Since 2021, Sam Yoon has held the esteemed positions of Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Vice-Chair of Surgical Oncology Research and Education at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is highly regarded for his work with sarcomas, stomach and gastroesophageal junction cancers, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Leading innovative clinical trials and speaking at international medical conferences, he is at the forefront of efforts to combat gastric cancer, which affects over a million people worldwide and results in 750,000 deaths annually.
He is celebrated for his outstanding dedication to patient-centered care, attracting patients from the tri-state area and including him as one of the Best Doctors in America from 2010-2011 and 2017 to 2020. He offers services at the CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York City and maintains additional practices in Bronxville, Cortland Manor, New York, and Englewood, New Jersey.
His educational journey began at Harvard University, where Yoon completed his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of California, San Diego. He completed his general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and advanced his specialization with a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, recognized as a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Before his current role, he served as an attending surgeon in the Division of Gastric and Mixed Tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering. He was a professor at Weill Cornell Medical College. He also held an associate professorship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School before transitioning to his latest roles in 2012.
A minimally invasive robotic surgery pioneer, he has performed over 300 procedures, including robotic gastrectomies, which utilize sophisticated technology to minimize incisions and improve recovery times. He has authored over 150 original research articles, book chapters, and reviews, contributing significantly to surgical oncology. He also plays a crucial role in research initiatives funded by prominent organizations such as Stand Up To Cancer and the DeGregorio Family Foundation for Gastric and Esophageal Cancer Research, which aim to develop early diagnostic tests and innovative treatment options.
Dr. Sam Yoon's commitment to enhancing surgical techniques and patient outcomes continues to influence the medical community and advance the field of surgical oncology.
