Kimberly Kirkwood, M.D.
- Professor of Surgery
- Division of Surgical Oncology
Contact Information
(415)-502-2236 Fax
[email protected]
Education
- B.A., Reed College, 1981
- M.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1985
Residencies
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Resident, Surgery, 1986-88
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Resident, Surgery, 1991-92
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Chief Resident, Surgery, 1992-93
Fellowships
- University of California, Los Angeles, Postdoctoral Fellow, Gastrointestinal Physiology, 1988-91
Clinical Expertise
- Benign Pancreatic Lesions
- Biliary Tract Surgery
- Gallbladder Surgery
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Stomach and Gastrointestinal Surgery
Website Links
- Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (Patient Power Interview)
- Pancreatic Cancer Warning Signs, Diagnosis and New Treatments (Interview and Transcript - UCSF Medical Center)
Biography
Dr. Kimberly Kirkwood specializes in the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as tumors of the stomach, spleen, gallbladder, bile duct and gastrointestinal tract. A skillful laparoscopic surgeon, she is an expert in applying minimally invasive techniques to treat abdominal tumors and has a particular interest in improving outcomes for patients after pancreas surgery. Dr. Kirkwood is a member of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Participates in Cancer Center Clinical Trials.
Dr. Kirkwood earned a medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania and completed a surgical residency and a fellowship in advanced general surgery with a focus on pancreatic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. She also completed a three-year surgical research fellowship at UCLA in hepatobiliary disease. Dr. Kirkwood is active in many national societies including the Pancreas Club, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Association for Academic Surgeons and she is on the Executive Council of the Society of University Surgeons. Her NIH-funded research focuses on pancreatic inflammatory pain and on the many factors which may improve outcomes for patients following resection of pancreatic tumors.
Awards & Honors
Mentoring Overview
Dr. Kirkwood specializes in treating pancreatic cancer as well as tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract. She is an expert in applying minimally invasive techniques to treat abdominal tumors. She focuses on improving outcomes for patients after pancreas surgery and on understanding how pancreatic cancer develops at a cellular level. Dr. Kirkwood has mentored 43 predoctoral trainees and 24 postdoctoral fellows, and these individuals have been named first authors on 47 of her most recent 53 peer-reviewed publications. The majority of postdoctoral fellows pursue additional training in surgical oncology and hepato-pancreatobiliary surgery.
Trainees in Dr. Kirkwood's lab generally focus on pancreatic cysts and pancreatic cancer. Her lab houses an extensive and clinically-annotated pancreatic biorepository, access to fresh tissue and biological fluids (cyst fluid, blood), and experimental mouse colonies. Dr. Kirkwood's long-standing collaboration with the department of pharmaceutical chemistry/experimental therapeutics program, enables trainees to pursue projects with laboratory and clinician scientist co-mentors that have a proven track record of success.
Research & Funding
- Molecular Correlates of progression in pancreatic cystic neoplasmsSponsor: NCI/NIHSponsor ID: U01Funding Period:Jul 2015-Jun 2021Site Principal Investigator, UCSF
- Minimally Invasive Classification of Pancreatic Cystic NeoplasmsSponsor: V FoundationSponsor ID: T2017-013Funding Period:Nov 2017-Nov 2020Principal Investigator
- Development of fluorogenic substrates for the diagnosis of pancreatic cystsSponsor: UCSF Clinical and Translational Sciences InstituteSponsor ID: Catalyst Awards ProgramFunding Period:Feb 2017-Jun 2018Principal Investigator
- Non-invasive Differentiation of Benign Lesions from Aggressive Pancreatic CancerSponsor: NIH/NCISponsor ID: R21CA185689Funding Period:Jan 2015-Dec 2016Co-Principal Investigator
- Neural Regulation of Pancreatic FunctionSponsor: NIH/NIDDKSponsor ID: R01DK046285Funding Period:May 1994-Mar 2014Principal Investigator
Clinical Trials
- Study ID: NCT04239573Start Date: Jan 2020Estimated Completion Date: Dec 2027Condition(s): Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Cyst
