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Q & A with Eastern Kang, Terence Doherty and Jessica Johnston

From left: Eastern Kang and Jessica Johnston in front of plants
Eastern Kang, Ph.D., Terence Doherty, and Jessica Johnston all support research in the Department of Surgery. Kang is a biostatistician; Doherty is a senior grant writer; and Johnston provides administrative support and organizes research to encourage collaboration. Together, they help the department drive impactful surgical research.

Photo from left: Eastern Kang and Jessica Johnston
Terence Doherty not pictured

August 29, 2025 | Interview by Samantha Phan

What is your role in research in the Department of Surgery?

EK: When researchers want to explore new possibilities with existing data, I contribute my statistical expertise to create a more robust statistical analysis and show patterns in the data. For example, if a surgeon provides me with research data, I can apply statistical techniques that are most suitable for that data set based on research conditions and sample size. I can also locate and eliminate inaccuracies in existing statistical analyses.

TD: I’m here to help everyone with grant writing, whatever that might entail. If you just want me to do a spelling and grammar check at the end, that’s what I do. If you need help concocting specific aims or don’t have a lot of experience with grant writing, or even know how to write effectively at all, I can also help with that. I try to tailor what I do to the needs of the people who are asking me for help.

JJ: My role is on the logistical side — I set up research meetings and conferences, collect abstracts and make sure that our researchers have the resources they need. If there is a training session, I organize it. I invite the speakers, reserve the room and set up the Zoom recording. If someone needs research help and doesn’t know where to go, I am the go-to person to contact.

What was your path to UC San Diego?

EK: I received my bachelor’s and Ph.D. from UC San Diego, and prior to working at the Department of Surgery, I was with the Department of Pediatrics for 14 years as a project scientist. I joined the Department of Surgery in October of last year.

TD: I worked as a cardiovascular technician for 16 years. Then, around 2001, I was recruited by Cedars-Sinai to write grants, which I had relatively little experience with at the time. However, I learned on the job and became quite successful. From there, I was recruited to the Lundquist Institute for grant writing. Then, in 2021, I joined the UC San Diego Department of Surgery as a grant writer. 

JJ: I am a generational employee of UC San Diego. My grandmother worked in custodial services, my mom worked in human resources and my sister worked at the Autism Center of Excellence. It was always my dream to work here, so after I graduated from college with my bachelor’s degree in business administration, I applied right away.

What drives you to work in surgical research?

EK: Because it saves lives. Unlike some other fields that I have done research in, surgery is immediate and can save someone’s life.  We need to continue to perform research and apply modern techniques to disentangle data and provide a different perspective, advancing surgery so that we can continue this work.

TD: I think it is extremely important that UC San Diego cultivates scientific inquiry. It is one of the things that keeps our department at the forefront of surgery and academics in general. We ask cutting-edge questions and design ways to answer those questions. It’s not just surgery itself — it’s clinical work, quality improvement and basic scientific research. We are training the next generation of surgeons.

JJ: Research for me is personal. My father has chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and it is because of research and clinical trials that he has received treatment. The rapid advancements in various fields show the impact of research on human health. I believe that surgeon scientists can create a future where care is safer, more effective and more personalized.

Eastern Kang, Ph.D., Terence Doherty and Jessica Johnston work with faculty and research trainees in the Department of Surgery. To contact them, email:

Eastern Kang, Ph.D.: dkangsim@health.ucsd.edu

Terence Doherty: tmdoherty@health.ucsd.edu

Jessica Johnston: jmjohnston@health.ucsd.edu