Dr. Kinji L. Hawthorne, MD

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Get to know Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Kinji L. Hawthorne, who serves patients in La Quinta, California.

An established infectious disease specialist, Dr. Hawthorne is affiliated with The Desert Care Network in La Quinta, California. He has spent much of his medical career as a public health practitioner at different levels of government. His passion for most of his career is striving to maintain the health of the public against communicable diseases. His primary clinical interests include the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases such as HIV and Tuberculosis, and emerging infectious diseases that pose a risk on a population scale. 

Approaching each and every patient with an abundance of respect, transparency, consideration and empathy, he knows that every patient is a unique human being, therefore they have different needs and preferences. He strives to provide compassionate, individualized care to all those in need, and firmly believes in the power that knowledge has over fear, believing that fear leads to denial, and denial results in more patient suffering and worse outcomes.

One of his long standing principles of his practice is to empower his patients by educating them about how the body works and provide state-of-the-art information about their medical condition or diagnosis. His philosophy is that the more knowledge the patient has about their particular circumstances, the better positioned he or she is to make the best-informed decision.

Pertaining to his educational pursuits, Dr. Hawthorne earned his medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine. He then went on to complete an internship and residency at UCLA, followed by a fellowship at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

An expert in his field, he is board-certified in infectious disease and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Infectious disease is a medical specialty dealing with the prevention, the diagnosis, and the treatment of all infections. An infectious disease specialist’s practice also consists of managing nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections.

Among his most notable achievements, Dr. Hawthorne has been the recipient of the Patients’ Choice Award in 2018.

On a more personal note, he was born in Florida and raised in Alabama, being the youngest of six children. He is a beginner amateur stargazer, and is excited to be able to put his new telescope to use in the desert night sky.

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