Stephen C. Yang, MD
Thoracic Surgery
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Stephen C. Yang
Professional Titles
- Associate Vice Chair for Faculty Development
- The Arthur B. and Patricia B. Modell Professor in Thoracic Surgery
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Surgery
Background
Dr. Stephen C. Yang is a professor of surgery and medical oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and The Johns Hopkins Hospital. In October 2008 he was named the first recipient of The Arthur B. and Patricia B. Modell Professor in Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Yang is an extreme supporter of medical students, being the only surgeon (amongst 20 chosen from the School of Medicine) for the medical student advisory Colleges system, and is the faculty sponsor for the Surgery Interest Group and the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association.
Dr. Yang graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Chemistry and received his M.D. degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and finished his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia. He also completed a 3 year thoracic surgical oncology research fellowship at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
He currently serves on the Postgraduate Affairs, Medical School Admissions, Educational Policy, and Curriculum Reform Committees in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He served on numerous national and international committees for these organizations, and is the Taskforce Chair on the Looking to the Future Residency Scholarships for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons He is Editor of Practical Reviews in Chest Medicine and guest editor/ reviewer for numerous peer review journals. He is co-editor of the book Current Therapy in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, edited the esophageal surgical section in the 2nd edition of Atlas of Gastrointestinal Surgery with John Cameron, M.D., and series editor-in-chief of The Early Diagnosis of Cancer also editing the book volume of The Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer. In 2001, he and his lung transplant team were featured in the ABC series 24/7 and is currently also being followed in the sequel to that series focusing in on resident and medical student teaching. This series as well as other experiences are still shown on the Discovery Channel. The extensive work in preparing an esophageal cancer patient for surgery on the BBC and the Discovery Channel.
Dr. Yang's laboratory research interests include using molecular techniques for lung cancer screening and for molecular staging of micrometastasis to predict recurrence following surgical resection. His clinical practice and research covers the breath of general thoracic surgery in pulmonary and esophageal surgery, video-assisted and robotics thoracic surgery, mediastinal and pleural work, lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema, and work in geriatric thoracic surgery.
Centers and Institutes
Videos
Additional Academic Titles
Professor of Oncology
Research Interests
Detection of teleomerase activity as a guide for the presence of lung cancer, Development of molecular markers for early diagnosis of lung cancer, Development of molecular markers for early diagnosis of recurrent lung cancer following surgical resection, Molecular biology of mesothelioma
Selected Publications
Brock, M.V.; Hooker, C.M.; Engels, E.A.; Moore, R.D.; Gillison, M.L.; Alberg, A.J.; Keruly, J.C.; Yang, S.C.; Heitmiller, R.F.; Baylin, S.B.; Herman, J.G.; Brahmer, J.R. Delayed diagnosis and elevated mortality in an urban population with HIV and lung cancer: implications for patient care. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2006 Sep;43(1):47-55.
Brock, M.V.; Hooker, C.M.; Ota-Machida, E.; Han, Y.; Guo, M.; Ames, S.; Glockner, S.; Piantadosi, S.; Gabrielson, E.; Pridham, G.; Pelosky, K.; Belinsky, S.A.; Yang, S.C.; Baylin, S.B.; Herman, J.G. DNA methylation markers and early recurrence in stage I lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 2008 Mar 13;358(11):1118-1128.
Carpenter, A.J.; Yang, S.C.; Uhlig, P.N.; Colson, Y.L. Envisioning simulation in the future of thoracic surgical education. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Mar;135(3):477-484.
Cerchietti, L.C.; Hatzi, K.; Caldas-Lopes, E.; Yang, S.N.; Figueroa, M.E.; Morin, R.D.; Hirst, M.; Mendez, L.; Shaknovich, R.; Cole, P.A.; Bhalla, K.; Gascoyne, R.D.; Marra, M.; Chiosis, G.; Melnick, A. BCL6 repression of EP300 in human diffuse large B cell lymphoma cells provides a basis for rational combinatorial therapy. J Clin Invest. 2010 Nov 1.
