Bio
Dr. Hwang specializes in early detection of gastrointestinal malignancies including esophageal cancer, gastric (stomach) cancer, pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer and colon cancer. Dr. Hwang performs advanced endoscopic procedures including EUS-FNA, ERCP and enteroscopy. In addition, Dr. Hwang also performs per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) to resect large colorectal polyps, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to resect early esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers.
Dr. Hwang has both a clinical and research interest in improving the early detection of gastric cancer. He is the Principal Investigator of the GAstric Precancerous conditions Study (GAPS), a prospective study of patients with gastric intestinal metaplasia and other precancerous conditions which combines comprehensive clinical and endoscopic data with a large bio-specimen repository. His research group uses both epidemiologic and translational approaches to understand risk factors for gastric cancer, and develop biomarkers to improve the early diagnosis of gastric cancers. He also directed public policy efforts to increase recognition of gastric cancer risk among high-risk populations, and serve as the Chairperson of the Asian American Stomach Cancer Disparity Task Force.
Dr. Hwang received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in electrical engineering. He then received his M.D. degree from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Washington. He did his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Washington and was a faculty member at the University of Washington from 2004 to 2017. He has been selected as one of “Seattle’s Top Doctors” by both Seattle Magazine and Seattle Metropolitan Magazine.
Dr. Hwang is board certified in gastroenterology. He is active with local, national and international professional societies. He is a fellow of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (FASGE) and is a past-president of the Pacific Northwest Gastroenterology Society.
In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Hwang is interested in medical device innovation. Dr. Hwang actively participates in research related to treatment of pancreatic cancer with focused ultrasound. He currently has NIH funding to investigate the use of focused ultrasound for enhancing drug delivery to pancreatic tumors. He is the current president of the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU).
