Jeff Yang MD FACS

Thoracic surgeon @MGHSurgery | Associate Professor of Surgery @harvardmed | Advocate for early detection of lung cancer @amlungcsi

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

.@AmLungCSI is proud to have worked w/ Senators @TinaSmithMN @ChuckGrassley @SenCapito @SenatorDurbin @maziehirono @SenJackReed. The Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution recognizing Nov 24' as National #LCAM & supporting #lungcancerscreening for the 5th yr in a row!!

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

BIG NEWS FOR LUNG CANCER SCREENING: Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed California SB 1124 into law! 🫁🎉

What began as a bill written by our incredible team on a word document is now California law!!!!!

SB 1124 will require tobacco retailers across California to display signage about #lungcancerscreening, bringing information about lifesaving #earlydetection directly to individuals who are most likely to benefit.

This milestone would not have been possible without the extraordinary team behind this effort. HUGE congratulations to @ucla_alcsi students Miah Chao, Elaine Dong, Ethan Chen whose tenacious advocacy, leadership, and coalition-building over the past 2 years are the reason this bill passed today. Congratulations as well to Deepti Srinivasan (@deeptisrini), Alex Potter (@alexandra_p_24), Phoebe Lee, and Dr. Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang (@ChiFuJeffYang) for coming up with the vision to require signs about lung cancer screening wherever tobacco is sold and for drafting this innovative bill 3 years ago.

We are also deeply grateful to Senator Bob Archuleta for championing SB 1124, and to the lung cancer survivors, advocacy organizations, physicians, students, and community leaders who made this bill possible.

We are incredibly inspired by the momentum behind this legislation and the opportunity it creates to shine a light on lung cancer screening and early detection.

And we hope this is only the beginning! California has created a model that we hope to bring to states across the country, and we can’t wait to build on this progress! 🤍

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

At #ITSOS2026, Dr. Linda Martin (@LindaMThoracic) presented the impressive surgical outcomes of #MDTBridge. In this landmark phase II trial, pts w/ resectable or borderline resectable stage IIB-IIIB NSCLC received 2 cycles of chemo + durvalumab and were then reassessed at MDT. 92% of pts went on to get either surgery or chemoRT. Overall resection rate was 74.6%. In borderline resectable group that went on to get surgery, R0 resection rate was 96.8%.

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

Really impressed by this session at #ITSOS2026: “Disparities in Access and Treatment for Personalized Cancer Care.”
Every presentation was thought-provoking & each gave me something practical to take home and act on. Such an amazing line up!!!

Speakers:
Alex Potter, Harvard Medical School (@alexandra_p_24)
Amie Miller, Sarasota Memorial Health)
Fatima Wilder, MGB (@FWilder9)
Alexis Chidi, MSK (@AlexisChidi)
Patrick Seastedt, Roswell Park (@SeastedtMD)

Discussants
Loretta Erhunmwunsee, City of Hope (@LorettaEMD)
John Waters, UT Southwestern)

Moderated by Neel Chudgar, Montefiore (@nchudgar) and Jane Yanagawa, UCLA

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

Dr. Pat Seastedt (@SeastedtMD) gave a thought-provoking talk at #ITSOS2026 on where AI could change thoracic care: risk-based screening eligibility; NLP to find eligible patients missed by structured EHR data; AI-assisted CT interpretation, which may reduce missed referrals; more consistent preoperative risk assessment; and potentially measurable surgical quality through video analysis and process auditing.

His caution was clear: AI can make care more consistent without making it more equitable. We need to measure who benefits at every step, validate subgroup performance locally before and after deployment, and have thoracic surgeons help lead implementation.

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

Today, Dr. Alexis Chidi (@AlexisChidi) gave an outstanding talk at #ITSOS2026 on the impact of thoracic surgery deserts on patient outcomes. She reviewed evidence that resection rates for early-stage #lungcancer fall as access to thoracic surgeons decreases, leading to poorer outcomes for these patients. She also discussed research from MGH resident @SaraSakowitz showing that esophagectomy outcomes were better when patients traveled farther to high-volume centers rather than undergoing surgery at local low-volume hospitals. She closed with practical strategies for using collaborative oncology care and hub-and-spoke models to close gaps in access to thoracic surgical care.

