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Alvin C. Kwok
Rating: 4.9 of 5
( out of 122 reviews )

Alvin C. Kwok, MD, MPH

Languages spoken: English, Mandarin Chinese

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

Farmington Health Center

165 N. University Ave.
Farmington , UT 84025

University of Utah Hospital

50 N Medical Dr
Salt Lake City , UT 84132
  • 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, SIEA, PAP, DUG, TUG, SGAP). He also has research interests in clinical outcomes and patient safety. He sees patients at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and the Farmington 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.

    Board Certification

    American Board of Plastic Surgery

    Patient Rating

    Rating: 4.9 out of 5
    4.9 /5
    ( out of 122 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.

    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr Kwok is an extremely talented surgeon and has treated me the utmost respect and care. He takes the time to answer every question I have and never makes me feel hurried. He is honest and patient. I am so grateful for his care.

    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr Kwok is great. He listened to my and addressed any concerns I had. He explained my procedures very thoroughly and took time to explain any of my questions. He is very personable and compassionate. I felt very comfortable and respected during all of my appointments and very confident during the procedures. Thank you so much for taking care of me through this journey. I'm forever grateful.

    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Kwok is very professional. His bedside manner is warm & caring, and his competence & smarts are impressive. I had great confidence partnering with him for my surgery.

    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    He's very attentive to his patients. I thank you very much for your kindness and professionalism. You are an amazing surgeon. I am delighted with how my breast turned out.

    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Going into this I was assigned Dr. Kwok, I wasn't sure what I was going to end up looking like, my results were far better than I expected'

    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Kwok listens to all of your concerns. He is very kind, caring and thorough. He put my mind at ease and gave me hope that I could be helped. He provided several great options.

    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr Kwok was very informative, kind, and had a wonderful bedside manner.

    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr Kwok is very helpful & caring. explains things very well

    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    excellent service model

  • 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, SIEA, PAP, DUG, TUG, SGAP). He also has research interests in clinical outcomes and patient safety. He sees patients at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and the Farmington 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.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Surgery -Associate Professor
    Academic Divisions Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
    Board Certification
    American Board of Plastic Surgery

    Education history

    Undergraduate Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry - Yale University B.S.
    Professional Medical Medicine - University of Utah School of Medicine M.D.
    Internship General Surgery - Brigham and Women¿s Hospital, Harvard Medical School Intern
    Residency General Surgery - Brigham and Women¿s Hospital, Harvard Medical School Resident
    Graduate Training Clinical Effectiveness - Harvard School of Public Health M.P.H.
    Research Fellow Health Policy and Management - Harvard School of Public Health Research Fellow
    Chief Resident General Surgery - Brigham and Women¿s Hospital, Harvard Medical School Chief Resident
    Fellowship General Surgery - Brigham and Women¿s Hospital, Harvard Medical School Clinical Fellow
    Residency Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - University of Utah School of Medicine Resident
    Chief Resident Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - University of Utah School of Medicine Chief Resident
    Fellowship Breast Reconstruction/Microsurgery - University of Utah Fellow

