Christopher Ko
( out of 37 reviews )

Christopher Ko, MD

Languages spoken: English, Korean

Clinical Locations

Huntsman Cancer Institute - Cancer Hospital South

Clinic 3A, Gastrointestinal
Salt Lake City
801-213-9797
Directions

  • Christopher Ko, M.D., MA, is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. Dr. Ko received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Southern California/LAC+USC. Dr. Ko continued on to complete his Gastrointestinal fellowship at the University of Southern California/LAC+USC where he served as Chief GI Fellow during the last year of his Fellowship. He then completed his Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at the University of Michigan.

    Working primarily at the University of Utah School of Medicine’s Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah Main Hospital, Dr. Ko’s main focuses are on the diagnosis and management of patients with gastrointestinal cancers and complex gastrointestinal diseases, with an emphasis on therapeutic endoscopy. Dr. Ko has an interest in complex therapeutic endoscopy, advanced endoscopic imaging, and multi-disciplinary management of complex diseases.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Gastroenterology)

    Patient Rating

    4.7 /5
    ( out of 37 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    November 17, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr Ko is awesome

    October 12, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr Ko is a knowledgeable and caring medical professional

    September 21, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    This is what you want in a Dr. Let's you know what is going on. So you can make an informed decision. Best Dr I have had in years. Thank Dr Ko.

    July 28, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr. Ko was very informative and answered all my questions. He took very good care of me.

    July 14, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Thorough and professional.

    June 30, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Listened and answered questions! I full confidence in Dr Ko

    June 09, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr Ko was great, he asked me the right questions and he seemed to want to help me. U of U is definitely worth the drive from Pocatello to Salt Lake for an appointment , Thank you very much for your caring concern

    June 08, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr. Ko is an excellent physician. He is thorough, thoughtful, and prepared.

    June 03, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr. Ko is one of my favorite Doctors. He is very personable and communicates well. He listens to your concerns and involves you in the treatment plan. I really appreciate him and enjoy our visits.

  • Christopher Ko, M.D., MA, is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. Dr. Ko received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Southern California/LAC+USC. Dr. Ko continued on to complete his Gastrointestinal fellowship at the University of Southern California/LAC+USC where he served as Chief GI Fellow during the last year of his Fellowship. He then completed his Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at the University of Michigan.

    Working primarily at the University of Utah School of Medicine’s Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah Main Hospital, Dr. Ko’s main focuses are on the diagnosis and management of patients with gastrointestinal cancers and complex gastrointestinal diseases, with an emphasis on therapeutic endoscopy. Dr. Ko has an interest in complex therapeutic endoscopy, advanced endoscopic imaging, and multi-disciplinary management of complex diseases.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Internal Medicine -Assistant Professor (Clinical)
    Academic Divisions Gastroenterology
    Board Certification
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Gastroenterology)

