Heung Bae Kim

Dr. Heung Bae Kim is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and holds the Weitzman Family Chair in Surgical Innovation at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). He serves as Vice-Chair of Surgery for Clinical Operations, Director of the Pediatric Transplant Center, and Co-Director of the Midaortic & Renovascular Hypertension Center. Born in Korea and raised in Philadelphia, he completed his undergraduate education at Yale University (1989) and medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1993), followed by surgical training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (1994–2000). His pediatric surgical and liver transplant fellowships at BCH (2002) and Lahey Clinic (2004) preceded his leadership roles in establishing New England’s first intestine transplant program.

• Education
  • Yale University (1989, B.A.)
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1993, M.D.)
  • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (1994–2000, Surgery Residency)
  • Boston Children’s Hospital (2002, Pediatric Surgery)
  • Lahey Clinic (2004, Liver Transplantation)

Dr. Kim is a pioneer in pediatric transplantation surgery and innovative vascular reconstruction. His research focuses on transplant tolerance induction, short bowel syndrome management, and vascular anomalies in pediatric patients. He developed the Serial Transverse Enteroplasty (STEP) procedure for intestinal lengthening, now the global standard for short bowel syndrome, and introduced MAGIC (Mesenteric Artery Growth Improves Circulation) and TESLA (Tissue Expander Stimulated Lengthening of Arteries) procedures for midaortic syndrome without prosthetic grafts. His work spans transplant immunology, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and health equity in organ access.

His article trends (2022–2025) reveal expertise in pediatric liver/kidney transplantation, vascular reconstruction, anti-adhesion materials, and health policy analysis. Recent publications address immunotherapy for pediatric liver cancer, novel venous repair techniques, and post-transplant complications.

• Scientific Awards
  • Penn Pearls Teaching Award
  • Keith Reemstma Surgical Resident of the Year
  • Rosenkrantz Resident Research Award
  • Teacher of the Year (3× at BCH)
  • Sheikh Zayed Prize for Pediatric Surgical Innovation

Dr. Kim leads the Surgical Innovation Fellowship at BCH and has co-authored >100 publications. He has held leadership roles at UNOS and New England Donor Services, with international recognition for transplant protocols and surgical education.