David G. Hwang, MD

Dr. David Hwang is an ophthalmologist specializing in corneal, cataract and refractive surgery. He has special interests in ocular infectious diseases, corneal endothelial dystrophies and diseases (conditions in which one of the cornea's layers is breaking down), and high-risk corneal transplantation. He is committed to developing innovative techniques and instruments for ophthalmologic surgery.

In research, Hwang's work includes translational endeavors – applying new information from studies to patient care – for corneal endothelial diseases. In particular, he has looked at cellular transplantation and gene therapy approaches to treatment.

A native of Illinois, Hwang obtained both his undergraduate and medical degrees from UCSF, graduating first in his medical school class. After a two-year residency in internal medicine and a three-year residency in ophthalmology, both at UCSF, he completed concurrent fellowships in cornea and refractive surgery and in uveitis at the Doheny Eye Institute.

In 1990, Hwang joined the faculty at UCSF, where he is the Pearl T. Kimura and Samuel J. Kimura Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology. He also serves as co-director of UCSF's cornea and refractive surgery services, and holds a joint appointment as associate of the UCSF Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology. He has served as UCSF's medical director of ophthalmology and as medical eye bank director of UCSF's tissue bank.

Hwang has served in leadership and executive roles in a number of professional organizations, including president of the Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group, and executive secretary of the Max Fine Cornea Society. For the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he chaired a joint task force on the use of vancomycin in ophthalmology. He served on the writing committee for the AAO's Basic and Clinical Science Course's volume on cornea and external eye disease, authoring and editing the section on ocular infectious and external eye disease.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has honored Hwang with awards, including the Senior Achievement Award. He has been named to the Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors list every year since 1996. He has published more than 100 scientific papers and abstracts, and co-authored two texts on cornea and refractive surgery.

A committed educator, Hwang is active in teaching UCSF medical students, residents and fellows. He has received the Kimura Award for Excellence in Teaching from the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology.

Hwang lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, who is also an ophthalmologist, and their three sons.