
January 23, 2018
procedure and follow up went exactly as described and I am very happy with my results
UofU Patient
January 12, 2018
Dr. Kwok and his assistant Joanna are fantastic in all respects.
UofU Patient
December 22, 2017
I would recommend this clinic to everyone
UofU Patient
December 08, 2017
very professional staff and kind
UofU Patient
December 03, 2017
Dr. Kwok is wonderful!
UofU Patient
November 10, 2017
Dr. Kwok is an excellent doctor; he always answers my questions fully and I know he cares about me and my treatment. He has made the whole process much easier than I expected going into it.
UofU Patient
November 06, 2017
Very concerned about my care and the outcome I wished to achieve from the surgery. Very professional the way I was treated. Apologized for looking so long but I understood as he had to decide what the best options were for my treatment. I was very impressed the concern and friendliness of everyone.
Dr. Kwok is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Utah. While in his clinical training he was awarded the Arthur Tracy Cabot Fellowship in Surgical Health Services Research and spent two years at the Harvard School of Public Health working with Dr. Atul Gawande. During his fellowship he earned a Masters degree in Public Health and had the opportunity to work on projects with the World Health Organization.
His research efforts are focused on using large databases to improve clinical outcomes as well to understand resource utilization in health systems. He has been awarded the John A. Mannick Research Award as well as the Joseph E. Murray and Simon J. Simonian Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement from the Harvard Medical School.
In addition to his interests in research, he is also passionate about clinical teaching and was awarded the University of Utah Division of Plastic Surgery Resident Teaching Award.
Academic Locations
Huntsman Cancer Hospital
801-581-7719
School of Medicine
801-581-8419
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Surgery
-
Assistant Professor |
| Academic Divisions | Plastic Surgery |
Research Interests
- Clinical Outcomes
- Health Services Research
- Quality Improvement
- Databases
Education History
| Fellowship | University of Utah Breast Reconstruction/Microsurgery Fellow |
| Chief Resident | University of Utah School of Medicine Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Chief Resident |
| Residency | University of Utah School of Medicine Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Resident |
| Chief Resident | Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School General Surgery Chief Resident |
| Fellowship | Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School General Surgery Clinical Fellow |
| Residency | Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School General Surgery Resident |
| Research Fellow | Harvard School of Public Health Health Policy and Management Research Fellow |
| Graduate Training | Harvard School of Public Health Clinical Effectiveness M.P.H. |
| Internship | Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School General Surgery Intern |
| Professional Medical | University of Utah School of Medicine Medicine M.D. |
| Undergraduate | Yale University Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry B.S. |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Kwok AC, Tatro E, Jones KB, Agarwal JP (2017). Pedicled retrograde fibular flap for ankle reconstruction after oncologic resection of the distal fibula. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open, 5(2):e1232.
- Kwok AC, Agarwal JP (2017). Unplanned reoperations after microvascular free tissue transfer: An analysis of 2,244 patients using the american college of surgeons national surgical quality improvement program database. Microsurgery, 37(3), 184-189.
- Anstadt E, Johns D, Kwok AC, Siddiqi F, Gociman B (2016). Neonatal ear molding: Timing and technique. Pediatrics, 137(3):(e20152831).
- Kwok AC, Pannucci CJ, Agarwal JP (1/1/2016). The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) flap failure data is inaccurate after 2010. Plast Reconstr Surg, 138(3):(570e-1e.).
- Kwok AC, Agarwal JP (2016). An analysis of free flap failure using the ACS NSQIP database – does flap site and flap type matter? Microsurgery, Epub.
- Kwok AC, Hu YY, Dodgion CM, Jiang W, Ting GV, Taback N, Lipsitz SR, Weeks JC, Greenberg CC (2015). Invasive procedures in the elderly after stage IV cancer diagnosis. J Surg Res, 193(2), 754-63.
- Schwarze ML, Barnato AE, Rathouz PJ, Zhao Q, Neuman HB, Winslow ER, Kennedy GD, Hu YY, Dodgion CM, Kwok AC, Greenberg CC (2015). Development of a list of high-risk operations for patients 65 years and older. JAMA Surg, 150(4), 325-31.
- Kwok AC, Goodwin IA, Ying J, Agarwal JP (2015). National trends and complication rates after bilateral mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction from 2005 to 2012. Am J Surg, 210(3), 512-6.
- Kim RY, Kwakye G, Kwok AC, Baltaga R, Ciobanu G, Merry AF, Funk LM, Lipsitz SR, Gawande AA, Berry WR, Haynes AB (2015). Sustainability and long-term effectiveness of the WHO surgical safety checklist combined with pulse oximetry in a resource-limited setting: two-year update from Moldova. JAMA Surg, 150(5), 473-9.
- Decker MR, Dodgion CM, Kwok AC, Hu YY, Havlena JA, Jiang W, Lipsitz SR, Kent KC, Greenberg CC (2014). Specialization and the current practices of general surgeons. J Am Coll Surg, 218(1), 8-15.
- Perry WR, Kwok AC, Kozycki C, Celi LA (2013). Disparities in end-of-life care: a perspective and review of quality. Popul Health Manag, 16(2), 71-3.
- Kwok AC, Funk LM, Baltaga R, Lipsitz SR, Merry AF, Dziekan G, Ciobanu G, Berry WR, Gawande AA (2013). Implementation of the World Health Organization surgical safety checklist, including introduction of pulse oximetry, in a resource-limited setting. Ann Surg, 257(4), 633-9.
- Hu YY, Kwok AC, Jiang W, Taback N, Loggers ET, Ting GV, Lipsitz SR, Weeks JC, Greenberg CC (2012). High-cost imaging in elderly patients with stage IV cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst, 104(15), 1164-72.
- Kwok AC, Semel ME, Lipsitz SR, Bader AM, Barnato AE, Gawande AA, Jha AK (2011). The intensity and variation of surgical care at the end of life: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet, 378(9800), 1408-13.
- Kwok AC, Lipsitz SR, Bader AM, Gawande AA (2011). Are targeted preoperative risk prediction tools more powerful? A test of models for emergency colon surgery in the very elderly. J Am Coll Surg, 213(2), 220-5.
- Kwok A, Malek S (2008). Infections in renal transplant recipients: Management challenging, and prevention key. Nephrology Times, 1(11), 2-3.
- Rockwell WB, Hurst CA, Morton DA, Kwok A, Foreman KB (2007). The deep inferior epigastric artery: anatomy and applicability as a source of microvascular arterial grafts. Plast Reconstr Surg, 120(1), 209-14.
- Banerjee D, Kwok A, Lin SY, Slack FJ (2005). Developmental timing in C. elegans is regulated by kin-20 and tim-1, homologs of core circadian clock genes. Dev Cell, 8(2), 287-95.
Case Report
Poster
- Kwok A, Pernar L, Kelly M, Gu X, Goldberg J, Breen E, Bleday R (2009). Length of Stay (LOS) and other outcomes after open (OC) vs. laparoscopic colectomy (LAC): Are they now the same? Poster session presented at American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Annual Meeting, Hollywood, FL.