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. 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. (Read full publication)
    2. 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. (Read full publication)
    3. Veith JP, Collier W, Kim J, Agarwal J, Kwok A (2019). 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. (Read full publication)
    4. 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. (Read full publication)
    5. 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. (Read full publication)
    6. 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. (Read full publication)
    7. 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. (Read full publication)
    8. Kwok AC, Simpson AM, Ye X, Tatro E, Agarwal JP (2018). Immediate Unilateral Breast Reconstruction using Abdominally Based Flaps: Analysis of 3,310 Cases. J Reconstr Microsurg, 35(1), 74-82. (Read full publication)
    9. 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. J Reconstr Microsurg, 36(6), 450-457. (Read full publication)
    10. 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. (Read full publication)
    11. 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. (Read full publication)
    12. Simpson AM, Kwok AC, Collier WH, Kim J, Veith J, Agarwal JP (2020). 2011 ACGME Duty Hour Limits had No Association With Breast Reconstruction Complications. J Surg Res, 247, 469-478. (Read full publication)
    13. Stokes SM, Kim RY, Jacobs A, Esplin J, Kwok AC, Varghese TK Jr, Glasgow RE, Brooke BS, Finlayson SRG, Huang LC (2020). Home Disposal Kits for Leftover Opioid Medications After Surgery: Do They Work? J Surg Res, 245, 396-402. (Read full publication)
    14. 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. (Read full publication)
    15. 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. (Read full publication)
    16. Kwok AC, Agarwal JP (2017). An analysis of free flap failure using the ACS NSQIP database. Does flap site and flap type matter? Microsurgery, 37(6), 531-538. (Read full publication)
    17. Kwok AC, Agarwal JP (2018). An analysis of free flap failure using the ACS NSQIP database. Does flap site and flap type matter?. Microsurgery,
    18. Rockwell WB, Hurst CA, Morton DA, Kwok A, Foreman K (2007). The deep inferior epigastric artery: anatomy and applicability as a source of microvascular arterial grafts. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 120(1), 209-14. (Read full publication)
    19. Kwok AC, Pannucci CJ, Agarwal J (2016). The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Flap Failure Data Are Inaccurate after 2010. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 138(3), 570e-1e. (Read full publication)
    20. Collier W, Scheefer Van Boerum M, Kim J, Kwok A (2019). Are 30-Day Outcomes Enough? Late Infectious Readmissions following Prosthetic-Based Breast Reconstruction. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 144(3), 360e-368e. (Read full publication)
    21. Kwok AC, Lipsitz SR, Bader AM, Gawande A (2011). Are targeted preoperative risk prediction tools more powerful? A test of models for emergency colon surgery in the very elderly. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 213(2), 220-5. (Read full publication)
    22. Decker MR, Dodgion CM, Kwok AC, Hu YY, Havlena JA, Jiang W, Lipsitz SR, Kent KC, Greenberg C (2014). Specialization and the current practices of general surgeons. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 218(1), 8-15. (Read full publication)
    23. Manum J, Veith J, Wei G, Kwok A, Agarwal (2019). Variables associated with length of stay in patients undergoing mastectomy and delayed-immediate breast reconstruction with tissue expander. The breast journal, 25(5), 927-931. (Read full publication)
    24. Banerjee D, Kwok A, Lin SY, Slack F (2005). Developmental timing in C. elegans is regulated by kin-20 and tim-1, homologs of core circadian clock genes. Developmental cell, 8(2), 287-95. (Read full publication)
    25. Simpson AM, Donato DP, Kwok AC, Agarwal J (2019). Predictors of complications following breast reduction surgery: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program study of 16,812 cases. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 72(1), 43-51. (Read full publication)
    26. Donato DP, Kwok AC, Bishop MO, Presson AP, Agarwal J (2017). Unplanned Readmission in Outpatient Hand Surgery: An Analysis of 23,613 Patients in the NSQIP Data Set. Eplasty, 17, e36. (Read full publication)
    27. Perry WR, Kwok AC, Kozycki C, Celi L (2013). Disparities in end-of-life care: a perspective and review of quality. Population health management, 16(2), 71-3. (Read full publication)
    28. Schwarze ML, Barnato AE, Rathouz PJ, Zhao Q, Neuman HB, Winslow ER, Kennedy GD, Hu YY, Dodgion CM, Kwok AC, Greenberg C (2015). Development of a list of high-risk operations for patients 65 years and older. JAMA surgery, 150(4), 325-31. (Read full publication)
    29. Kim RY, Kwakye G, Kwok AC, Baltaga R, Ciobanu G, Merry AF, Funk LM, Lipsitz SR, Gawande AA, Berry WR, Haynes A (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 surgery, 150(5), 473-9. (Read full publication)
    30. Kwok AC, Tatro E, Jones KB, Agarwal J (2017). Pedicled Retrograde Fibula Flap for Ankle Reconstruction after Oncologic Resection of the Distal Fibula. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 5(2), e1232. (Read full publication)
    31. Veith J, Coller W, Simpson A, Magno-Padron D, Mast B, Murphy RX, Agarwal J, Kwok, A A comparison of common plastic surgery operations using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons databases. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open,
    32. Kwok A, Malek (2008). Infections in renal transplant recipients: Management challenging, and prevention key. 1(11), 2-3.
    33. Luo J, Moss WD, Pires GR, Rhemtulla IA, Rosales M, Stoddard GJ, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2022). A Nationwide Analysis Evaluating the Safety of Using Acellular Dermal Matrix with Tissue Expander-Based Breast Reconstruction. Archives of plastic surgery, 49(6), 716-723. (Read full publication)
