James Byunghoon Yu, MD

James B. Yu MD, MHS, is a professor and Executive Vice Chair of radiation oncology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Yu specializes in treating genitourinary cancers (such as kidney, bladder, and prostate) and central nervous system diseases, such as brain tumors. Dr. Yu is an expert in Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery, and treats cases with the advanced technology that maximizes outcomes and minimizes side effects. When working with patients to develop their unique treatment plans, Dr. Yu takes into account not only their individual medical conditions, but also their unique values and treatment goals.
 
Dr. Yu’s research interests are in the use of large population-based data to evaluate disparities, trends and comparative effectiveness of modern cancer care. Additionally, he is interested in clinical trials that compare new radiation techniques and technology to improve the quality of life of patients with genitourinary cancers and central nervous system disease.
 
He has published over 300 manuscripts, chapters, and books, and recently co-edited the textbook, Principles of Clinical Cancer Research. As a result of his contributions to the literature, he was asked to present my work on the impact of new radiation technologies on Medicare at the Institute of Medicine.  As a radiation oncologist, he is actively engaged in the national leadership of NCI cooperative group clinical trials.
 
Before coming to Columbia, Dr. Yu served as Associate Chief Medical Officer for Radiation Oncology for Smilow Cancer Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital Network. As professor of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale School of Medicine and Smilow Cancer Hospital, Dr. Yu was a two-time winner of Yale Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control Research Prize, both 2013 and in 2017. In 2020, he also recieved the Smilow Luminary Award of Excellence in Leadership.
 
A graduate of Yale University with a bachelor’s degree and a masters in health science degree, Dr. Yu received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School before completing his residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, where he served as chief resident