He went to Duke University for his undergraduate education in Economics and then to medical school at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark. From there he began his career in orthopaedic surgery through his residency at Tufts Medical Center and the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
After his residency, Dr. Kwak chose to undergo additional training in sports medicine by completing a fellowship at the world-renowned Southern California Orthopedic Institute. He is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and has received additional specialty board certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He spent the following decade in a busy private practice in Northeast New Jersey while remaining active in the teaching of surgical residents and medical students. He became well known throughout the region as an expert in hip and shoulder arthroscopy, receiving referrals from other orthopaedic surgeons for his expertise in these areas. As a result, he had been named a New Jersey “Top Doctor” for several consecutive years in multiple publications and has since been named a Southern California “Super Doctor”.
Dr. Kwak returned to Southern California to become more involved in teaching and clinical research and to focus his skills in hip, shoulder, and knee arthroscopy. He has published a book chapter on hip arthroscopy and has contributed research in nationally recognized peer-reviewed journals regarding cartilage restoration and ligament reconstruction and repair. In addition, he has spoken and presented his research at national and international society meetings and remains active in teaching other orthopaedic surgeons the latest techniques and advances of arthroscopic surgery, serving as an associate Master Instructor in hip and shoulder arthroscopy for the Arthroscopy Association of North America and currently serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Arthroscopy.
Dr. Kwak is committed to providing the highest level of care for every one of his patients – whether or not they need surgery. He believes in treating the patient and his or her ailments on an individual basis – every patient is different, with needs, goals, and expectations varying from person to person. He understands the profound trust given to the doctor by the patient and takes this trust very seriously. He is committed to humanitarian work, having spent 2 medical mission trips to Ethiopia performing and teaching ACL reconstructions to local surgeons.
