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.
Videos
Education
| Institution | Degree | Dept or School | End Date | 
|---|---|---|---|
| UCSF | General Surgery Board Certification | Department of Surgery | 2014 | 
| UCSF | General Surgery Board Certification | Department of Surgery | 2004 | 
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Clinical Instructor/Pancreas Fellow | Department of Surgery | 1994 | 
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Pancreas/Advanced General Surgery Fellowship | Department of Surgery | 1994 | 
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Residency in General Surgery | Department of Surgery | 1993 | 
| UCLA | Pancreas/GI Research Fellowship | Department of Surgery | 1991 | 
| University of Pennsylvania | M.D. | School of Medicine | 1985 | 
| Reed College | B.A. | 1981 | 
Board Certifications
- American Board of Surgery, 1994, recertified 2014
Awards & Honors
| Award | Conferred By | Date | 
|---|---|---|
| Excellence in Teaching Award | Inaugural, UCSF Department of Surgery Junior Residents | 2015 | 
| Excellence in Teaching Award | UCSF Department of Surgery Chief Residents | 2014 | 
| Excellence in Teaching Award | UCSF School of Medicine, Surgical Clerkship | 2013 | 
| Excellence in Teaching Award | UCSF Department of Surgery Chief Residents | 2012 | 
| AGA Student Abstract Prize (Victoria Lyo), | American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Foundation | 2010 | 
| Howard Hughes Research Fellowship (Victoria Lyo), | Howard Hughes Medical Institute | 2010 | 
| Howard Hughes Research Fellowship (Victoria Lyo), | Howard Hughes Medical Institute | 2010 | 
| Pancreas Club Warren Award (Victoria Lyo), | Pancreas Club | 2010 | 
| Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching Nomination | UCSF School of Medicine | 2010 | 
| Excellence in Teaching Award | UCSF Department of Surgery Chief Residents | 2008/2009 | 
| Excellence in Teaching Award | UCSF Department of Surgery Chief Residents | 2008/2009 | 
| Excellence in Teaching Award | UCSF Department of Surgery Chief Residents | 2004 | 
| Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching Nomination | UCSF School of Medicine | 2004 | 
| Excellence in Teaching Award | UCSF Department of Surgery Residents | 2001 | 
| Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching Nomination | UCSF School of Medicine | 1999 | 
| Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching Nomination | UCSF School of Medicine | 1997 | 
| Claude E. Welch Research Fellowship Award | Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospita | 1989/1990 | 
| President, Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society | University of Pennsylvania Chapter | 1983 | 
| Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society | Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society | 1981 | 
| Walter Croll Scholarship | University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine | 1981 | 
Clinical Expertise
Benign Pancreatic Lesions
Biliary Tract Surgery
Gallbladder Surgery
Pancreatic Cancer
Stomach and Gastrointestinal Surgery
Clinical Trials
- UCSF PANC Cyst Registry (NCT04291651)Related Conditions: Pancreatic Cyst, Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Pancreatic Diseases, Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm, Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma| Start Date: | End Date:
In the News
Grants and Funding
- Molecular Correlates of progression in pancreatic cystic neoplasms | NCI/NIH | 2015-07-01 - 2021-06-30 | Role: Site Principal Investigator, UCSF
- Minimally Invasive Classification of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms | V Foundation | 2017-11-01 - 2020-11-01 | Role: Principal Investigator
- Development of fluorogenic substrates for the diagnosis of pancreatic cysts | UCSF Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute | 2017-02-01 - 2018-06-30 | Role: Principal Investigator
- Non-invasive Differentiation of Benign Lesions from Aggressive Pancreatic Cancer | NIH | 2015-01-01 - 2017-12-31 | Role: Co-Principal Investigator
- Neural Regulation of Pancreatic Function | NIH | 1994-05-15 - 2014-03-31 | Role: Principal Investigator
Publications
- Minimally Invasive Versus Open Resection for Solid Pseudopapillary Tumors of the Pancreas: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.| | PubMed PubMed
- An integrated multi-omics biomarker approach using molecular profiling and microRNAs for evaluation of pancreatic cyst fluid.| | PubMed PubMed
