Roy M. Fujitani, MD

Dr. Fujitani is a Professor of Surgery, Founding Chief of the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and Vice Chair of Surgical Education and Faculty Development at the University of California – Irvine School of Medicine.

He is a native of the Big Island of Hawaii, raised in rural Ahualoa in the Hamakua Coast. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California and medical doctorate degree at the University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine. He completed his General Surgery residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Vascular Surgery Fellowship at the University of Chicago. He then served in active duty with the US Air Force Medical Corps at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center (WHMC) at Lackland AFB, TX where he attained the rank of Lt Colonel. He was appointed Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the University of Texas – San Antonio. He assumed the role of Chief of the Section of Vascular Surgery at WHMC and Chief Consultant to the USAF Surgeon General. Following his 6-year USAF active-duty tour, he was recruited to the University of California – Irvine, and appointed Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. He also provided continued federal service with an appointment at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center – Long Beach.

He has held societal leadership roles including President of the San Antonio Vascular Surgery Society (now Texas Society for Vascular & Endovascular Surgery); Los Angeles Surgical Society; Southern California Vascular Surgery Society; and Executive Council of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society (now Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society); American College of Surgeons Southern California Chapter; and Strategic Board of the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Having a passion for surgical education, Dr. Fujitani had received 28 prominent teaching awards, including the prestigious University of California Academic Senate Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching, over his academic career. He has served as principal investigator or sub investigator for more than 45 clinical trials. He has contributed to the surgical literature with over 215 peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and textbook chapters.

He delivered the presidential address at the 39th Annual WVS meeting entitled, “Discover your “Ikigai” in Mentorship – Safeguarding our Vascular Surgery Specialty.” Dr. Fujitani resides in Irvine, CA with his wife, Lynette, and son, Brent.