- Study ID: NCT04291651Start Date: Oct 2019Estimated Completion Date: Jan 2030Condition(s): Pancreatic Cyst, Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Diseases, Pancreatic IPMN, IPMN, Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous Cyst
Publications
MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 62
- Ashraf Ganjouei A, Romero-Hernandez F, Conroy PC, Miller PN, Calthorpe L, Wang JJ, Lin JJ, Feng J, Kirkwood KS, Alseidi A, Sarin A, Adam MA. A Novel Machine Learning Approach to Predict Textbook Outcome in Colectomy. Dis Colon Rectum. 2024 Feb 01; 67(2):322-332. View in PubMed
- Ashraf Ganjouei A, Romero-Hernandez F, Wang JJ, Casey M, Frye W, Hoffman D, Hirose K, Nakakura E, Corvera C, Maker AV, Kirkwood KS, Alseidi A, Adam MA. ASO Visual Abstract: A Machine-Learning Approach to Predict Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula after Pancreaticoduodenectomy Using only Preoperatively Known Data. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Nov; 30(12):7776-7777. View in PubMed
- Ashraf Ganjouei A, Romero-Hernandez F, Wang JJ, Casey M, Frye W, Hoffman D, Hirose K, Nakakura E, Corvera C, Maker AV, Kirkwood KS, Alseidi A, Adam MA. A Machine Learning Approach to Predict Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreaticoduodenectomy Using Only Preoperatively Known Data. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Nov; 30(12):7738-7747. View in PubMed
- Calthorpe L, Romero-Hernandez F, Casey M, Nunez M, Conroy PC, Hirose K, Kim A, Kirkwood K, Maker AV, Corvera C, Nakakura E, Alseidi A, Adam MA. ASO Visual Abstract: National Practice Patterns in Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma-Updates in Management and Survival. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Aug; 30(8):5131. View in PubMed
- Calthorpe L, Romero-Hernandez F, Casey M, Nunez M, Conroy PC, Hirose K, Kim A, Kirkwood K, Maker AV, Corvera C, Nakakura E, Alseidi A, Adam MA. National Practice Patterns in Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Updates in Management and Survival. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Aug; 30(8):5119-5129. View in PubMed
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In the News
- UCSF Department of Surgery - - October 02, 2017The Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators presented seven Department of Surgery faculty with the Excellence in Teaching Award for 2017 at a ceremony on September 11th at the UCSF School of Nursing, held in conjunction with the Academy's induction of new members. The Academy's Excellence in Teaching Awards are peer-nominated, and honor outstanding front-line teachers of medical students, residents, and fellows who often go unrecognized. These teachers create and encourage an intellectually [...]
- UCSF General Surgery - July 31, 2010Point Break LIVE! - a stage adaptation of the 1992 cult classic film starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, held its last San Francisco engagement on Saturday, July 31st. As a tribute to Patrick Swayze, who died of pancreatic cancer last year, donations were collected to benefit the work of Kimberly Kirkwood, M.D. (left) a pancreatic surgeon and investigator in the UCSF Division of General Surgery. Our thanks go out to the cast and crew of this raucous and uproarious show for their [...]
- UCSF Surgical Oncology Program - July 15, 2009For now, the only possible route to outliving pancreas cancer is complete removal of the tumor via surgery. Surgery for pancreas cancer is long and demanding, and surgeons must be practiced to consistently perform it well. Pancreas cancer surgery outcomes are better at high-volume, major medical centers such as UCSF, where surgeons can specialize - perfecting and maintaining skills and deepening their experience and judgment. UCSF surgeons Kimberly Kirkwood, M.D., and Eric Nakakura, M.D., [...]
- UCSF General Surgery - May 27, 2009Pancreatic cancer can be a terrifying diagnosis. Dr. Kimberly Kirkwood, a Professor of Surgery at UCSF, was invited by the web portal, Patient Power, to discuss the latest diagnostic tools and treatments for extending the lives of those diagnosed with this disease. Dr. Kirkwood is a pancreatic cancer specialist and gastrointestinal surgeon who specializes in the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as tumors of the stomach, spleen, gallbladder, bile duct and gastrointestinal tract.