- Robotic-assisted trans-mesocolic side-to-side duodenojejunostomy for palliative management of malignant distal duodenal obstruction.| | PubMed PubMed
- Adult Pancreatoblastoma: Clinical Insights and Outcomes Compared to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC).| | PubMed PubMed
- Graft choice in pancreatectomy with vascular resection: equivalent safety in selected patients.| | PubMed PubMed
- ASO Visual Abstract: Long-Duration Neoadjuvant Therapy with FOLFIRINOX Yields Favorable Outcomes for Patients Who Undergo Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer.| | PubMed PubMed
- Distinct Indications for Adjuvant Therapy in Resected Invasive Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms of the Pancreas Compared with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.| | PubMed PubMed
- Long-Duration Neoadjuvant Therapy with FOLFIRINOX Yields Favorable Outcomes for Patients Who Undergo Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer.| | PubMed PubMed
- National practice patterns in the use of endoscopic ultrasound biopsy for resectable Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Insights into the role of DOTATATE PET/CT in diagnosis.| | PubMed PubMed
- A Novel Machine Learning Approach to Predict Textbook Outcome in Colectomy.| | PubMed PubMed
- Addressing the unmet clinical need for low-volume assays in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.| | PubMed PubMed
- A Machine Learning Approach to Predict Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreaticoduodenectomy Using Only Preoperatively Known Data.| | PubMed PubMed
- ASO Visual Abstract: National Practice Patterns in Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma-Updates in Management and Survival.| | PubMed PubMed
- National Practice Patterns in Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Updates in Management and Survival.| | PubMed PubMed
- Robotic-assisted approach for complex cholecystectomies.| | PubMed PubMed
- Hypertension Requiring Medication Use: a Silent Predictor of Poor Outcomes After Pancreaticoduodenectomy.| | PubMed PubMed
- Contemporary Trends in Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Incidence and Survival in the United States.| | PubMed PubMed
- Implementation, evaluation, and modification of a near-peer learning group in graduate surgical education.| | PubMed PubMed
- Hand-Assisted Versus Pure Minimally-Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy: Is There a Downside to Lending a Hand?| | PubMed PubMed
- Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy Techniques: A Contemporary Analysis Exploring Trends, Similarities, and Differences to Open Surgery.| | PubMed PubMed
- Accurate Identification of Mucinous Pancreatic Cystic Lesions Using Small-Volume Analytes.| | PubMed PubMed
- Translation of a Protease Turnover Assay for Clinical Discrimination of Mucinous Pancreatic Cysts.| | PubMed PubMed
- Assessing the role of robotic proctectomy in obese patients: a contemporary NSQIP analysis.| | PubMed PubMed
- ASO Visual Abstract: Determining Hospital Volume Threshold for the Safety of Minimally Invasive Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Contemporary Cutpoint Analysis.| | PubMed PubMed
- Determining Hospital Volume Threshold for Safety of Minimally Invasive Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Contemporary Cutpoint Analysis.| | PubMed PubMed
- The surgical resident experience in serious illness communication: A qualitative needs assessment with proposed solutions.| | PubMed PubMed
- Burden of Ionizing Radiation in the Diagnosis and Management of Necrotizing Pancreatitis.| | PubMed PubMed
- Plasma miRNA Biomarkers in Limited Volume Samples for Detection of Early-stage Pancreatic Cancer.| | PubMed PubMed
- Cost-effectiveness of consensus guideline based management of pancreatic cysts: The sensitivity and specificity required for guidelines to be cost-effective.| | PubMed PubMed
- Theranostic Targeting of CUB Domain Containing Protein 1 (CDCP1) in Pancreatic Cancer.| | PubMed PubMed
- Ampullary stenosis and choledocholithiasis post Roux-En-Y gastric bypass: challenges of biliary access and intervention.| | PubMed PubMed
- The lysosomal aminopeptidase tripeptidyl peptidase 1 displays increased activity in malignant pancreatic cysts.| | PubMed PubMed
- Abdominal Imaging of Pancreatic Cysts and Cyst-Associated Pancreatic Cancer in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.| | PubMed PubMed
