Sam Yoon

Since 2021, Sam Yoon has served as the Division of Surgical Oncology Chief and the Vice-Chair of Surgical Oncology Research and Education at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Esteemed globally for his specialized knowledge in treating sarcomas, as well as stomach and gastroesophageal junction cancers, he has also made significant contributions to understanding and treating gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). His role involves spearheading numerous innovative clinical trials and delivering lectures on these subjects at major medical conferences worldwide, emphasizing his crucial role in a field where gastric cancer remains one of the top causes of cancer death internationally, with over a million new cases and more than 750,000 deaths annually.

Seeking His Expertise

His reputation for delivering high-quality, patient-focused care has made him a popular choice for patients throughout the tri-state area. His excellence in the medical field has been acknowledged repeatedly, including his inclusion in the list of Best Doctors in America for 2010-2011 and 2017-2020. His practices are based out of CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York City, with additional locations in Bronxville, Cortland Manor, New York, and Englewood, New Jersey.

Educational Foundation

He began his higher education journey at Harvard University, where he completed his undergraduate degree. He then proceeded to the University of California, San Diego, to obtain his medical degree. Following this, he completed a general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. He pursued a surgical oncology fellowship at the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, among the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

Career Milestones

Before his tenure at CUIMC, he was associated with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as an Attending Surgeon in the Division of Gastric and Mixed Tumors. He held a professorial role at Weill Cornell Medical College. Previously, he also had the title of Associate Professor of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, roles he held until his shift to Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2012.

Surgical Innovations

Dr. Sam Yoon has been instrumental in advancing minimally invasive robotic surgery, having conducted over 300 surgeries, including robotic gastrectomies. This surgical approach utilizes smaller incisions than traditional methods and features advanced robotic tools with high-resolution cameras.

He has notably pioneered a surgical procedure for patients with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) syndrome arising from germline CDH1 mutations. It has been praised for its low leakage rates and is widely adopted by surgical professionals nationwide.

He is also a key participant in research initiatives backed by Stand Up To Cancer and the DeGregorio Family Foundation for Gastric and Esophageal Cancer Research. His collaborative efforts in 2019 and those of a colleague from the University of Pennsylvania led to a $100,000 grant from the DeGregorio Family Foundation to support their project. In 2020, his Columbia team secured a $3 million grant to investigate early diagnostic techniques for gastric cancer.

His publication record boasts over 150 research articles, book chapters, and reviews. He has served on the editorial boards of leading medical journals, including Annals of Surgical Oncology and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Accolades and Honors

Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, such as the American College of Surgeons/Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Health Policy Scholar Award (2019-2020), the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Surgical Oncology Fellows' Teacher of the Year, 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).

Leisure and Lifestyle

Growing up next to a golf course, he developed a passion for golf from a young age, enjoying the sport's social aspects and physical and mental relaxation. Recently, he has also taken up woodworking, a craft he pursues with enthusiasm, creating lasting pieces showcased on his Instagram as representations of his vision and skill. Sam Yoon exemplifies dedication and innovation in his professional and personal life, making substantial contributions to surgical oncology and beyond.