David Yuh, MD, named section chief of cardiac surgery

9/1/2011— Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale School of Medicine announce the appointment of David Yuh, MD, as chief of the section of cardiac surgery. Dr. Yuh joins YNHH and YSM from the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was director of its Heart and Vascular Institute’s minimally invasive cardiac surgical program.

Dr. Yuh specializes in minimally invasive robotic surgery, as well as all types of adult cardiac surgery, including heart transplantation and the implantation of mechanical cardiac assist devices. Dr. Yuh’s research interests are in the development of computational models of the heart based on advanced imaging techniques and the development of robotic sensory feedback capabilities, and computerized motion-tracking recognition to enhance surgical robotic training. His other research focus is in improving cardiac surgical outcomes in elderly patients.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Yuh, an outstanding technical surgeon in the use of robotic surgical systems, assume the leadership of cardiothoracic surgery,” said Robert Udelsman, MD, MBA, surgeon-in-chief at YNHH and chair of the department of surgery at YSM. “Dr. Yuh’s experience will enhance Yale’s national and international reputation as a pioneer institution in developing new heart treatments and therapies.”

Dr. Yuh earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University. He completed residencies in general and cardiothoracic surgery at the Stanford University Medical Center, culminating as the chief resident in the department of cardiothoracic surgery.

Dr. Yuh serves on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ Workforce on the Annual Meeting and the National Institutes of Health study section on Computational Modeling and Sciences for Biomedical and Clinical Applications.  He has been selected to serve on the Circulatory System Devices Panel for the Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Yuh has written numerous research publications in heart and lung transplantation and surgical robotics and has served as the lead editor of two textbooks in adult and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery.

As Connecticut’s premier referral center, Yale New Haven Hospital Heart and Vascular Center receives some of the most difficult heart patients from throughout New England – patients who come for heart transplants, the implantation of ventricular assist devices, high-risk valve or bypass surgery and angioplasty, as well as those who have irregular heart rhythms requiring an expert cardiologist or cardiac surgeon.

YNHH Heart & Vascular Center's Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery services

Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH), part of Yale New Haven Health, is a nationally recognized, 1,541-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Yale School of Medicine (YSM). Founded as the fourth voluntary hospital in the U.S. in 1826, today, YNHH has two New Haven-based campuses, and also includes Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital. YNHH has received Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. YNHH has a combined medical staff of about 4,500 university and community physicians practicing in more than 100 specialties. www.ynhh.org