AARON AHEARN, MD, PhD
Division Chief, Abdominal Transplantation
Surgical Director, Liver Transplant
Digestive Health Institute
Dr. Aaron Ahearn leads abdominal transplantation at Hoag, helping advance the organization’s growing liver and kidney transplant program. A dedicated transplant surgeon, he is driven by the opportunity to transform lives by helping critically ill patients return to healthier, fuller lives. He believes exceptional transplant outcomes depend on both surgical excellence and close collaboration among multidisciplinary care teams. Dr. Ahearn is equally committed to compassionate communication and an outstanding patient experience, ensuring patients and their families feel supported throughout the transplant journey. At Hoag, he is helping build a program grounded in clinical excellence, innovation, and personalized care. Dr. Ahearn received his medical education at the University of Maryland, completed his internship and residency in general surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, where he also went on to complete a fellowship in abdominal transplant.
Project: Why Is Colorectal Cancer Rising in Younger Adults?
Funding Request: $524,800
CARLOS BECERRA, MD
Margaret Givan Larkin Endowed Chair in Developmental Cancer Therapeutics Medical Director, Cancer Research
Hoag Family Cancer Institute
Dr. Carlos Becerra advances cancer research at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, where he serves as Medical Director of Cancer Research and specializes in gastrointestinal cancers and early-phase clinical trials. He leads efforts to expand access to innovative clinical trials, bringing promising new approaches to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment closer to patients. His work combines scientific inquiry with a compassionate, patient-centered approach, helping translate advances in cancer research into meaningful clinical progress. Previously, an assistant professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Becerra completed his fellowship in hematology and medical oncology there. Dr. Becerra attended medical school and completed his internship at the Universidad del Valle (Colombia), followed by his residency in internal medicine at Saint Francis Hospital in Illinois, where he was named chief resident. He remains committed to advancing cancer care through research, collaboration, and access to emerging therapies.
Project: Precision At the Source: Transforming Epilepsy Treatment
Funding Request: $400,000
JAMES PARK, DO
Co-Director, Epilepsy Program
Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute
Dr. James Park is a board-certified neurologist, epileptologist, and clinical neurophysiologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and seizures. At Hoag’s Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute, he helps advance the Hoag Epilepsy Program, providing comprehensive epilepsy care, including the evaluation of patients who may benefit from surgical treatment. Hoag is a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, the highest level of accreditation for epilepsy care, offering patients access to advanced diagnostic and treatment options. Dr. Park’s expertise was shaped by fellowship training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he worked with complex epilepsy cases and developed specialized skills in surgical evaluation and planning. He brings this experience to Hoag with a commitment to precision, innovation, and compassionate care, helping patients across Orange County access advanced treatment options and improve their quality of life.
*FUNDED* Project: Turning Cold Tumors Hot: A New Strategy Against Pancreatic Cancer
Funding Request: $550,000
KENNETH CHANG, MD, MASGE, AGAF, FACG, FJGES, FAFS
James & Pamela Muzzy Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair in GI Cancer
Executive Medical Director, Digestive Health Institute
Dr. Kenneth Chang leads Hoag’s Digestive Health Institute, advancing innovative approaches to diagnosing and treating complex gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. An internationally recognized gastroenterologist, researcher, and pioneer in interventional endoscopy, he has authored more than 480 scientific publications and developed technologies that have improved care for patients worldwide. His innovations include endoscopic approaches to treating precancerous conditions and digestive diseases, with a focus on less invasive therapies that can improve patient outcomes. Dr. Chang is also dedicated to mentoring the next generation of specialists and advancing the field through research and collaboration. At Hoag, his leadership brings together clinical expertise, scientific discovery, and technological innovation to move promising approaches in digestive cancer care toward better outcomes for patients. Dr. Chang received his medical education at Brown University, completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Rhode Island Hospital, and pursued fellowship training in gastroenterology at the University of California, Irvine.
