Sam Yoon
Chief and Division of Surgical Oncology in New York
Since 2021, Sam Yoon has been instrumental as the Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Vice-Chair of Surgical Oncology Research and Education at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. His expertise includes treating sarcomas, stomach and gastroesophageal junction cancers, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). He leads numerous vital clinical trials and frequently lectures at international medical conferences, focusing on strategies to combat gastric cancer, which accounts for more than a million new cases and 750,000 deaths globally each year.
He is renowned for his exemplary patient-centered approach to care, which has earned him recognition as one of the Best Doctors in America in 2010-2011 and 2017-2020. His clinical practice spans several locations, including the CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York City and additional offices in Bronxville, Cortland Manor in New York, and Englewood, New Jersey.
Yoon completed his undergraduate education at Harvard University, followed by a medical degree from the University of California, San Diego. He furthered his medical training with a general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, designated National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Before his current role, he was an attending surgeon in the Division of Gastric and Mixed Tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering. He served as a professor at Weill Cornell Medical College. He also held an associate professorship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School before his move to Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2012.
He has pioneered minimally invasive robotic surgery advancements, completing over 300 such procedures, including robotic gastrectomies. This innovative approach minimizes patient discomfort and speeds recovery through smaller incisions and state-of-the-art robotic technology. His scholarly output is extensive, with more than 150 research articles, book chapters, and reviews. He is actively involved in impactful research initiatives funded by organizations like Stand Up To Cancer and the DeGregorio Family Foundation for Gastric and Esophageal Cancer Research, focusing on pioneering early diagnostic tests and new treatments.
Dr. Sam Yoon's profound commitment to advancing surgical oncology and enhancing patient care continues to significantly impact the medical community and the lives of countless patients.