Sam Yoon
Since his appointment in 2021, Sam Yoon has held the titles of Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Vice-Chair of Surgical Oncology Research and Education at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Internationally recognized for his specialized expertise in treating sarcomas and cancers of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction, he also excels in managing gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). His leadership roles in numerous pioneering clinical trials and his prolific participation as a speaker at international medical conferences underscore his critical involvement in addressing gastric cancer. This disease ranks among the top global causes of cancer-related mortality, with over a million new diagnoses and more than 750,000 deaths each Year.
Patients Trust His Expertise
Known for his exemplary commitment to quality and patient-centered care, he is a sought-after physician across the tri-state area. His outstanding contributions to medical practice have earned him recognition as one of the Best Doctors in America from 2010 to 2011 and 2017 to 2020. He practices at the CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York City and sees patients in Bronxville, Cortland Manor, New York, and Englewood, New Jersey.
Educational Achievements
His educational pursuits began at Harvard University, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He subsequently received his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego. His medical training was further enhanced by a general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a facility renowned as a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Professional Development
Before his current roles at CUIMC, he was an attending surgeon at the Division of Gastric and Mixed Tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He held a professorship at Weill Cornell Medical College. Earlier, he was an Associate Professor of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School before moving to Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2012.
Innovative Surgical Leader
Dr. Sam Yoon has been a pioneer in the field of minimally invasive robotic surgery, performing more than 300 robotic surgeries, including gastrectomies. This technique reduces the need for large incisions, employing sophisticated robotic tools with high-resolution cameras.
He is also known for developing a groundbreaking surgical procedure for patients with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) syndrome due to germline CDH1 mutations. This procedure is celebrated for its meager leakage rates and has been adopted by surgical teams nationwide.
He participates in significant research projects funded by Stand Up To Cancer and the DeGregorio Family Foundation for Gastric and Esophageal Cancer Research. Notably, in 2019, he co-led a project that received $100,000 from the DeGregorio Family Foundation with a colleague from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2020, his team at Columbia secured a $3 million grant to focus on developing early diagnostic tests for gastric cancer.
He has authored over 150 original research articles, book chapters, and reviews. He has been an active member of the editorial boards for the Annals of Surgical Oncology and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.
Accolades and Honors
His numerous accolades include the American College of Surgeons/Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Health Policy Scholar Award (2019-2020), multiple Teachers of the Year 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).
Hobbies and Interests
Growing up near a golf course, he developed a passion for golf early on. This sport provides him with mental and physical relaxation. Additionally, he recently began woodworking, allowing him to create lasting, handcrafted items that he proudly displays on Instagram, describing them as enduring beauty.
In his professional life and personal endeavors, Sam Yoon has continually demonstrated a profound commitment to advancing the field of surgical oncology, securing his place as a respected leader in the medical community.