    34. Moss WD, Pires GR, Samlowski E, Webb J, DeAngelo MM, Eddington D, Brintz BJ, Agarwal J, Kwok A (2022). Characterizing the volume of surgery and post-operative complications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Langenbeck's archives of surgery, 407(8), 3727-3733. (Read full publication)
    35. Goodwin IA, Luo J, Magno-Pardon DA, Veith J, Willcockson J, Carter G, Matsen C, Kwok AC, Agarwal C (2022). Current Practices in the Pathologic Assessment of Breast Tissue in Transmasculine Chest Surgery. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 150(3), 516e-525e. (Read full publication)
    36. Pires GR, Moss WD, Memmott S, Wright T, Eddington D, Brintz BJ, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2022). Analysis of Readmissions and Reoperations in Pediatric Microvascular Reconstruction. Journal of reconstructive microsurgery, 39(5), 343-349. (Read full publication)
    37. Luo J, Collier W, Magno-Padron D, Tieman J, Pires G, Moss W, Rosales M, Kim J, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2022). Characteristics of Nonelderly Adult Health Care Persistent Super Utilizers in Utah. Population health management, 25(4), 472-479. (Read full publication)
    38. Moss W, Zhang R, Carter GC, Kwok A (2022). A Case for the Use of the 5-Item Modified Frailty Index in Preoperative Risk Assessment for Tissue Expander Placement in Breast Reconstruction. Annals of plastic surgery, 89(1), 23-27. (Read full publication)
    39. Luo J, Rosales M, Wei G, Stoddard GJ, Kwok AC, Jeyapalina S, Agarwal J (2022). Hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and case-fatality outcomes in US veterans with COVID-19 disease between years 2020-2021. Annals of epidemiology, 70, 37-44. (Read full publication)
    40. Pires G, Moss WD, Luo J, Zhang R, Jones KB, Kwok AC, Agarwal J (2022). Free Vascularized Fibula Salvage of Failed CPH in Pediatric Sarcoma Patients. Sarcoma, 2022, 6240293. (Read full publication)
    41. Luo J, Willis RN Jr, Ohlsen SM, Piccinin M, Moores N, Kwok AC, Agarwal J (2022). Meshed Acellular Dermal Matrix for Two-Staged Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction: An Institutional Experience. Archives of plastic surgery, 49(2), 166-173. (Read full publication)
    42. Magno-Padron DA, Holoyda KA, Moss W, Pires G, Carter GC, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2022). Elective surgery resource utilization. Langenbeck's archives of surgery, 407(2), 829-833. (Read full publication)
    43. Holoyda KA, Magno-Padron DA, Carter GC, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2022). National Trends in Length of Stay for Microvascular Breast Reconstruction: An Evaluation of 10,465 Cases Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 149(2), 306-313. (Read full publication)
    44. Magno-Pardon DA, Luo J, Carter GC, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2022). An Analysis of the Modified Five-Item Frailty Index for Predicting Complications following Free Flap Breast Reconstruction. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 149(1), 41-47. (Read full publication)
    45. Van Boerum MS, Mann SL, Veith JP, Collier W, Hosein RC, Manum JS, Agarwal J, Kwok A (2021). Patient-reported opioid use for tissue expander-based breast reconstruction. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 74(11), 2899-2905. (Read full publication)
    46. Luo J, Carter GC, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2021). The 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index as a Predictor of 30-day Complications in Pressure Ulcer Repair. The Journal of surgical research, 265, 21-26. (Read full publication)
    47. Magno-Padron DA, Luo J, Jessop TC, Garlick JW, Manum JS, Carter GC, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2021). A population-based study of breast implant illness. Archives of plastic surgery, 48(4), 353-360. (Read full publication)
    48. Luo J, Jeyapalina S, Stoddard GJ, Kwok AC, Agarwal J (2021). Coronavirus disease 2019 in veterans receiving care at veterans health administration facilities. Annals of epidemiology, 55, 10-14. (Read full publication)
    49. Moss WD, King BW, Memmott S, Pires G, Rosales M, Kwok A, Tenzel (2023). An Evaluation of Racial Disparities in Online Marketing of Academic Plastic Surgery Practices. Annals of plastic surgery, 90(2), 114-117. (Read full publication)
    50. Bleicher J, Fender Z, Johnson JE, Cain BT, Phan K, Powers D, Wei G, Presson AP, Kwok A, Pickron TB, Scaife CL, Huang L (2022). Use of post-discharge opioid consumption patterns as a tool for evaluating opioid prescribing guidelines. American journal of surgery, 224(1 Pt A), 58-63. (Read full publication)
    51. Bertolaccini CM, Prazak AMB, Goodwin IA, Kwok A, Mendenhall SD, Rockwell WB, Agarwal J, Pannucci C (2022). Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Microvascular Surgery Patients Using Weight-Based Unfractionated Heparin Infusions. Journal of reconstructive microsurgery, 38(5), 395-401. (Read full publication)
    52. Pannucci CJ, Fleming KI, Bertolaccini C, Agarwal J, Rockwell WB, Mendenhall SD, Kwok A, Goodwin I, Gociman B, Momeni (2021). Optimal Dosing of Prophylactic Enoxaparin after Surgical Procedures: Results of the Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled FIxed or Variable Enoxaparin (FIVE) Trial. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 147(4), 947-958. (Read full publication)
    53. Veith J, Collier W, Simpson A, Magno-Padron D, Mast B, Murphy RX Jr, Agarwal J, Kwok (2020). A Comparison of Common Plastic Surgery Operations Using the NSQIP and TOPS Databases. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 8(5), e2841. (Read full publication)
    54. Sudduth JD, Moss WD, Clinker C, Marquez JL, Anderson E, Eddington D, Agarwal J, Kwok A (2023). Scheduled Postoperative Ketorolac Does Not Decrease Opiate Use following Free Flap Breast Reconstruction. Journal of reconstructive microsurgery, (Read full publication)
    55. Marquez JL, Sudduth JD, Kuo K, Patel AA, Eddington D, Agarwal JP, Kwok A (2023). A Comparison of Postoperative Outcomes Between Immediate, Delayed Immediate, and Delayed Autologous Free Flap Breast Reconstruction: Analysis of 2010-2020 NSQIP Data. Journal of reconstructive microsurgery, (Read full publication)

