Christopher Ko
Rating: 4.9 of 5
( out of 36 reviews )

Christopher Ko, MD

Languages spoken: English, Korean

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

Huntsman Cancer Institute - Cancer Hospital South

Clinic 3A, Gastrointestinal
1950 Circle of Hope
Salt Lake City , UT 84112
801-646-4365
Get 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 (Sub: Gastroenterology)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)

    Patient Rating

    Rating: 4.9 out of 5
    4.9 /5
    ( out of 36 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.

    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Quiet - reassuring - gives confidence

    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
    Rating: 5 out of 5

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

    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Ko cares deeply for his patients. He is courteous and respectful, listens carefully.

    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Ko listened and chose a course of action that made sense.

    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    We appreciated the time Dr. Ko spent with us. He answered our questions and gave us insight and our options

    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Listened and answered questions! I full confidence in Dr Ko

    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Thorough and professional.

    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr Ko is a very professional doctor and made me feel at ease on my issues. I would recommend him to anybody. Geat visit with him .

    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Lacks: bedside manner, building rapport with patient, involving patient in treatment plan, thoroughly gaining understanding into patients lifestyle all that is going on surrounding the issue, and ability to build patient trust. Doesnt waste time.

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

    Education history

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

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Lee A, Ko C, Buitrago C, Hiramoto B, Hilson L, Buxbaum J, NS-LR Study Group (2021). Lactated Ringers vs Normal Saline Resuscitation for Mild Acute Pancreatitis: A Randomized Trial. Gastroenterology, 160(3), 955-957.e4. (Read full publication)
    2. Buxbaum J, Ko C, Varghese N, Lee A, Sahakian A, King K, Serna J, Lee H, Tchelepi H, Van Dam J, Duddalwar (2020). Qualitative and Quantitative Contrast-enhanced Endoscopic Ultrasound Improves Evaluation of Focal Pancreatic Lesions. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology, 18(4), 917-925.e4. (Read full publication)
    3. 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 M (2019). Safety and efficacy of digital single-operator pancreatoscopy for obstructing pancreatic ductal stones. Endoscopy international open, 7(7), E896-E903. (Read full publication)
    4. 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 M (2018). Efficacy and Safety of Digital Single-Operator Cholangioscopy for Difficult Biliary Stones. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology, 16(6), 918-926.e1. (Read full publication)
    5. Buxbaum J, Sahakian A, Ko C, Jayaram P, Lane C, Yu CY, Kankotia R, Laine (2018). Randomized trial of cholangioscopy-guided laser lithotripsy versus conventional therapy for large bile duct stones (with videos). Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 87(4), 1050-1060. (Read full publication)
    6. 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, Crinó SF, Facciorusso A, Mangiavillano B, Khashab M (2025). 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 publication)
    7. Jonason DE, Rodriguez B, Ramai D, Staub J, Ko (2025). Single-Stage EUS-Guided Gastrogastrostomy Secured With Clips With Anchor Prongs to Treat Massive Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage in Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, (Read full publication)
    8. Fellows E, Jonason DE, Ramai D, DuBroff J, Morris J, Ko (2024). EUS-guided cystocystostomy for management of noncommunicating peripancreatic fluid collections. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, (Read full publication)
    9. Ramai D, Fox C, Ko (2024). Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gastrojejunostomy for Severe Duodenal Polyposis From Gardner Syndrome. The American journal of gastroenterology, 119(12), 2362. (Read full publication)
    10. 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, Crinó SF, Ofosu A, De Luca L, Al-Lehibi A, Auriemma F, Paduano D, Calabrese F, Gentile C, Hassan C, Repici A, Facciorusso (2024). Outcomes of lumen apposing metal stent placement in patients with surgically altered anatomy: Multicenter international experience. Endoscopy international open, 12(10), E1143-E1149. (Read full publication)
    11. Chang PW, Sadik J, Sahakian AB, Kankotia R, Ko C, Serna J, Rodriguez A, Lee H, Kulkarni S, Genyk Y, Sheikh M, Buxbaum J (2024). A Preliminary Controlled Trial of Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fiducial Markers to Guide Pancreas Surgery. Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 58(9), 931-936. (Read full publication)
    12. Fellows E, Ramai D, Patriquin L, Ko (2024). Spontaneous Heterotopic Autotransplantation of Splenic Tissue: A Mimic of Pancreatic Malignancy. ACG case reports journal, 11(9), e01490. (Read full publication)
    13. 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 (2024). KRT17high/CXCL8+ Tumor Cells Display Both Classical and Basal Features and Regulate Myeloid Infiltration in the Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment. Clinical cancer research, 30(11), 2497-2513. (Read full publication)
    14. Buxbaum J, Ko (2017). Response to Thompson. The American journal of gastroenterology, 112(9), 1477. (Read full publication)
    15. 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, Crinó SF, Facciorusso A, Mangiavillano B, Khashab M (2025). Correction: Endoluminal radiofrequency ablation with stenting versus stenting alone in patients with malignant biliary obstruction: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Endoscopy, (Read full publication)
    16. Bria AJ, Fuller AK, Ko (2026). Underwater Resection of Redundant Jejunal Folds Causing Recurrent Cholangitis After Whipple Procedure. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, (Read full publication)
    17. Vainer D, Fuller D, Fellows E, Jonason D, Ko (2025). Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery as salvage therapy for a migrated lumen-apposing metal stent in recurrent cholecystitis. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 102(6), 909-911. (Read full publication)
    18. Tomm NK, Lamps LW, Ko C, Kwon RS, Cantley R, Pantanowitz (2022). Pronounced squamous cell contamination in biliary tract cytology: A diagnostic pitfall. Diagnostic cytopathology, 50(11), E320-E324. (Read full publication)
    19. DuBroff J, Holten D, Toy G, Jonason D, Ramai D, Morris J, ... Ko C (2025). Reduced migration of esophageal fully covered self-expandable metal stents affixed with clips with anchor prongs. iGIE, 4(1), p38-41.

    Editorial

    1. Ko C, Buxbaum (2021). Do the 2019 ASGE choledocholithiasis guidelines reduce diagnostic ERCP?. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 93(6), 1360-1361. (Read full publication)

    Letter

    1. Buxbaum J, Ko (2017). Response to Thompson. The American journal of gastroenterology, 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, Crinó SF, Ofosu A, De Luca L, Al-Lehibi A, Auriemma F, Paduano D, Calabrese F, Gentile C, Hassan C, Repici A, Facciorusso (2024). Correction: Outcomes of lumen apposing metal stent placement in patients with surgically altered anatomy: Multicenter international experience. Endoscopy international open, 12(10), C8. (Read full publication)