Don O. Kikkawa, MD, FACS is the 2014 president of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).
Headquartered in Minneapolis, this 600-member society was established to advance education, research and the quality of clinical practice in the fields of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery specializing in the eyelids, orbits, lacrimal system and face.
To help train well qualified physicians, ASOPRS sponsors specialized fellowship training for postgraduate physicians who have completed an accredited ophthalmology residency. The aociety has over 600 national and international members.
Kikkawa is the first person of an ethnic minority to be elected president in the 45-year history of ASOPRS. He is currently professor of clinical ophthalmology, chief of the Division of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and vice chairman at the UC San Diego Department of Ophthalmology and UCSD Shiley Eye Center in La Jolla. He joined the UCSD ophthalmology faculty in 1993 and is co-director of the UCSD Thyroid Eye Center and a former program director of UCSD’s ophthalmology residency.
Kikkawa earned a BA (magna cum laude) in biochemistry from UCSD and an MD (magna cum laude) from St. Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri. He completed his internship at UCSD, his residency at Jules Stein Eye Institute (UCLA) and a fellowship in ophthalmic plastic and orbital surgery at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
His clinical interests include aesthetic and reconstructive oculofacial surgery; orbital surgery; thyroid orbitopathy; craniofacial disorders involving the eyelids and orbits; and tumors.
His professional activities include: director, ASOPRS Accredited Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship; vice president (2012) and president-elect (2013), ASOPRS; Scientific Program chair, ASOPRS (2010); program chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Inaugural Oculofacial Subspecialty Day (2010); Oculoplastic Program coordinator, World Ophthalmology Congress, Abu Dhabi (2012); program chair, ASOPRS Spring Meeting (2009); Medical Advisory Board, American Society of Ocularists; and volunteer surgeon, DOCS (Doctors Offering Charitable Services) and Fresh Start Surgical Gifts.
He has also served as an instructional course director at several AAO Annual Meetings and was AAO Lifelong Education for the Ophthalmologist (LEO) chair in 2007.
Kikkawa is on the editorial board of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (OPRS) and serves as scientific referee for several other important ophthalmology journals.
He has numerous publications and has authored or contributed to several important titles on ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, including: “Clinical Atlas of Procedures in Ophthalmic and Oculofacial Surgery” (section editor), “Ophthalmology Clinical and Surgical Principles,” “Color Atlas of Oculoplastic Surgery,” “Video Atlas of Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,” and “Midfacial Rejuvenation.”
He has been invited to lecture at many national and international symposia held by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, World Ophthalmology Congress, Asia Pacific Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and National Graves Foundation.
Kikkawa’s many honors include: Best Doctors in America; America’s Top Doctor; San Diego Magazine’s Physicians of Exceptional Excellence; AAO’s Senior Achievement Award; Marvin H. Quickert Thesis Award; ASOPRS Research Award; and Lester T. Jones Surgical Anatomy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.