David K. Imagawa
MD, PhD
2022 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Suzanne Dykema Endowed Chair in Pancreatic Cancer, Chief, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Professor of Clinical Surgery, Vice Chairman for Academic Affairs, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine
Liver Health Foundation is proud to honor Dr. David K. Imagawa, the recipient of 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award during our “Salute to Excellence Dinner Gala” on September 30th. Please join us as we celebrate Dr. Imagawa’s decades of lifesaving research, service to liver patients, and leadership in healthcare. Dr. Imagawa has been an important member and partner in our local efforts in support of liver patients for over fifteen years.
Dr. Imagawa achieved his MD and PhD in Pharmacology degrees at The John Hopkins Medical School. He completed his surgical residency at UCLA as well as a liver transplant fellowship. His clinical focus is the treatment of liver, pancreas, bile duct and gallbladder cancers. He is also one of the founders of Bruin Biosciences, a biotechnology start-up company developing a new drug delivery platform for liver cancer.
His research interests include topics relating to the treatment of liver, bile duct and pancreatic cancers. He has been involved as principal or co-investigator in over 120 clinical trials. He has over 130 articles published in peer reviewed journals and is the author of numerous book chapters and abstracts. Dr. Imagawa currently serves as an ad hoc reviewer for Transplantation, World Journal of Surgery, Annals of Surgery, Liver Transplantation, American Journal of Transplantation, HPB Surgery, and Archives of Surgery. He also serves as a member of the Clinical Trials Committee of the AHPBA.
Dr. Imagawa is a three-time recipient of the John Connolly Faculty Teaching Award. This year he was awarded the John Connolly Society Mentorship Award for his years of training and educating surgical residents. He is a member of the Association of Academic Surgeons, The American Society of Transplant Surgeons, the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, the Pacific Coast Surgical Society, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also actively involved in service in the community and presently participates as a member of the Liver Health Foundation’s Medical Advisory Council and assists the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PCAN) with their yearly fundraiser. Dr. Imagawa served as Chief of Staff for UCI Medical Center from 2005-2007.
Liver Health Foundation is thankful for Dr. Imagawa’s support. We appreciate this opportunity to honor his unmatched service and achievments.