David Hwang, MD
Professor
Ophthalmology
School of Medicine
A native of Illinois, USA, David G. Hwang, MD, FACS obtained both his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), graduating first in his medical school class in 1984.
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After two years of internal medical residency and three years of ophthalmology residency at UCSF, he completed concurrent fellowships in cornea and refractive surgery as well as uveitis at the University of Southern California/Doheny Eye Institute as a Heed Fellow. In 1990 he joined the full-time faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, where he is currently Professor and Vice Chair and holds the Pearl T. Kimura and Samuel J. Kimura MD Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology. He serves as Director of the Cornea Service, Director of the Refractive Surgery Service, and Associate of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology at UCSF.
Dr. Hwang has served in leadership and executive roles in a number of professional organizations, including President of the Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group, Executive Secretary of the Max Fine Cornea Society, Medical Director of Ophthalmology at the UCSF Medical Center, and Medical Eye Bank Director of the UCSF Tissue Bank. He has chaired the joint American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)-Centers for Disease Control Task Force for the Use of Vancomycin in Ophthalmology and has served on the writing committee for the Cornea and External Disease volume of the AAO Basic and Clinical Science series, in which he was responsible for authoring and editing the section on ocular infectious and external eye disease.
A committed educator, Dr. Hwang is active in the teaching of students, residents, and fellows and has received the Kimura Award for Excellence in Teaching from the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology. He has organized and taught numerous postgraduate courses and conferences at the regional, national, and international level and is a frequently invited speaker at national and international meetings. He has been the recipient of several named lectureships, been awarded the Honor Award and Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and been named to the “Best Doctors in the United States” list every year since 1996.
Dr. Hwang’s university-based referral practice is focused on corneal, cataract, and refractive surgery, with special interests in ocular infectious disease, corneal endothelial dystrophies and diseases, and high-risk corneal transplantation. He has conducted translational research into cellular transplantation and gene therapy approaches to corneal endothelial disease. He described the relationship between inadequate dosing of topical fluoroquinolones and subsequent antimicrobial resistance, and he reported the pharmacodynamic and genomic mechanisms underlying such development. As a result of his investigations, Dr. Hwang widely advocated for changing prevailing antimicrobial prescribing patterns away from prolonged, intermittent, and/or tapering dosing towards short-term, suprathreshold dosing.
His clinical interests include the development of innovative surgical techniques and instrumentation in corneal, cataract, and refractive surgery. He has published over 100 original articles and scientific abstracts and has co-authored two texts in cornea and refractive surgery. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, an ophthalmologist, and their three sons.
Awards
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- Certificate in Honor of Lifetime of Commitment to the Study and Advancement of Ophthalmology, California State Assembly, 2017
- Recognition in Honor of Exceptional Research in the Field of Ocular and Corneal Disease, California State Senate, 2017
- Recognition of Distinction and Merit for Outstanding Service to the People of San Francisco, San Francisco Board of Supervisors, 2017
- Glaucoma Foundation Honoree, The Glaucoma Foundation, 2017
- Special Congressional Recognition in Honor of Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Community, United States Congress (sponsor: Speaker of the House, Hon. Nancy P. Pelosi, California), 2017
- Recognition for Service in Ophthalmology and Leadership in Ophthalmological Research, United States Senate (sponsor: Hon. Dianne Feinstein, California), 2017
- The 2017 UCSF Exceptional Physician Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2017
- Judy and C. David Fritch MD Lecturer, University of Nebraska, 2016
- Pearl T. and Samuel J. Kimura MD Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, 2015-now
- ARVO-Cornea Society VISTA Distinguished Scientific Lecturer, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and The Cornea Society, 2015
- Senior Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2010
- Morgan-Sarver Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry, 2008
- Who's Who in America, Life Member, Who's Who in America, 2001-now
- Honor Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2000
- Steven G. Kramer Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology (5-year term), University of California, San Francisco, 1998
- America's Best Doctors (25 consecutive years to date), Bestdoctors.com (previously Woodward & White, publisher), 1996-now
- Named in "Brain Trust: 101 People Who Make this The Smartest Place on Earth", Focus Magazine, 1995
