Vatche G. Agopian, MD
Accepting new patients

Vatche G. Agopian, MD

  • Liver Transplant Surgery
Pfleger Liver Institute | 100 Medical Plaza, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90095

About

Dr. Vatche Agopian is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of the Dumont-UCLA Liver Cancer Center at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His clinical interests are focused on liver transplantation and the surgical management of both benign and malignant conditions of the liver and bile ducts (hepatobiliary surgery). He also serves as the Director of the Core Surgery Training Program and Associate Director of the General Surgery Training Program in the Department of Surgery. In addition to his clinical and educational activities, he is the Principal Investigator of a National Institutes of Health funded translational laboratory focused on the development of blood-based biomarkers (e.g. “liquid biopsy”) for the early detection and prognostication of hepatocellular carcinoma – the most common primary liver malignancy. In addition, he serves as Deputy Editor of the journal Liver Transplantation.

Patient Stories

Thank you Dr. Vatche Agopian

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certification

Surgery, American Board of Surgery, 2012

Fellowship

Multi-Organ Transplantation, UCLA School of Medicine, 2012

Residency

Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, 2010

Internship

Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, 2004

Degree

MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2003

Recognitions

  • American Society of Transplantation Clinical Science Investigator Award, 2021
  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons Rising Stars in Transplantation Award, 2018
  • Golden Scalpel Award (Teaching Excellence - Assistant Professor), UCLA, 2017
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Locations

West Los Angeles

Pfleger Liver Institute

Liver Transplant Surgery| Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery| Pediatric Liver Transplant Surgery +1 more specialty

Hospital Affiliations

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

Videos

Update on Liver Cancer - Vatche G. Agopian, MD | UCLA Primary Care Update 2015 - YouTube

Research

Interests

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
  • Prognostic and predicitve biomarkers
  • Liquid Biopsy

Recognitions

  • American Society of Transplantation Clinical Science Investigator Award, 2021
  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons Rising Stars in Transplantation Award, 2018
  • Golden Scalpel Award (Teaching Excellence - Assistant Professor), UCLA, 2017
  • Pacific Coast Surgical Association New Member Prize, 2017
  • American Surgical Association Foundation Fellowship Research Award, 2015
  • Golden Scalpel Award (Teaching Excellence, Assistant Professor), UCLA, 2015
  • Golden Scalpel Award (Outstanding Chief Resident), UCLA, 2010
  • Golden Apple Teaching Award (Outstanding Medical Student Teaching), UCLA, 2010
  • Wiley F. Barker Award (Outstanding Resident in Vascular Surgery), UCLA 2009
  • Outstanding Student Teaching Award, UCLA, 2007
  • Outstanding Student Teaching Award, UCLA, 2006
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Columbia University, 2003
  • Alfred M. Markowitz Endowment for Scholars, Columbia Univeristy, 2003
  • Robert F. Loeb Award, Columbia University, 2003
  • Arnold P. Gold Foundation Outstanding Humanism and Compassion, Columbia University, 2003
  • Abbie Knowlton Prize, Columbia University, 2002