At least nine Korean-American doctors in California have been recognized as Top Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Doctors.
Castle Connolly, a healthcare research and information organization, announced on May 7 the 722 members of the 2024 Top AAPI Doctors. This year’s list is twice more than that of last year, it said.
The honorees represent 38 states and 73 specialties. To select the top doctors of the year, Castle Connolly identified the top clinicians based on the diagnostic and treatment experiences shared by patients, the organization said in a press release.
Peer nominations, race, gender, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) values were also considered.
In California, more than nine Korean American doctors were recognized as top doctors. In Southern California, Dr. Gino Kim In, Medical Oncologist (USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck Hospital of USC), Dr. Eugene S. Kim, Pediatric Surgeon (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), Dr. Dong-Joon Lee, Plastic Surgeon (Kaiser Permanente LA/West LA), Dr. Edward Lee, Vascular & Interventional Radiologist (Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center), Dr. Brian June Song, Ophthalmologist (Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center), and Dr. Grant E. Lee, Ophthalmologist (LA General Medical Center, Providence St. Jude Medical Center, Cornerstone Eye Center) were selected.
In Northern California, Dr. Charles K. Lee, Plastic Surgeon (St. Mary’s Medical Center – SF, California Pacific Medical Center – Davies Campus, L Plastic Surgery), Dr. Andrea M. Park, Facial Plastic Surgeon and Otolaryngologist (UCSF Medical Center), and Dr. Stephen I. Ryu, Neurosurgeon (Palo Alto Medical Foundation) were selected.
Asian American physicians are recognized for their roles in the health and well-being of the growing Asian immigrant community.
“When immigrants come to the U.S., they may not have health insurance, and they may have difficulty communicating with their doctors,” said Dr. Erik Suh, founder of the Korean American Health Professional Association (KAHPA) and top doctor of Castle Connolly’s list, noting that Asian American physicians can help break down language barriers.
The AAPI population is the fastest-growing in the United States, according to federal census data with the last census of 2020 showing a 6 percent increase in the Asian population. The 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that 54% of Asians in the U.S. are foreign-born.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, HOONSIK WOO [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
