Research

Dr. Yang is heavily involved with clinical research.  He is co-principal investigator and project leader of a $3.5 million NIH R01-funded study evaluating postoperative complications and recovery in cardiothoracic patients.  He is also the co-principal investigator and project leader of a $1.5 million AHRQ R-18 funded study evaluating lung cancer screening in Black women.  In addition, he serves as Vice Chair of the Alliance Thoracic Surgery Group and is the co-principal investigator of a Phase II clinical trial evaluating the role of adjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy following surgery for small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Yang has been the lead or senior author on several high impact papers published in the British Medical Journal, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Annals of Surgery, and Chest. He has authored over 160 original research articles, including over 90 as first-, co-first or senior author.  Dr. Yang is an editorial board member of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, the Journal of Thoracic Diseases, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Online Curriculum.  He is also an associate editor for Pearson’s General Thoracic Surgery.

Advocacy

Dr. Yang is focused on raising awareness about lung cancer and lung cancer screening.  Both his grandfather and his 41-year-old cousin died of lung cancer.  Every day, he wishes they could have had their cancer detected early.

In 2018, Dr. Yang started the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, which has worked with communities across 50 states to highlight the importance of finding lung cancer early.   He regularly goes out into the community to teach people about lung screening and to get them screened.  In 2021, he received the Harvard Medical School Dean’s Community Service Faculty Award in recognition of his efforts.

When Dr. Yang is not at Mass General, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Phoebe, two daughters and his dog.

Photo credit: Jeff Thiebauth Photography

Appointments

Associate Professor, Surgery – Harvard Medical School
Thoracic Surgeon – Massachusetts General Hospital

American Board Certifications

Surgery, General – American Board of Surgery (2019)
Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery – General, American Board of
Thoracic Surgery (2021)

Education

AB, Biochemistry – Harvard College (2005)
MD – Harvard Medical School (2011)
General Surgery Residency – Duke Hospital (2011-2018)
Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship – Stanford Hospital (2018-2020)
Fulbright Fellowship – Psychology & Epidemiology (2006)
HHMI Research Training Fellowship – Pediatric Surgery/Nutrition (2010)

• 2024
  • Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine Equity, Social Justice, and Advocacy Award
• 2021
  • Harvard Medical School Charles McCabe Faculty Prize for Excellence in Teaching
  • AATS Foundation Surgical Investigator Award
  • Harvard Medical School Dean’s Community Service Faculty Award
  • AATS Leadership Academy
• 2019
  • Norman Shumway Best Presentation Award
  • TSRA/STS Traveling Fellowship
  • SAAS Resident Development Scholarship Award
  • AATS Foundation Surgical Robotics Fellowship
  • Society of Thoracic Surgeons Scholarship
• 2018
  • Duke Surgery Publication Award
  • Appleseed Resident Teaching Award
  • Gold Star for Exceptional Patient Care
• 2017
  • Gold Star for Exceptional Patient Care
  • Duke Surgery Publication Award
  • AATS 1st Place Moderated Poster Competition
• 2016
  • Duke Surgery Publication Award
  • ASCO Merit Award
• 2015
  • AATS 1st Place Moderated Poster Competition
  • SAAS Research Award
• 2014
  • AATS Member for a Day Scholarship
• 2013
  • Jackson Laboratory Experimental Methods of Human Cancer Scholarship