Alvin C. Kwok,
MD, MPH
Languages Spoken: English, Mandarin Chinese
Dr. Alvin Kwok, MD, MPH is a board-certified 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, TUG, SGAP). He also has research interests in clinical outcomes and patient safety. He sees patients at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital, the Farmington Health Center, and the Sugarhouse Health Center.
Dr. Kwok grew up in the Northeast and earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his medical degree from the University of 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.
Clinical Locations
801-581-7719
801-581-7719
801-581-2000
801-581-7719
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Surgery
-
Assistant Professor |
| Academic Divisions | Plastic Surgery |
| Board Certification | American Board of 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
4.8/ 5
Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.8/ 5
Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.8/ 5
Wait time at clinic
4.3/ 5
Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.9/ 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
May 10, 2021
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
Dr Kwok is very helpful & caring. explains things very well
UofU Patient
April 23, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
The care provider was patient and answered any questions. He asked several times if we had had additional questions.
UofU Patient
April 22, 2021
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
I feel that Dr. Kwok is an exceptional plastic surgeon. I am very happy with my reconstruction results. In addition, he is a kind and caring provider. I am grateful to have had his care in this process.
UofU Patient
April 08, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
just a general look/see nothing more
UofU Patient
March 20, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I have recommended Dr. Kwok to many women.
UofU Patient
March 12, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
The people I am referring to are Dr. Kwok and his intern in the above evaluation.
UofU Patient
March 02, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
The entire team gave excellent care. Dr. Kwok is an excellent surgeon and very nice to work with.
UofU Patient
February 09, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr Kwok has a wonderful bedside manner
UofU Patient
February 07, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Kwok is amazing
UofU Patient
January 28, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr kwok is very professional he took time to answer my questions thoroughly and go through detailed information. he was personable and helpful and very attentive to my questions. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to work with Dr kwok and his staff.
UofU Patient
December 31, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kwok is great, he is very timely and a good listener
UofU Patient
December 20, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I had my implants replaced in both breasts. Dr. Kwok is a great Doctor and very thoughtful. I would have liked a little bigger implants but I am still very satisfied.
UofU Patient
December 11, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kwok was very understanding and said I can contact them whenever I am ready to move forward, and to take all the time I need.
UofU Patient
December 11, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
no treatment discussed.
UofU Patient
November 19, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Huntsman care providers are simply the best health care providers I have ever encountered.
UofU Patient
November 15, 2020
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
I was so impressed by Dr. Kwok and his team. They were very patient with my and my husbands questions. They say with us as long as we needed and they showed a lot of care and compassion for what is a difficult set of circumstances.
UofU Patient
November 15, 2020
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
Dr Kwok is always very thorough in answering my questions, explaining procedures and outcomes, and warning me if possible risks. He is such an excellent surgeon,
UofU Patient
October 03, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Kwok is always helpful, thoughtful and thorough.
UofU Patient
August 17, 2020
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
Fantastic doctor/surgeon! Very good communication and great bedside manner! Genuinely nice person.
UofU Patient
July 20, 2020
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
my care by dr kwok and his entire team over the last 2 years has been outstanding. i would recommend him to anyone needing any type of plastic surgery, but his knowledge, skills, and compassion for breast cancer patients and their personal journeys helped me with my ups and downs.
UofU Patient
July 17, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kwok was helpful in explaining that he was not the appropriate person for my care. He was concerned and made sure I was referred on to the right department.
UofU Patient
June 22, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kwok was professional, excellent at explaining my treatment options, caring listener to my questions and concerns, and made me feel as though he genuinely cared about what was best for me. I have decided to trust Dr. Kwok to perform my 'Goldilocks' double mastectomy reconstruction without implants after Dr. Kirstyn Brownson performs my double mastectomy.
UofU Patient
June 17, 2020
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
Dr Kwok is professional, knowledgeable, and very caring. he listened carefully to my questions and gave thorough, easy to understand answers. I'm very impressed by him and have total confidence in his medical skills.
UofU Patient
June 12, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Kwok is amazing. He listens and spends time answering questions. I fully trust him with my care.
UofU Patient
June 11, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Kwok is very personable. He gives all information including risks. Dr Kwok is very knowledgeable and a great surgeon.
UofU Patient
June 01, 2020
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
good
UofU Patient
May 29, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Kwok is one of the most caring Drs I've been to. he Always listens Very closely to what I say in order to accommodate as much as possible.
UofU Patient
May 22, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Kwok reviewed my situation and gave me options.
UofU Patient
May 22, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Kwok explained my options clearly and showed concern. Dr Kwok has great bedside manners.
UofU Patient
April 27, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kwok was not only very thorough, but he was very honest and kind. I was very happy with him
UofU Patient
April 10, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Sometimes Dr. Kwok talks so soft I have trouble hearing him.
UofU Patient
March 29, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Kwok's professionalism, knowledge, expertise and rapport is outstanding. He is especially attentive to my questions and does an excellent job explaining what I want and need to know. He is an outstanding surgeon.
UofU Patient
March 26, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
excellent service model
UofU Patient
March 11, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kowok and Dr. Porretta spent a great deal of time with me which I desperately needed in order to get straight what and how a mastectomy and reconstruct was going to play out.
