Larry W. Kwak, M.D., Ph.D.

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Hematologist-Oncologist; Dr. Michael Friedman Professor in Translational Medicine
4.8 (28 RATINGS)
Clinical Expertise
Lymphoma
Research Area
Immunology
Cancer vaccines
Appointments
Vice President and Deputy Director, Comprehensive Cancer Center
Director, Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center
Professor, Division of Lymphoma, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Clinical Teams
Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Lymphoma
Larry W. Kwak, M.D., Ph.D., is a world-renowned physician and scientist who has pioneered breakthrough innovations in immunology and cancer vaccines. He joined City of Hope in April 2015, following a decade of leadership in lymphoma and myeloma research and treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
 
Named one of TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People" in 2010, Dr. Kwak is the deputy director of City of Hope's comprehensive cancer center, director of the Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center within the Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute and is endowed with the title of the Dr. Michael Friedman Professor in Translational Medicine.
 
Passionate about harnessing the body's immune system to battle cancer, Dr. Kwak's interest in the field was sparked by a high school mentor and has continued for nearly three decades. He takes special pride in his ability to rapidly translate basic research into human clinical trials, making him an ideal fit for the City of Hope environment.
 
Location
Education & Experience
Board Certifications

  • 1989 - American Board of Internal Medicine, Subspecialty Medical Oncology

  • 1987 - American Board of Internal Medicine

Degrees

  • 1984 – Ph.D., Tumor Cell Biology, Northwestern University Graduate School, Evanston, IL
    1982 – B.S., M.D., Honors Program, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL
    1979 – B.S., Medical Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Fellowship

  • 1987 – 1991, Fellow, Medical Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

  • 1983 – 1984, Fellow, Tumor Cell Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL

Residency

  • 1985 – 1987, Resident, Internal Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA

Internship

  • 1984 – 1985, Intern, Internal Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA

Research
Lab Members
Hong Qin
Assistant Research Professor
Awards & Memberships
Awards

  • 2020, Elected to American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

  • 2016, Ho-Am Prize in Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

  • 2016, Elected to Association of American Physicians

  • 2011, Chang-Yul Oh Memorial Award, Korean American Medical Association

  • 2010, TIME 100 (Named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world)

  • 2010, Team Science Award recipient, International Society for the Biological Therapy of Cancer

  • 2003, NCI Technology Transfer Award, Center for Cancer Research

  • 2003, Elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation

  • 2002, European Academy of Sciences

  • 2000, Asian and Pacific Islander-American Organization Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award, National Institutes of Health

  • 1989, Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology

  • 1984, Physicians Research Training Fellowship, American Cancer Society, New York

  • 1983, Lady Tata Memorial Trust Postgraduate Award, London, England

Memberships

  • 2012 - Education Committee, American Association for Cancer Research, Chicago, IL

  • 2012 – present, Trust Committee, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, Milwaukee, WI

  • 2007 – present, Panel of Scientific Advisors, Lymphoma Research Foundation, USA

Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews below are gathered from the Press Ganey Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG CAHPS) survey. CG CAHPS is a standardized survey that is used to measure a patient's experience in the physician office setting. Ratings are an average of all responses to questions about a provider's care, with 5 stars being the highest.
Ratings
5.0
Show respect for what you say
4.9
Know important info medical history
4.8
Rate provider 0-10
4.8
Provider listen carefully to you
4.7
Spend enough time with you
4.7
Recommend this provider office
4.7
Provider explain in way you understand
Reviews
12/19/22
I have recommended the City of Hope to my friends who have loved one who are struggling with cancer. - Verified patient
12/14/22
Great team. - Verified patient
10/31/22
They had to coordinate with another department and surgery. All went fast and smoothly. - Verified patient
10/11/22
I am so amazed and lucky to have the person like Dr.Kwak including his medical team members [...]. Dr.Kwak saved my life and I will follow his instructions-Whatever he says-for the rest of my life. I was so impressed by the professionalism of the staff. Dr.Kwak is the best of the best in the whole universe. I won't hesitate to recommend all the people who are suffering from [...] to Dr.Kwak so the people just like me have been suffering from [...] will be entitled to a Supreme delight in their life. Thank you once again for all the wonderful things that Dr.Kwak has been doing for me!!! - Verified patient
09/20/22
Dr. Kwak is a very compassionate and understanding doctor. He realizes that my follicular lymphoma is not visually present as some of his other patients. I don't have swollen lymph nodes, the cancer has not spread into my bone marrow. However, I still feel bloaty. I have headaches, fatigue, rash, itchiness. I want to feel better. Dr. Kwak said he wants to see my in 3 months for a follow-up appointment. At the present time, I have no follow-up appointment scheduled. - Verified patient