Akemi L. Kawaguchi, MD, MS, FACS
- Associate Professor
- Medical Director of Surgical Services, The Woman’s Hospital of Texas
- Director, Texas Pediatric Colorectal Program at UTHealth
Biography
Dr. Akemi Kawaguchi is an Associate Professor at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) in the Department of Pediatric Surgery. She completed her Surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA in 2006 and completed Pediatric Surgery training at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital in 2008. Dr. Kawaguchi is board certified in Surgery and Pediatric Surgery.
Dr. Kawaguchi’s research focuses on patient safety and quality. She is the surgeon champion for the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program – Pediatrics (NSQIP-P) at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. Her research includes team communication and handoffs. Clinically, Dr. Kawaguchi is the Medical Director of Surgical Services at the Woman’s Hospital of Texas as well as the Director of the Texas Pediatric Colorectal Program at UTHealth.
Education
- BA
- University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
- MD
- University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
- Internship
- General Surgery - Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Residency
- General Surgery - Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Fellowship
- Pediatric Surgery - Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
Areas of Interest
Clinical Interests
General Pediatric Surgery including neonatal disease, oncology, minimally invasive surgery, thoracic, abdominal surgery, with a special interest in the management of pediatric colorectal disorders.
Research Interests
Clinical research in pediatric surgery – patient safety, quality, and outcomes for neonatal and pediatric surgical diseases. Optimizing interdisciplinary teamwork and communication, engaging parents and families in patient safety.
Publications
Short, S. S.,Papillon, S.,Berel, D.,Ford, H. R.,Frykman, P. K.,Kawaguchi, A. Late onset of necrotizing enterocolitis in the full-term infant is associated with increased mortality: Results from a two-center analysis.
Kawaguchi, A.L., Shaul, D.B. Inguinal hernias can be accurately diagnosed using the parent’s digital photographs when the physical examination is nondiagnostic.
Kawaguchi A, Donahoe P, Ryan D. Management and Long-term Follow-up of Patients with Type III and IV Laryngotracheoesophageal Clefts. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 40(1): 158-64, 2005