UofU Patient
February 24, 2020
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr Kwok is amazing. I have never had a doctor take time to explain all my options, risks, benefits, and outcomes, and answer all my questions so thoroughly. He was so respectful, professional, knowledgeable, and caring. What an exemplary physician and surgeon.
UofU Patient
February 09, 2020
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Kwok was always thorough and compassionate. He listened to our concerns and took time to explain everything in the process we were going through.
UofU Patient
January 03, 2020
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I have not committed to any set program for treatment yet, I am just gathering information. But Dr. Kwok seemed under the impression that there was really only one program of treatment that would be right for me and so he proceeded to explain it to me, it's timeline and risks. He did not ask how I felt about his proposal and I ran out of time to really explore my concerns with him. I left my visit under the impression that Dr. Kwok would not consider me as a reconstructive patient unless I agreed to the treatment proposal that he envisioned for me. This was disturbing to me, making me feel trapped and not able to ask further questions.
UofU Patient
December 01, 2019
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kwok was very knowledgeable and very patient in explaining options
UofU Patient
November 22, 2019
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kwok is excellent. He speaks clearly, shows concern and generates confidence.
UofU Patient
November 18, 2019
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Kwok is incredible. He was very upfront about risks and asking questions for what I was looking for. He also was very empathetic to my situation and was very genuine about wanted to help me the best he could.
UofU Patient
November 18, 2019
FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
always very good
UofU Patient
November 13, 2019
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
excellent care and concern
UofU Patient
October 11, 2019
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Kwok is wonderful. I experienced post-surgical complications and Dr. Kwok was quick to fit me in and see me multiple times a week and never felt rushed when in the room with me. His bedside manner is personable, calm, and reassuring. I would recommend him to everyone.
Dr. Alvin Kwok, MD, MPH is a board-certified 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, TUG, SGAP). He also has research interests in clinical outcomes and patient safety. He sees patients at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital, the Farmington Health Center, and the Sugarhouse Health Center.
Dr. Kwok grew up in the Northeast and earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his medical degree from the University of 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.
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 |
| Board Certification | American Board of 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
- Magno-Padron DA, Collier W, Kim J, Agarwal JP, Kwok AC (2020). A Nationwide Analysis of Early and Late Readmissions following Free Tissue Transfer for Breast Reconstruction. (Epub ahead of print) J Reconstr Microsurg.
- Simpson AM, Kwok AC, Collier WH, Kim J, Veith J, Agarwal JP (2019). 2011 ACGME Duty Hour Limits had No Association With Breast Reconstruction Complications. J Surg Res, 247, 469-478.
- Stokes SM, Kim RY, Jacobs A, Esplin J, Kwok AC, Varghese TK Jr, Glasgow RE, Brooke BS, Finlayson SRG, Huang LC (2019). Home Disposal Kits for Leftover Opioid Medications After Surgery: Do They Work? J Surg Res, 245, 396-402.
- Holoyda KA, Simpson AM, Ye X, Agarwal JP, Kwok AC (2019). Immediate Bilateral Breast Reconstruction Using Abdominally Based Flaps: An Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database. J Reconstr Microsurg, 35(8), 594-601.
- Donato DP, Simpson AM, Garlick JW, Kwok AC, Crombie C, Agarwal JP (2019). Abdominal Contouring and Male Gender: Analysis of Complications Using the National Quality Improvement Program Database. Ann Plast Surg, 83(4), 481-487.
- Manum J, Veith J, Wei G, Kwok A, Agarwal J (2019). Variables associated with length of stay in patients undergoing mastectomy and delayed-immediate breast reconstruction with tissue expander. Breast J, 25(5), 927-931.
- Collier W, Scheefer Van Boerum M, Kim J, Kwok AC (2019). Are 30-Day Outcomes Enough? Late Infectious Readmissions following Prosthetic-Based Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg, 144(3), 360e-368e.
- Veith JP, Collier W, Kim J, Agarwal J, Kwok A (2018). A national analysis of readmissions for wound healing complications following the repair of lower back, hip, and buttock pressure ulcers using the Nationwide Readmissions Database. Am J Surg, 217(4), 658-663.
- Simpson AM, Donato DP, Kwok AC, Agarwal JP (2018). Predictors of complications following breast reduction surgery: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program study of 16,812 cases. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg, 72(1), 43-51.
- Kwok AC, Simpson AM, Willcockson J, Donato DP, Goodwin IA, Agarwal JP (2018). Complications and their associations following the surgical repair of pressure ulcers. Am J Surg, 216(6), 1177-1181.
- Kwok AC, Edwards K, Donato DP, Tatro E, Xu Y, Presson AP, Agarwal JP (2018). Operative Time and Flap Failure in Unilateral and Bilateral Free Flap Breast Reconstruction. J Reconstr Microsurg, 34(6), 428-435.
- Donato DP, Kwok AC, Bishop MO, Presson AP, Agarwal JP (2017). Unplanned Readmission in Outpatient Hand Surgery: An Analysis of 23,613 Patients in the NSQIP Data Set. Eplasty, 17, e36.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.