- Kimura Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of California, San Francisco Department of Ophthalmology, 1994
- Heed-Knapp Fellow (declined after appointment to faculty of UCSF), The Heed Foundation, 1990-1991
- National Research Service Award, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 1989-1990
- Heed Fellow, The Heed Foundation, 1989-1990
- Hogan Award for Outstanding Scientific Research, University of California, San Francisco Department of Ophthalmology, 1989
- Asbury Award for Outstanding Clinical Research, University of California, San Francisco Department of Ophthalmology, 1988
- First Prize, UCSF Academic Excellence Award (achieved highest honors in every course over 4 years), University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, 1984
- Medial school graduation rank: #1 of 144, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, 1984
Education & Training
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- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training University of California 2018
- Fellowship - Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery School of Medicine USC/Doheny Eye Institute 1990
- Fellowship - Uveitis School of Medicine USC/Doheny Eye Institute 1990
- Residency - Ophthalmology School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco 1989
- Residency - Internal Medicine School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco 1986
- M.D. School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco 1984
Interests
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- refractive
- development of new surgical techniques in corneal
- cataract surgery
- clinical trials in cornea and ocular infectious disease. Scientific research interests: cellular transplantation and gene therapy for corneal endothelial disease
- ocular infectious disease
- including epidemiology and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in ophthalmology
Websites
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- Clinical Profile at UCSF Medical Center (ucsfhealth.org)
Publications (36)
Top publication keywords:
Corneal StromaSkin, ArtificialAza CompoundsCorneal NeovascularizationAnti-Infective Agents, LocalOcclusive DressingsLenses, IntraocularCorneal InjuriesDisinfectantsKeratitisAntisepsisKeratomileusis, Laser In SituChlorhexidineRetinal Artery OcclusionEndothelium, Corneal
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Sociodemographic Disparities in Preoperative Visual Acuity and Cataract Surgery Utilization in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities 2024 Cho WKT, Hwang DG -
Racial/Ethnic, Biomedical, and Sociodemographic Risk Factors for COVID-19 Positivity and Hospitalization in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities 2022 Cho WKT, Hwang DG -
Differential Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Social Vulnerability on COVID-19 Positivity, Hospitalization, and Death in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities 2022 Cho WKT, Hwang DG -
CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION WITH CILIORETINAL ARTERY SPARING AFTER LASER-ASSISTED IN SITU KERATOMILEUSIS.
Retinal cases & brief reports 2021 Francis AW, Zhu I, Borirakchanyavat S, Schwartz DM, Hwang DG -
Eyecare provider attitudes toward and adoption of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Journal of cataract and refractive surgery 2021 Liu Y, Ruan MZC, Haq Z, Hwang DG
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Clinical Outcomes of Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation in Patients with a History of Keratoplasty.
Journal of ophthalmology 2020 Lee JH, Vu V, Lazcano-Gomez G, Han K, Suvannachart P, Rose-Nussbaumer J, Schallhorn J, Hwang D, Han Y -
Author Correction: Aberrant DNA methylation of miRNAs in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.
Scientific reports 2020 Pan P, Weisenberger DJ, Zheng S, Wolf M, Hwang DG, Rose-Nussbaumer JR, Jurkunas UV, Chan MF -
Aberrant DNA methylation of miRNAs in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.
Scientific reports 2019 Pan P, Weisenberger DJ, Zheng S, Wolf M, Hwang DG, Rose-Nussbaumer JR, Jurkunas UV, Chan MF -
Content validity of a novel patient-reported and observer-reported outcomes assessment to evaluate ocular symptoms associated with infectious conjunctivitis in both adult and pediatric populations.
Health and quality of life outcomes 2019 Sarda SP, De La Cruz M, Flood EM, Vanya M, Hwang DG, Ta CN, Narvekar A -
One-Year Efficacy and Safety of Combined Photorefractive Keratectomy and Accelerated Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking after Intacs SK Intracorneal Ring Segment Implantation in Moderate Keratoconus.
BioMed research international 2019 Koh IH, Seo KY, Park SB, Yang H, Kim I, Kim JS, Hwang DG, Nam SM -
Overexpression of MMPs in Corneas Requiring Penetrating and Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty.
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 2019 Wolf M, Clay SM, Oldenburg CE, Rose-Nussbaumer J, Hwang DG, Chan MF -
Necrotizing Scleritis After Cosmetic Conjunctivectomy With Mitomycin C.
American journal of ophthalmology 2018 Ji YW, Park SY, Jung JW, Choi S, Alotaibi MH, Stulting RD, Hwang DG, Seo KY -
Performance of Bio-Occlusive Dressing as Barrier Protection from Presurgical Chlorhexidine Skin Preparation.
Current eye research 2017 Brodie F, Bever G, Hwang DG -
Late extrusion of intrastromal corneal ring segments: A report of two cases.