- Comparison of Tumor Regression Grading of Residual Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Without Radiation: Would Fewer Tier-Stratification Be Favorable Toward Standardization?| | PubMed PubMed
- Managing Refractory Postoperative Fistulas as Chronic Wounds Using Video-Assisted Hydrodebridement (VAHD).| | PubMed PubMed
- Surgical overtreatment of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: Do the 2017 International Consensus Guidelines improve clinical decision making?| | PubMed PubMed
- Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas: Current Understanding and Future Directions for Stratification of Malignancy Risk.| | PubMed PubMed
- Gangrenous cholecystitis: innovative laparoscopic techniques to facilitate subtotal fenestrating cholecystectomy when a critical view of safety cannot be achieved.| | PubMed PubMed
- Global Protease Activity Profiling Provides Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cysts.| | PubMed PubMed
- Early and accurate diagnosis of pancreatic cancer?| | PubMed PubMed
- Preoperative FOLFIRINOX for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: Is radiation necessary in the modern era of chemotherapy?| | PubMed PubMed
- Next generation sequencing of pancreatic cyst fluid microRNAs from low grade-benign and high grade-invasive lesions.| | PubMed PubMed
- Serine proteases and protease-activated receptor 2 mediate the proinflammatory and algesic actions of diverse stimulants.| | PubMed PubMed
- Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 mediates chronic pancreatitis pain in mice.| | PubMed PubMed
- Informed consent for innovative surgery: a survey of patients and surgeons.| | PubMed PubMed
- Active cathepsins B, L, and S in murine and human pancreatitis.| | PubMed PubMed
- Ethical management of conflict of interest: proposed standards for academic surgical societies.| | PubMed PubMed
- Serine proteases mediate inflammatory pain in acute pancreatitis.| | PubMed PubMed
- Transient receptor potential ion channels V4 and A1 contribute to pancreatitis pain in mice.| | PubMed PubMed
- Technique for placement of lumboperitoneal catheters using a combined laparoscopic procedure with the Seldinger micropuncture technique.| | PubMed PubMed
- MUC5AC, a gel-forming mucin accumulating in gallstone disease, is overproduced via an epidermal growth factor receptor pathway in the human gallbladder.| | PubMed PubMed
- Trends in laparoscopic splenectomy for massive splenomegaly.| | PubMed PubMed
- Calcitonin gene-related peptide partially mediates nociception in acute experimental pancreatitis.| | PubMed PubMed
- Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and substance P mediate nociception in acute pancreatitis.| | PubMed PubMed
- Neutral endopeptidase determines the severity of pancreatitis-associated lung injury.| | PubMed PubMed
- Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV-1) promotes neurogenic inflammation in the pancreas via activation of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R).| | PubMed PubMed
- Medical versus surgical management of biliary tract disease in pregnancy.| | PubMed PubMed
- Pancreatic resection in the elderly.| | PubMed PubMed
- Activation of nociceptive neurons in T9 and T10 in cerulein pancreatitis.| | PubMed PubMed
- SIR 2003 film panel case 5: massive hemorrhage from portal vein disruption.| | PubMed PubMed
- Lovastatin alters biliary lipid composition and dissolves gallstones: a long-term study in prairie dogs.| | PubMed PubMed
- Recombinant human neutral endopeptidase ameliorates pancreatic elastase-induced lung injury.| | PubMed PubMed
- Pathophysiology of gallstone pancreatitis.| | PubMed PubMed
- Deletion of neutral endopeptidase exacerbates intestinal inflammation induced by Clostridium difficile toxin A.| | PubMed PubMed
- NK-1 receptor desensitization and neutral endopeptidase terminate SP-induced pancreatic plasma extravasation.| | PubMed PubMed
- Substance P is a determinant of lethality in diet-induced hemorrhagic pancreatitis in mice.| | PubMed PubMed
- Substance P mediates inflammatory oedema in acute pancreatitis via activation of the neurokinin-1 receptor in rats and mice.| | PubMed PubMed
- Substance P inhibits pancreatic exocrine secretion via a neural mechanism.| | PubMed PubMed
- Recent advances. General surgery.| | PubMed PubMed
- Prognostic indicators for cancer. Gastric cancer.| | PubMed PubMed
- Substance P and bradykinin stimulate plasma extravasation in the mouse gastrointestinal tract and pancreas.| | PubMed PubMed
- Neuroendocrine tumors: common presentations of uncommon diseases.| | PubMed PubMed
 
    