Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, MD
Thoracic Surgeon, Principal Investigator, Advocate, & Mentor
Dr. Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang is a thoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Harvard College and his medical degree at Harvard Medical School. He completed his general surgery residency at Duke and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Stanford.
Dr. Yang practices all aspects of thoracic surgery, including procedures for conditions of the lung and mediastinum. He specializes in minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Yang has received numerous awards, including recognition for exceptional accomplishment in both clinical care and in teaching. In 2021, he received the Harvard Medical School Charles McCabe Faculty Prize for Excellence in Teaching.
Research
Dr. Yang performs clinical research and is co-principal investigator and project leader of a NIH R01-funded study evaluating postoperative complications and recovery in cardiothoracic patients. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Alliance Thoracic Surgery Group.
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 written over 120 publications, including over 60 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 of lung cancer screening. He 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 lung screening. Since 2020, he has worked on resolutions, S. Res. 780, 426 and 863 to raise awareness for lung cancer and lung cancer screening; these resolutions were passed in the U.S. Senate, by unanimous support from all 100 U.S. Senators. 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.
Appointments
Assistant Professor, Surgery – Harvard Medical School
Thoracic Surgeon, Surgery – Massachusetts General Hospital
American Board Certifications
Surgery, General – American Board of Surgery
Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery – General, American Board of Thoracic Surgery
Education
MD – Harvard Medical School
General Surgery Residency – Duke Hospital
Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship – Stanford Hospital
AB, Biochemistry – Harvard College
Fulbright Fellowship – Psychology & Epidemiology
HHMI Research Training Fellowship – Pediatric Surgery/Nutrition
Awards & Honors
- 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