W. Ray Kim, M.D.

My research interest includes (1) outcome analysis in liver disease and liver transplantation and (2) viral hepatitis. Outcomes research purport to understand the end result of disease processes and medical interventions from the patient and societal perspective.

My first program evaluates the outcome of patients with end-stage liver disease with or without liver transplantation. We developed the Model for Endstage Liver Disease (MELD), which is being used as a standard of liver disease severity in allocation of donated livers for transplantation. This program continues to research means to improve the accuracy of MELD.

My second program deals with epidemiology and outcome of viral hepatitis, specifically hepatitis B and C. These are common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States. My projects in hepatitis C address epidemiology and outcome of the infection. My work in hepatitis B is more clinical and includes clinical trials.