Durr, M.L.; Yang, S.C. Traumatic right paraesophageal hernia after Belsey Mark IV fundoplication. Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Jan;85(1):321-322
Ettinger, D.S.; Akerley, W.; Bepler, G.; Blum, M.G.; Chang, A.; Cheney, R.T.; Chirieac, L.R.; D''Amico, T.A.; Demmy, T.L.; Ganti, A.K.; Govindan, R.; Grannis, F.W., Jr.; Jahan, T.; Jahanzeb, M.; Johnson, D.H.; Kessinger, A.; Komaki, R.; Kong, F.M.; Kris, M.G.; Krug, L.M.; Le, Q.T.; Lennes, I.T.; Martins, R.; O''Malley, J.; Osarogiagbon, R.U.; Otterson, G.A.; Patel, J.D.; Pisters, K.M.; Reckamp, K.; Riely, G.J.; Rohren, E.; Simon, G.R.; Swanson, S.J.; Wood, D.E.; Yang, S.C. Non-small cell lung cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2010 Jul;8(7):740-801.
Ettinger, D.S.; Akerley, W.; Bepler, G.; Blum, M.G.; Chang, A.; Cheney, R.T.; Chirieac, L.R.; D''Amico, T.A.; Demmy, T.L.; Govindan, R.; Grannis, F.W., Jr.; Jahan, T.; Johnson, D.H.; Kessinger, A.; Komaki, R.; Kong, F.M.; Kris, M.G.; Krug, L.M.; Le, Q.T.; Lennes, I.T.; Martins, R.; O''Malley, J.; Osarogiagbon, R.U.; Otterson, G.A.; Patel, J.D.; Pisters, K.M.; Reckamp, K.; Riely, G.J.; Rohren, E.; Swanson, S.J.; Wood, D.E.; Yang, S.C. Thymic malignancies. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2010 Nov;8(11):1302-1315.
Gott, V.L.; Patel, N.D.; Yang, S.C.; Baumgartner, W.A. Attracting outstanding students (premedical and medical) to a career in cardiothoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 Jul;82(1):1-3.
Heath, E.I.; Burtness, B.A.; Kleinberg, L.; Salem, R.R.; Yang, S.C.; Heitmiller, R.F.; Canto, M.I.; Knisely, J.P.; Topazian, M.; Montgomery, E.; Tsottles, N.; Pithavala, Y.; Rohmiller, B.; Collier, M.; Forastiere, A.A. Phase II, parallel-design study of preoperative combined modality therapy and the matrix metalloprotease (mmp) inhibitor prinomastat in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Invest New Drugs. 2006 Mar;24(2):135-140.
Kleinberg, L.; Gibson, M.; Yang, S.; Forastiere, A.A.; Putnam, J.B. Primary Combined Modality Therapy for Esophageal Cancer. Oncology. 2006;20(5):505-511.
Madar, I.; Bencherif, B.; Lever, J.; Heitmiller, R.F.; Yang, S.C.; Brock, M.; Brahmer, J.; Ravert, H.; Dannals, R.; Frost, J.J. Imaging delta- and mu-opioid receptors by PET in lung carcinoma patients. J Nucl Med. 2007 Feb;48(2):207-213.
Meguid, R.A.; Brooke, B.S.; Chang, D.C.; Sherwood, J.T.; Brock, M.V.; Yang, S.C. Are surgical outcomes for lung cancer resections improved at teaching hospitals? Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Mar;85(3):1015-1024; discussion 1024-1015.
Meguid, R.A.; Hooker, C.M.; Harris, J.; Xu, L.; Westra, W.H.; Sherwood, J.T.; Sussman, M.; Cattaneo, S.M., 2nd; Shin, J.; Cox, S.; Christensen, J.; Prints, Y.; Yuan, N.; Zhang, J.; Yang, S.C.; Brock, M.V. Long-term survival outcomes by smoking status in surgical and nonsurgical patients with non-small cell lung cancer: comparing never smokers and current smokers. Chest. 2010 Sep;138(3):500-509.
Meguid, R.A.; Hooker, C.M.; Taylor, J.T.; Kleinberg, L.R.; Cattaneo, S.M., 2nd; Sussman, M.S.; Yang, S.C.; Heitmiller, R.F.; Forastiere, A.A.; Brock, M.V. Recurrence after neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgery for esophageal cancer: does the pattern of recurrence differ for patients with complete response and those with partial or no response? J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009 Dec;138(6):1309-1317.
Meguid, R.A.; Weiss, E.S.; Chang, D.C.; Brock, M.V.; Yang, S.C. The effect of volume on esophageal cancer resections: what constitutes acceptable resection volumes for centers of excellence? J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009 Jan;137(1):23-29.
