Sam Yoon
Appointed in 2021, Sam Yoon is currently the Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Vice-Chair of Surgical Oncology Research and Education at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. His renowned expertise spans the treatment of sarcomas, gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). He actively leads a range of groundbreaking clinical trials. He is a prominent speaker on these topics at medical conferences globally, reflecting his pivotal role in combatting gastric cancer—a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, annually affecting over a million people and resulting in more than 750,000 deaths.
Sought After for His Expertise
His reputation for delivering superior, patient-centric care has made him a preferred specialist for patients across the tri-state area. Recognized repeatedly as one of the best doctors in America from 2010 to 2011 and again from 2017 to 2020, he consults at CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York City. He maintains additional practices in Bronxville, Cortland Manor, New York, and Englewood, New Jersey.
Educational Journey
His educational journey began at Harvard University, where he completed his undergraduate degree. He later acquired his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego. His postgraduate training included a general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and a surgical oncology fellowship at the distinguished Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, designated as one of the National Cancer Institute's Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
Professional Progression
Before his current role, he worked as an Attending Surgeon at the Division of Gastric and Mixed Tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He was a Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. Previously, he was an Associate Professor of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School before transitioning to Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2012.
Innovative Surgical Contributions
Dr. Sam Yoon has pioneered the adoption of minimally invasive robotic surgery, having performed over 300 such procedures, including robotic gastrectomies. This method, which uses smaller incisions than traditional surgery, utilizes advanced robotic tools and high-resolution cameras.
His innovative approach is also evident in developing a novel surgical technique for patients with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) syndrome due to germline CDH1 mutations, known for its notably low leakage rates and now widely used across the United States.
He plays a significant role in multi-institutional research initiatives funded by Stand Up To Cancer and the DeGregorio Family Foundation for Gastric and Esophageal Cancer Research. In 2019, he co-led a project with a colleague from the University of Pennsylvania that earned a $100,000 grant from the DeGregorio Family Foundation. In 2020, his research team at Columbia was awarded $3 million to advance the development of early diagnostic tests for gastric cancer.
He has authored over 150 original research articles, book chapters, and reviews. He has served on the editorial boards of prestigious journals such as the Annals of Surgical Oncology and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.
Honors and Recognition
His extensive contributions to surgical oncology have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the American College of Surgeons/Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Health Policy Scholar Award (2019-2020), multiple teaching awards from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the 2017 Paper of the Year Award from the New England Surgical Society, 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).
Beyond the Operating Room
He took up golf early in life, thanks to a golf course adjacent to his childhood home, enjoying the sport's social and relaxing benefits. Additionally, he has recently ventured into woodworking, embracing the craft to creatively engage and produce enduring works, which he proudly displays on Instagram.
Throughout his career, Sam Yoon has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassionate patient care, solidifying his status as a leader in the surgical oncology field.
Sought After for His Expertise
His reputation for delivering superior, patient-centric care has made him a preferred specialist for patients across the tri-state area. Recognized repeatedly as one of the best doctors in America from 2010 to 2011 and again from 2017 to 2020, he consults at CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York City. He maintains additional practices in Bronxville, Cortland Manor, New York, and Englewood, New Jersey.
Educational Journey
His educational journey began at Harvard University, where he completed his undergraduate degree. He later acquired his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego. His postgraduate training included a general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and a surgical oncology fellowship at the distinguished Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, designated as one of the National Cancer Institute's Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
Professional Progression
Before his current role, he worked as an Attending Surgeon at the Division of Gastric and Mixed Tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He was a Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. Previously, he was an Associate Professor of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School before transitioning to Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2012.
Innovative Surgical Contributions
Dr. Sam Yoon has pioneered the adoption of minimally invasive robotic surgery, having performed over 300 such procedures, including robotic gastrectomies. This method, which uses smaller incisions than traditional surgery, utilizes advanced robotic tools and high-resolution cameras.
His innovative approach is also evident in developing a novel surgical technique for patients with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) syndrome due to germline CDH1 mutations, known for its notably low leakage rates and now widely used across the United States.
He plays a significant role in multi-institutional research initiatives funded by Stand Up To Cancer and the DeGregorio Family Foundation for Gastric and Esophageal Cancer Research. In 2019, he co-led a project with a colleague from the University of Pennsylvania that earned a $100,000 grant from the DeGregorio Family Foundation. In 2020, his research team at Columbia was awarded $3 million to advance the development of early diagnostic tests for gastric cancer.
He has authored over 150 original research articles, book chapters, and reviews. He has served on the editorial boards of prestigious journals such as the Annals of Surgical Oncology and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.
Honors and Recognition
His extensive contributions to surgical oncology have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the American College of Surgeons/Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Health Policy Scholar Award (2019-2020), multiple teaching awards from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the 2017 Paper of the Year Award from the New England Surgical Society, 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).
Beyond the Operating Room
He took up golf early in life, thanks to a golf course adjacent to his childhood home, enjoying the sport's social and relaxing benefits. Additionally, he has recently ventured into woodworking, embracing the craft to creatively engage and produce enduring works, which he proudly displays on Instagram.
Throughout his career, Sam Yoon has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassionate patient care, solidifying his status as a leader in the surgical oncology field.