    Education history

    Fellowship Advanced Endoscopy - University of Michigan Medical School Fellow
    Fellowship Gastroenterology - Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center Chief Fellow
    Fellowship Gastroenterology - Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center Fellow
    Residency Internal Medicine - Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center Resident
    Professional Medical Medicine - Boston University School of Medicine M.D.
    Graduate Training Medical Sciences - Boston University School of Medicine M.A.
    Undergraduate Biology/Genetics - Cornell University B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Ramai D, Maida M, Smith ER, Wang Y, Spadaccini M, Previtera M, Chandan S, Huang Y, Tokmak S, Bhandari P, DuBroff J, Ko C, Morris JD, Marasco G, Crin SF, Facciorusso A, Mangiavillano B, Khashab MA (2024). Endoluminal radiofrequency ablation with stenting versus stenting alone in patients with malignant biliary obstruction: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Endoscopy, 57(3), 272-281. (Read full article)
    2. Jonason DE, Rodriguez B, Ramai D, Staub J, Ko C (2025). Single-Stage EUS-Guided Gastrogastrostomy Secured With Clips With Anchor Prongs to Treat Massive Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage in Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Gastrointest Endosc. (Read full article)
    3. Fellows E, Jonason DE, Ramai D, DuBroff J, Morris J, Ko C (2024). EUS-guided cystocystostomy for management of noncommunicating peripancreatic fluid collections. Gastrointest Endosc. (Read full article)
    4. Ramai D, Fox C, Ko C (2024). Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gastrojejunostomy for Severe Duodenal Polyposis From Gardner Syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol, 119(12), 2362. (Read full article)
    5. Mangiavillano B, Ramai D, Kahaleh M, Tyberg A, Shahid H, Sarkar A, Samanta J, Dhar J, Bronswijk M, Van der Merwe S, Kouanda A, Ji H, Dai SC, Deprez P, Vargas-Madrigal J, Vanella G, Roberto L, Arcidiacono PG, Robles-Medranda C, Alcivar Vasquez J, Arevalo-Mora M, Fugazza A, Ko C, Morris J, Lisotti A, Fusaroli P, Dhaliwal A, Mutignani M, Forti E, Cottone I, Larghi A, Rizzatti G, Galasso D, Barbera C, Di Matteo FM, Stigliano S, Binda C, Fabbri C, Pham KD, Di Mitri R, Amata M, Crin SF, Ofosu A, De Luca L, Al-Lehibi A, Auriemma F, Paduano D, Calabrese F, Gentile C, Hassan C, Repici A, Facciorusso A (2024). Outcomes of lumen apposing metal stent placement in patients with surgically altered anatomy: Multicenter international experience. Endosc Int Open, 12(10), E1143-E1149. (Read full article)
    6. Chang PW, Sadik J, Sahakian AB, Kankotia R, Ko C, Serna J, Rodriguez A, Lee H, Kulkarni S, Genyk Y, Sheikh M, Buxbaum JL (2024). A Preliminary Controlled Trial of Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fiducial Markers to Guide Pancreas Surgery. J Clin Gastroenterol, 58(9), 931-936. (Read full article)
    7. Fellows E, Ramai D, Patriquin L, Ko C (2024). Spontaneous Heterotopic Autotransplantation of Splenic Tissue: A Mimic of Pancreatic Malignancy. ACG Case Rep J, 11(9), e01490. (Read full article)
    8. Carpenter ES, Kadiyala P, Elhossiny AM, Kemp SB, Li J, Steele NG, Nicolle R, Nwosu ZC, Freeman J, Dai H, Paglia D, Du W, Donahue K, Morales J, Medina-Cabrera PI, Bonilla ME, Harris L, The S, Gunchick V, Peterson N, Brown K, Mattea M, Espinoza CE, McGue J, Kabala SM, Baliira RK, Renollet NM, Mooney AG, Liu J, Bhalla S, Farida JP, Ko C, Machicado JD, Kwon RS, Wamsteker EJ, Schulman A, Anderson MA, Law R, Prabhu A, Coulombe PA, Rao A, Frankel TL, Bednar F, Shi J, Sahai V, Pasca Di Magliano M (2023). KRT17high/CXCL8+ Tumor Cells Display Both Classical and Basal Features and Regulate Myeloid Infiltration in the Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment. Clin Cancer Res, 30(11), 2497-2513. (Read full article)
    9. Lee A, Ko C, Buitrago C, Hiramoto B, Hilson L, Buxbaum J, NS-LR Study Group (2020). Lactated Ringers vs Normal Saline Resuscitation for Mild Acute Pancreatitis: A Randomized Trial. Gastroenterology, 160(3), 955-957.e4. (Read full article)
    10. Buxbaum J, Ko C, Varghese N, Lee A, Sahakian A, King K, Serna J, Lee H, Tchelepi H, Van Dam J, Duddalwar V (2019). Qualitative and Quantitative Contrast-enhanced Endoscopic Ultrasound Improves Evaluation of Focal Pancreatic Lesions. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 18(4), 917-925.e4. (Read full article)
    11. Brewer Gutierrez OI, Raijman I, Shah RJ, Elmunzer BJ, Webster GJM, Pleskow D, Sherman S, Sturgess RP, Sejpal DV, Ko C, Maurano A, Adler DG, Mullady DK, Strand DS, DiMaio CJ, Piraka C, Sharahia R, Dbouk MH, Han S, Spiceland CM, Bekkali NLH, Gabr M, Bick B, Dwyer LK, Han D, Buxbaum J, Zulli C, Cosgrove N, Wang AY, Carr-Locke D, Kerdsirichairat T, Aridi HD, Moran R, Shah S, Yang J, Sanaei O, Parsa N, Kumbhari V, Singh VK, Khashab MA (2019). Safety and efficacy of digital single-operator pancreatoscopy for obstructing pancreatic ductal stones. Endosc Int Open, 7(7), E896-E903. (Read full article)
    12. Brewer Gutierrez OI, Bekkali NLH, Raijman I, Sturgess R, Sejpal DV, Aridi HD, Sherman S, Shah RJ, Kwon RS, Buxbaum JL, Zulli C, Wassef W, Adler DG, Kushnir V, Wang AY, Krishnan K, Kaul V, Tzimas D, DiMaio CJ, Ho S, Petersen B, Moon JH, Elmunzer BJ, Webster GJM, Chen YI, Dwyer LK, Inamdar S, Patrick VB, Attwell A, Hosmer A, Ko C, Maurano A, Sarkar A, Taylor LJ, Gregory MH, Strand DS, Raza A, Kothari S, Harris JP, Kumta NA, Manvar A, Topazian MD, Lee YN, Spiceland CM, Trindade AJ, Bukhari MA, Sanaei O, Ngamruengphong S, Khashab MA (2017). Efficacy and Safety of Digital Single-Operator Cholangioscopy for Difficult Biliary Stones. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 16(6), 918-926.e1. (Read full article)
    13. Buxbaum J, Sahakian A, Ko C, Jayaram P, Lane C, Yu CY, Kankotia R, Laine L (2017). Randomized trial of cholangioscopy-guided laser lithotripsy versus conventional therapy for large bile duct stones (with videos). Gastrointest Endosc, 87(4), 1050-1060. (Read full article)
    14. Buxbaum J, Ko C (2017). Response to Thompson. Am J Gastroenterol, 112(9), 1477. (Read full article)