Montgomery, E.; Mamelak, A.J.; Gibson, M.; Maitra, A.; Sheikh, S.; Amr, S.S.; Yang, S.; Brock, M.; Forastiere, A.; Zhang, S.; Murphy, K.M.; Berg, K.D. Overexpression of claudin proteins in esophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor lesions. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2006 Mar;14(1):24-30.
Schachna, L.; Medsger, T.A., Jr.; Dauber, J.H.; Wigley, F.M.; Braunstein, N.A.; White, B.; Steen, V.D.; Conte, J.V.; Yang, S.C.; McCurry, K.R.; Borja, M.C.; Plaskon, D.E.; Orens, J.B.; Gelber, A.C. Lung transplantation in scleroderma compared with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Dec;54(12):3954-3961.
Weiss, E.S.; Doty, J.; Brock, M.V.; Halvorson, L.; Yang, S.C. A case of ectopic parathyroid hormone production by a pulmonary neoplasm. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2006 Apr;131(4):923-924.
Honors
- Program Director research award, Thoracic Surgery Directors Association, 1/1/07
- Outstanding Alumnus, Medical College of Virginia, 1/1/04
- Research Scholar, American Association of Thoracic Surgery, 1/1/97
- William F. Rienhoff award for teaching and research, Johns Hopkins, 1/1/96
Memberships
- American Association of Thoracic Surgeons, Member
- American College of Chest Physicians, Faculty
- American College of Surgeons, Faculty
- American College of Surgeons, Member
- American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, Member
- Association for Academic Surgeons, Member
- Association for Surgical Education, Member
- International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, Member
- Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Member
- Society of University Surgeons, Member
Locations
- Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
- 601 North Caroline Street, Floor 8, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 443-997-1508
- fax: 443-769-1242
Expertise
Education
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Fellowship, Cardiothoracic Surgery, 1994University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Residency, General Surgery, 1992The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Fellowship, 1990University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Residency, General Surgery, 1987Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Medical Education, Medicine, MD, 1984Board Certifications
Thoracic Surgery
American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 1996Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)
Ratings & Reviews
4.8 out of 5
217 ratings, 73 reviewsThe Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/20/2024
I am very happy to be a Johns Hopkins for this planned surgery.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/13/2024
Outstanding! First-rate! I have nothing but praise for Dr Yang and everyone at JHH.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/13/2024
Very nice, through, explained everything so it was easy to understand. Liked him very much.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/13/2024
Seems interested in my health and wellness
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/11/2024
Exceptional.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/4/2024
Great experience
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/4/2024
Dr Stephen Yang is NOT my main PCP. Some of my answers don't reflect that. He is my lung surgeon, and I'm in awe of his surgery!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/22/2024
Grateful for Dr Yang. Dr Yang Saved my life in 2016. Incredibly grateful to Dr Yang for the last 7.5 years of check up's, consultations and also respecting my concerns and fears. What a blessing to have Dr Stephen Yang's presence leading the way at John Hopkins. Thank you!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/20/2024
Dr Yang is the best. Very professional and kind.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/15/2024
Great doctor
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/15/2024
He is excellent; would hesitate to use anyone else.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/15/2024
Blessed that dr Yang & [staff] are here for me!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/13/2024
Dr Yang is a wonderful doctor
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/13/2024
Great, compete, friendly
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/1/2024
The best
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/1/2024
He was a very nice physician
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/25/2024
Dr Yang is a professional and he shows it in his practice and well as his performance, the surgery I went through wasn't easy at all but he made me feel good about my well being and over all healing. I felt very comfortable with Dr Yang at his office as well as in the surgical room.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/25/2024
I like the way when doctor explained my illness and future treatment to me.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/25/2024
Dr. Yang is great. Highly recommended.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/23/2024
Dr. Yang is an extraordinarily fine surgeon and person. I am extremely fortunate that he has been the one to perform three thoracic surgeries on me over the last 15 years, the first of which literally saved my life.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/11/2024
Very thorough. Well prepared.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/11/2024
Derific Doctor
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/11/2024
Dr. Yang saved my life after years of treatment by lung doctors in Atlanta GA. I was coughing up more than a half cup of blood at a time and they kept giving me breathing treatments. It was a miracle when Dr. Yang came into my life.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/11/2024
Wonderful
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/9/2024
Dr. Yang is excellent. I would feel very comfortable having him perform surgery on me, if necessary.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/27/2024
Dr. Yang is my thoracic surgeon. This most recent visit was a six month post surgical follow-up visit. Dr. Ordered a chest x-ray prior to our visit, so to be able to review said x-ray prior to to and during my visit with me. There is currently no further follow-up required. Dr. Yang and his treatment team have provided excellent service and care to me.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/20/2024