American journal of ophthalmology case reports 2017 Oatts JT, Savar L, Hwang DG -
Manual Removal of Intraocular Lens Silicone Oil Droplets and Dystrophic Calcifications Using a Nitinol Loop: A Case Series.
Ophthalmic surgery, lasers & imaging retina 2017 Moussa K, Leng T, Oatts JT, Bhisitkul RB, Hwang DG, Stewart JM -
Comprehensive characterization of DNA methylation changes in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.
PloS one 2017 Khuc E, Bainer R, Wolf M, Clay SM, Weisenberger DJ, Kemmer J, Weaver VM, Hwang DG, Chan MF -
Corneal Injury from Presurgical Chlorhexidine Skin Preparation.
World neurosurgery 2016 Bever GJ, Brodie FL, Hwang DG -
Peculiar protuberance.
JAMA ophthalmology 2014 Seider MI, Hwang DG, Damato BE -
Usefulness of plasma epigenetic changes of five major genes involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer.
International journal of colorectal disease 2012 Pack SC, Kim HR, Lim SW, Kim HY, Ko JY, Lee KS, Hwang D, Park SI, Kang H, Park SW, Hong GY, Hwang SM, Shin MG, Lee S -
Upside-down lens syndrome: ocular complications secondary to inverted implantation of the Kelman Multiflex anterior chamber intraocular lens.
American journal of ophthalmology 2011 Fintelmann RE, Kim SK, Hwang DG -
Pharmacokinetics of azithromycin and moxifloxacin in human conjunctiva and aqueous humor during and after the approved dosing regimens.
American journal of ophthalmology 2010 Stewart WC, Crean CS, Zink RC, Brubaker K, Haque RM, Hwang DG -
Acute angle-closure glaucoma due to iris transfixation of a subluxated posterior chamber intraocular lens-capsular bag complex.
Journal of cataract and refractive surgery 2007 Rutar T, Hwang DG, Stamper RL -
Outbreak of Fusarium keratitis in soft contact lens wearers in San Francisco.
Archives of ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) 2006 Bernal MD, Acharya NR, Lietman TM, Strauss EC, McLeod SD, Hwang DG -
Peripheral interstitial keratitis: a novel manifestation of ocular mastocytosis.
Cornea 2006 Magone MT, Maric I, Hwang DG -
Comparison of topographic corneal irregularity after LASIK and intrastromal corneal ring segments in the same patients.
Journal of refractive surgery (Thorofare, N.J. : 1995) 2005 Naseri A, Forseto AS, Francesconi CM, Hwang DG, Campos M, Nose W -
Effects of SV40 T antigen transduction on human corneal endothelial cell wound healing in vitro.
Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2005 Hsiao CH, Sah WJ, Soya K, Ma DH, Im YW, Zhang F, Hwang DG -
Susceptibility of human corneal endothelial cells to HSV-1 infection.
Current eye research 2005 Sugioka K, Drake JD, Fukuda M, Shimomura Y, Hwang DG -
Uveitis-associated flap edema and lamellar interface fluid collection after LASIK.
American journal of ophthalmology 2005 McLeod SD, Mather R, Hwang DG, Margolis TP -
Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy in a patient with graft-versus-host disease.
American journal of ophthalmology 2004 Cheung MC, Nune GC, Hwang DG, Sutter EE, Duncan JL -
Late-onset corneal haze and myopic regression after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
Cornea 2004 Kuo IC, Lee SM, Hwang DG -
Fluoroquinolone resistance in ophthalmology and the potential role for newer ophthalmic fluoroquinolones.
Survey of ophthalmology 2004 Hwang DG -
Relapsing diffuse lamellar keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis associated with recurrent erosion syndrome.
Archives of ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) 2004 Jeng BH, Stewart JM, McLeod SD, Hwang DG -
Atypical vortex pattern of corneal deposits in granular corneal dystrophy.
Cornea 2003 Aldave AJ, Yellore VS, Hwang DG -
Inhibition of fibroblast-induced angiogenic phenotype of cultured endothelial cells by the overexpression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3.
Journal of biomedical science 2003 Ma DH, Chen JI, Zhang F, Hwang DG, Chen JK -
Expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 in normal human corneal cells and experimental corneal neovascularization.
Ophthalmic research 2003 Ma DH, Zhang F, Shi W, Yao JY, Hsiao CH, Wu HC, Kim WS, Hao YX, Hwang DG, Chen JK, Tsai RJ -
CD40 expression in normal human cornea and regulation of CD40 in cultured human corneal epithelial and stromal cells.
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 2002 Iwata M, Soya K, Sawa M, Sakimoto T, Hwang DG