Kodi K. Azari, MD
Accepting new patients

Kodi K. Azari, MD

  • Hand Surgery
Average rating: 4.9
(240 ratings)  
Westwood Orthopaedic Surgery | 100 Medical Plaza, Suite 170, Los Angeles, CA 90095

About

Kodi Azari, MD, FACS is a Hand Surgeon, Microvascular Surgeon, and Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon. He is a full Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Plastic Surgery. Dr. Azari serves as the Reconstructive Transplantation Section Chief in the Department of Surgery and is the Medical Co-Director of Operation Mend which is a UCLA Heath System program aimed at providing complex reconstructive surgery for wounded service members injured in Operations Enduring freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Prior to his return to UCLA in 2008, he was the Director of the Hand Surgery Fellowship in the University of Pittsburgh Division of Plastic Surgery. He also served as the Chief of Hand Surgery at UPMC-Mercy Hospital.

Dr. Azari received his General Surgery and Plastic Surgery training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also completed a Tissue Engineering Fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University and a Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship at UCLA. Dr. Azari is board certified in Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. His clinical areas of interest include: all aspects of hand/ wrist surgery, microsurgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and aesthetic rejuvenation of the hand. Furthermore, Dr. Azari has been involved in both clinical and laboratory research for over 25 years and is the author of numerous research articles, book chapters, and presentations. He lectures extensively both nationally and internationally. His current research interests include: upper limb, face, and abdominal wall transplantation. In fact, he has the distinct professional honor to have been one of the lead surgeons on 7 hand transplantation operations including the first double hand transplantation and first arm transplantation performed in the United States.

Dr. Azari has been elected to prestigious organizations including: American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Hand Surgery, American Association for Hand Surgery, American College of Surgeons, International Society of Hand and Composite Tissue Allotransplantation, and is a founding member of the American Society for Reconstructive Transplantation. Additionally, he was the Associate Editor for the Annals of Plastic Surgery, Guest Editor for Current Concepts in Organ Transplantation, contributing editor for the Yearbook of Hand and Upper Limb Surgery, and serves as a consultant reviewer to several peer reviewed journals.

Patient Stories

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certifications

Surgery of the Hand, American Board of Plastic Surgery, 2006
Plastic Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery, 2005

Fellowships

Surgery of the Hand, UCLA School of Medicine, 2004
Bone Tissue Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2001

Residencies

Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2003
General Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2000

Internship

General Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1998

Degree

MD, East Carolina University School of Medicine, 1997

Recognitions

Locations

West Los Angeles

Westwood Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation| Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Surgery +5 more specialties
Santa Monica

Santa Monica Orthopaedic Surgery

Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Surgery| Hand Surgery| Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery +8 more specialties

Hospital Affiliations

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

In the News

A Second Hand, a Second Chance (UCLA Medicine Magazine, Summer 2011)
The delicate balance of hand transplants (Los Angeles Times)

Note: News website links may expire without notice.

Recognitions

  • Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2023
  • Super Doctors® Southern California 2023
  • Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2012- 2022
  • Super Doctors® Southern California 2012- 2022
  • Exceptional Physician of the Year award, UCLA Heath System, Los Angeles, CA (2017)
  • Innovation Award for Community Service, Los Angeles County Medical Association and Patient Care Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA (2013)
  • Commendation for service to the community, County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (2013)
  • Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding commitment to healing the wounds of war,  US Medical Department and Military National Training Center (2013)
  • Certificate of Recognition for Community Service, California State Legislature (2013)