Sam Yoon
In 2021, Sam Yoon was named Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Vice-Chair of Surgical Oncology Research and Education at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is an internationally acclaimed expert in the management of sarcomas, stomach, gastroesophageal junction cancers, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). His work includes leading multiple critical clinical trials and giving lectures on these topics at prestigious medical conferences worldwide. His expertise is vital in addressing gastric cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally, with over a million new cases and more than 750,000 deaths annually.
Patients Turn to Him for Care
Renowned for his commitment to exceptional and patient-focused care, he attracts patients from the tri-state area. His contributions to medicine earned him the distinction of being named one of the best doctors in America from 2010 to 2011 and 2017 to 2020. His practice locations include the CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York City and additional offices in Bronxville, Cortland Manor, New York, and Englewood, New Jersey.
Academic Background
He completed his undergraduate education at Harvard University and his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego. His medical training continued with a general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, recognized as one of the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
Extensive Medical Experience
Before his current appointment, he served as an Attending Surgeon in the Division of Gastric and Mixed Tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and as a Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. He was also an Associate Professor of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School before transitioning to Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2012.
A Leader in Surgical Techniques
Dr. Sam Yoon has been a frontrunner in using minimally invasive robotic surgery, having completed over 300 such procedures, including robotic gastrectomies. This advanced surgical method minimizes patient recovery time and uses cutting-edge technology, such as high-resolution cameras and robotic instruments.
He developed an innovative surgical technique for treating patients with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) syndrome resulting from germline CDH1 mutations, noted for its significantly low leakage rates. Surgical specialists across the country now employ this technique.
He is actively involved in collaborative research projects funded by organizations such as Stand Up To Cancer and the DeGregorio Family Foundation for Gastric and Esophageal Cancer Research. In 2019, he co-led a project with a researcher from the University of Pennsylvania, funded by a $100,000 grant from the DeGregorio Family Foundation. His research group at Columbia was later awarded $3 million in 2020 to further their work on developing early diagnostic tests for gastric cancer.
His contributions to the field are reflected in over 150 published original research articles, book chapters, and reviews. He has also served on the Annals of Surgical Oncology and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery editorial boards.
Recognitions and Awards
His career achievements have been recognized with several awards, including the American College of Surgeons/Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Health Policy Scholar Award (2019-2020), teaching awards from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the New England Surgical Society’s 2017 Paper of the Year Award, the Josef E. Fischer International Traveling Fellowship Award for Surgeons in Academic Practice, and the Clinical Investigator Award from the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (2009-2011).
Personal Interests
He developed a passion for golf from an early age, having grown up next to a golf course. This hobby has provided him with both a physical and mental escape from the demands of his medical career. More recently, he has taken up woodworking, a pursuit that allows him to bring his creative ideas to life, crafting pieces he showcases on Instagram as lasting and meaningful works.
In his professional and personal endeavors, Sam Yoon exemplifies a profound dedication to advancing surgical techniques and enhancing patient outcomes, firmly establishing him as a leading figure in surgical oncology.