    Review

    1. Pires GR, Moss WD, Hosein RC, Overschmidt BT, Magno-Padron DA, Agarwal JP, McFarland MM, Casucci T, Kwok A (2022). Comparison of Human, Porcine, and Bovine Acellular Dermal Matrix in Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction: A Scoping Review. Annals of plastic surgery, 89(6), 694-702. (Read full publication)

    Book Chapter

    1. Kwok (2020). Breast cancer: current trends in screening, patient evaluation, and treatment (Chapter 58).
    2. Kwok (2021). Radiation and autologous breast reconstruction: The role of delayed-immediate reconstruction (Chapter 97).

    Case Report

    1. Hillard VH, Liu JK, Kwok A, Schmidt MH (2007). Perineural spread of malignant mesothelioma resulting in an intradural spinal cord mass: case report. J Neurooncol, 81(2), 185-9. (Read full publication)
    2. Anstadt EE, Johns DN, Kwok AC, Siddiqi F, Gociman (2016). Neonatal Ear Molding: Timing and Technique. Pediatrics, 137(3), e20152831. (Read full publication)

    Letter

    1. Simpson AM, Donato DP, Kwok AC, Agarwal J (2019). Response to letter commenting on predictors of complications following breast reduction surgery: A national surgical quality improvement program study of 16,812 cases. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 72(8), 1436-1447. (Read full publication)
    2. Kwok A (2020). Reply: Are 30-Day Outcomes Enough? Late Infectious Readmissions following Prosthetic-Based Breast Reconstruction. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 146(6), 818e. (Read full publication)

    Other

    1. Simpson AM, Donato DP, Kwok AC, Agarwal J (2019). Corrigendum to "Predictors of complications following breast reduction surgery: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program study of 16,812 cases" [J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 72 (2019) 43-51]. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 72(8), 1434-1435. (Read full publication)