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

Dr. Fatima Wilder (@fwilder9) gave an outstanding presentation on unmet social needs in thoracic surgery at #ITSOS2026. She presented compelling data showing that nearly one third of thoracic surgery patients, in BOTH high- and low-resource settings, have unmet social needs that contribute to poor outcomes. She also shared a powerful message from patients who were interviewed through her work with EMBEDLC: “physicians should ask their patients directly about social needs, rather than focusing on clinical care alone.”

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

Today at #ITSOS2026, Alex Potter (@alexandra_p_24) presented the first results of the INSPIRE study!! Among 518 Black women, the lung cancer detection rate was 1.2%. Among women who smoked for >20 years but were ineligible under USPSTF criteria, it was 1.6%—compared with 1.0% in NLST. These findings support evaluating smoking duration in screening eligibility (#PotterCriteria).

This has been a years-long effort, and we’re not done yet. We are now screening Black men and women at risk for lung cancer, with a goal of reaching more than 2,000 people. We look forward to sharing that update by 2029!!

#AATS #Lungcancerscreening #ALCSI

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

Today, at #ITSOS2026, MGH Surgery Resident Alex Zhu ( @Alexzhu_) gave a great presentation on a real-world analysis of adjuvant chemo vs adjuvant chemo & immunotherapy for stage II–III NSCLC. Immunotherapy was associated with improved overall survival in stage III disease, but not stage II.

#AATS @AATSHQ #LungCancer

[Jeff Yang MD FACS @ChiFuJeffYang]

ALCSI’s Deepti Srinivasan (@DeeptiSrini) gave a terrific presentation at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (#WCLC26). She presented the first national estimate of lung cancer incidence among people who have never smoked in the United States, finding that nearly 30,000 people who have never smoked are diagnosed with lung cancer each year.

Our team also found that 17% of women, 77% of U.S Asian women, and 58% of patients under the age of 40 had never smoked. This work highlights the urgent need to develop strategies for early detection in people who have never smoked.

[Shankar Siva @_ShankarSiva]

🇰🇷 Entertaining talk by @ChiFuJeffYang on the challenges of surgery for #lungcancer in interstitial lung disease at #KALC2026. Up to 5x ⬆️ post-op mortality, with highest ⬆️ risk for IPF-ILD…. But with careful selection, can find some happy post-op patients! 😋

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

ALCSI students from chapters across the country had the privilege of hearing from Ms. Colette Smith during our monthly Intercollegiate Meeting. An 11-year lung cancer survivor diagnosed despite having no history of smoking, Ms. Smith is a nationally recognized advocate for lung cancer screening, early detection, biomarker testing, and health equity. Through her leadership at HEALing The Bronx, she continues to empower underserved communities and champion equitable access to cancer care. Thank you, Ms. Smith, for sharing your incredible journey and inspiring the next generation of lung cancer advocates!! 💙🫁

#LungCancer #EarlyDetection #LungCancerScreening #HealthEquity #CancerAdvocacy #ALCSI

[Drew Moghanaki @DrewMoghanaki]

🫁 This is about to become a new law in California. Inspired by @AmLungCSI, and sponsored by @SenBobArchuleta.

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

Huge congratulations to Rohan Kundra and Neil Thakkar! 🎉

The duo was highlighted by https://t.co/zb5YsZrzsI for developing LungFACTS, an innovative AI-supported patient navigator with a national #lungcancer screening tracking system, designed to simplify screening navigation, improve follow-up, and connect eligible individuals with resources.

Their project received 2nd place and a $5,000 prize at the inaugural ALCSI Innovation Challenge, supporting their mission to make lung cancer screening more accessible! We can’t wait to see where LungFACTS goes next! 🚀

Take a read! https://t.co/R6kj8EvqjA

We will also be launching the 2027 Innovation Challenge soon. Keep an eye out for it on our website (https://t.co/WiVJ9TwHnF)! 🏆

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

🫁💙 Taking Lung Cancer Awareness Beyond Campus — Vanderbilt University ALCSI

The Vanderbilt and Lipscomb University ALCSI chapters joined forces for a community outreach event at Governor’s Square Mall in Clarksville, TN!!!

Throughout the day, our teams connected with shoppers and community members, introducing them to ALCSI initiatives and the PlusOne campaign while raising awareness about lung cancer and the importance of early detection!!!

Partnerships between ALCSI chapters create opportunities to reach new communities, start conversations, and make lung cancer screening information more accessible. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and helped make this a meaningful day of outreach!!! 🙌

#LungCancerAwareness #LungCancerScreening #ALCSI #PlusOne #CommunityOutreach #EarlyDetection

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

🫁💙 Community Wellness & Cancer Awareness — University of Minnesota Twin Cities ALCSI!!!

