Hiroko Kunitake, MD, MPH

Scott R. Steele, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS

Dr. Hiroko Kunitake is a staff colon and rectal surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Hiroko was born in Lake Forest, Illinois, and received her undergraduate (biochemical sciences) at Harvard College and medical school training at the University of California-Los Angeles. She also received a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the USC Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. She went on to perform her general surgery residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital and completed her colon and rectal surgery residency training at the University of Minnesota. After spending a few years at Boston University, she went back to MGH, where she has stayed on as staff since 2016.

Hiroko is a busy clinician and academic surgeon, as well as an active researcher. She is a funded researcher from the American Association for Cancer Research, looking at Marine Omega-3 fatty acids for immunotherapy of colorectal cancer. She has written several peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, and has been involved in many national and regional society committees. She also serves as a reviewer for many peer-reviewed surgical journals to include IBD, DC&R, JAMA Surgery, and Surgical Endoscopy.

On a personal note, it has been great to watch how quickly Hiroko has risen to national prominence. She is a highly skilled clinician, and a tremendous academic surgeon. Hiroko is married to Michael Dembowski. When not at work, she enjoys attending concerts of all types and traveling. On behalf of the readers and staff of Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, I want to sincerely thank Dr. Kunitake for serving as a guest editor and for providing us with a superb issue on enhanced recovery.