
Vatche G. Agopian, MD
Suite 214
Los Angeles, California 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
Languages
Education
Medical Board Certification
Fellowship
Residency
Internship
Degree
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 See More
Locations
Pfleger Liver Institute

Hospital Affiliations
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
Areas of Focus
Videos
Research
Interests
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Cholangiocarcinoma
- Prognostic and predicitve biomarkers
- Liquid Biopsy
Publications
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