    Editorial

    1. Ko C, Buxbaum J (2021). Do the 2019 ASGE choledocholithiasis guidelines reduce diagnostic ERCP? Gastrointest Endosc, 93(6), 1360-1361. (Read full article)

    Letter

    1. Buxbaum J, Ko C (2017). Response to Thompson [Letter to the editor]. Am J Gastroenterol, 112(9), 1477.

    Other

    1. Mangiavillano B, Ramai D, Kahaleh M, Tyberg A, Shahid H, Sarkar A, Samanta J, Dhar J, Bronswijk M, Van der Merwe S, Kouanda A, Ji H, Dai SC, Deprez P, Vargas-Madrigal J, Vanella G, Leone R, Arcidiacono PG, Robles-Medranda C, Alcivar Vasquez J, Arevalo-Mora M, Fugazza A, Ko C, Morris J, Lisotti A, Fusaroli P, Dhaliwal A, Mutignani M, Forti E, Cottone I, Larghi A, Rizzatti G, Galasso D, Barbera C, Di Matteo FM, Stigliano S, Binda C, Fabbri C, Pham KD, Di Mitri R, Amata M, Crin SF, Ofosu A, De Luca L, Al-Lehibi A, Auriemma F, Paduano D, Calabrese F, Gentile C, Hassan C, Repici A, Facciorusso A (2024). Correction: Outcomes of lumen apposing metal stent placement in patients with surgically altered anatomy: Multicenter international experience. Endosc Int Open (12(10), pp. C8). Germany. (Read full article)