Dr Yang was very knowledgeable and clearly spoke what the procedure would be and after care of surgery.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/20/2024
My usual 6 month check up with dr Yang.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/20/2024
Super
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/18/2024
Caring abd reassuring provider.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/28/2024
He is excellent
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/9/2024
Excellent visit
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/9/2024
Excellent service!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/9/2024
Dr S Yang Hopkins is lucky to have such a outstanding Doctor.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/2/2024
Dr Yang is quirky but an excellent surgeon with great teaching/explanatory skills
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/2/2024
Very friendly and knowledgeable in his field. Excited to continue working with him to get my treatment done. He explained everything to me in detail so I was able to understand everything that went with the procedure.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/2/2024
Many thanks!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/2/2024
Dr. Yang is the most professional doctor I have ever had the pleasure of meeting
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/31/2024
One of the best doctor! Thank you so much Dr.Yang!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/31/2024
Dr. Yang saved my life!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/26/2024
Dr. Yang is a professional, caring, knowledgeable physician who we were referred to by our Internest. It was the BEST referral
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/26/2024
Dr.Yang takes time to listen and then answer the questions I have
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/24/2024
The best!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/5/2024
I had excellent care
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/3/2024
Excellent
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/21/2024
Dr Yang was very calm and confident in explaining the procedure needed. He was very detailed and simplified to be sure I understood and was comfortable with the next steps.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/21/2024
Dr Yang has been following me after his surgery for lung cancer.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/21/2024
Friendly, explained information clearly
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/21/2024
Dr. Yang is simply the best. He is very direct and informative. He doesn't treat me like a moron. He clearly explains his plan for follow-up.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/14/2024
Very thorough
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/14/2024
Dr. Yang is always courteous and caring. He is a fabulous doctor.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/17/2024
Dr. Yang overall was informative with my test results . He was helpful regarding my questions. I'm grateful for Dr.Yang
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/17/2024
Dr. Yang is a compassionate provider.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/17/2024
Dr. Stephen C. Yang treats me with the upmost respect and is straightforward when talking to me about my condition. I have confidence in him.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/17/2024
Provider is THE BEST in his field of medicine ! A Rock Star !
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/15/2024
Dr. Yang is an outstanding doctor. He performed a delicate surgery with minimal aftereffects.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/1/2024
Dr. Yang is thorough, highly skilled, compassionate, sincere and caring.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/24/2024
He checks in with me once a year after my lung cancer operation.
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/22/2024
This was a consultation--no examination--so sanitation care was not that important.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/10/2024
I will be forever grateful to Dr. Yang and his team as they truly saved my life.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/10/2024
Dr Yang saved my life. Best surgeon ever.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/10/2024
Knowledgeable
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/10/2024
I trust my life with Dr. Yang
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/3/2024
Dr Yang is amazing. I totally trust him and find him to be personable and incredibly knowledgeable.Highly recommend and have to many in my area.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/3/2024
Dr. Yang is wonderful; I'm grateful for his help!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/8/2024
Dr Yang is the best doctor.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/8/2024
Very knowledgeable. To the point which is what I like He shook . My hand
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/1/2024
I was referred to Dr. Yang by my PCP. Dr. Yang is very thorough, personable, friendly and kind. I believe he is precisely the Surgeon that can address and treat my pulmonary findings. I am comfortable with his advise and treatment plan. He has an outstanding reputation and I can certainly understand why his colleagues believe this to be the case. I feel very privileged to be receiving care from him!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/23/2024
Very good
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/21/2024
Dr. Yang was extremely thorough in his explanations and options. His competency was apparent and his bedside manner was excellent.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/16/2024
Dr Yang did a good job of explaining what he thinks is a good way to resolve my condition.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/9/2024
Very informative, friendly, yet professional.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/2/2024
Doctor was excellent, he explained my situation very clearly and showed CT scan to help explain what was going on.