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities ALCSI chapter recently joined the Colors of Cancer, Health & Wellness Expo in Plymouth, MN, connecting with community members and sharing important information about lung cancer and lung cancer screening!!!

Held as a community health fair, the event provided an opportunity to have meaningful conversations about prevention, screening eligibility, and the importance of finding lung cancer early. By bringing screening education directly into the community, our team helped make potentially lifesaving information more accessible to those who may benefit from it!!!

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with the Plymouth community and contribute to a day focused on cancer awareness, health, and wellness! 🙌🫁💙

#LungCancerAwareness #LungCancerScreening #ALCSI #CommunityOutreach #HealthEducation #EarlyDetection

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

🫁🏛️ Lung Cancer Awareness at Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District Constituent Resource Fair

Centennial ALCSI was honored to participate in Maryland’s Third Congressional District Constituent Resource Fair at Centennial High School in Elkridge, MD, where our team had the opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth and connect with community members from across the district.

We spoke with attendees about lung cancer, screening eligibility, and the importance of early detection, helping bring evidence-based lung cancer information directly to the community.

We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with local leaders and community members in advancing lung cancer awareness and making potentially lifesaving screening information more accessible. 🫁💙

#LungCancerAwareness #LungCancerScreening #ALCSI #CommunityOutreach #EarlyDetection #HealthEducation

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

ALCSI students from chapters across the country had the privilege of hearing from Ms. Maida Mangiameli during our monthly Intercollegiate Meeting. Diagnosed with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer in 2018, Maida's courage, resilience, and message of hope have inspired countless others. Today, she advocates for lung cancer screening, early detection, radon testing, and clinical trial awareness so that more families can have the precious time she has been able to share with her own. Thank you, Maida, for sharing your incredible journey and for continuing to inspire the next generation of lung cancer advocates!!! 💙🫁

#LungCancer #LungCancerScreening #EarlyDetection #LungCancerAwareness #SmallCellLungCancer #ClinicalTrials #RadonAwareness #CancerAdvocacy #LungCancerAdvocacy #ALCSI

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

🎨🫁 Bringing Lung Cancer Awareness to the Community — University of Minnesota Twin Cities ALCSI

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities ALCSI chapter recently participated in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair, where members spent the weekend engaging with visitors from across the Twin Cities about lung cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.

By bringing evidence-based screening information to a vibrant community event, our team had the opportunity to spark conversations with individuals who may not otherwise encounter lung cancer education in their daily lives. Every conversation is an opportunity to raise awareness, answer questions, and encourage people to learn more about their lung cancer risk.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table and helped make community health a part of this incredible weekend of art, culture, and connection! 💙

#LungCancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #ALCSI #CommunityOutreach #HealthEducation #UniversityOfMinnesota

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

🫁🌏 Vietnamese Community Outreach — Worcester Polytechnic Institute ALCSI

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute ALCSI chapter recently had the opportunity to present at the Worcester Senior Center in Worcester, MA, where members spoke with the local Vietnamese community about lung cancer screening!

Our team shared information about screening eligibility, the screening process, and the lifesaving importance of early detection while answering questions from attendees. Through community education and outreach, we hope to empower more individuals to understand their risk and access potentially lifesaving screening.

A meaningful morning dedicated to expanding lung cancer awareness, promoting preventive care, and connecting communities with evidence-based screening information! 🙌💙

#LungCancerAwareness #ScreeningSavesLives #ALCSI #CommunityOutreach #HealthEducation

[ALCSI @AmLungCSI]

🫁💙 Today, we recognize #WorldLungCancerDay and the millions of people and families affected by lung cancer around the world.

We honor those living with lung cancer, remember those we have lost, and celebrate the patients, survivors, advocates, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare professionals working every day to move the field forward.

Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. Early detection can make a life-changing difference, and lung cancer screening gives eligible individuals an opportunity to find the disease earlier—when it may be more treatable.

This #WorldLungCancerDay, help us spread awareness, encourage conversations about screening, and remind your loved ones to know their risk. 🫁

➡️ Learn more about lung cancer screening and see if you or someone you love may be eligible: https://t.co/rTgln6sM1X

#LungCancerAwareness #LungCancerScreening #GetScreened #EarlyDetectionMatters #LungHealth #ALCSI