George Yoo, M.D., FACS, professor of Oncology and of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and chief medical officer at Karmanos Cancer Hospital, was listed in Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2024 Chief Medical Officers to Know.
The list includes 180 chief medical officers who “champion patient safety, uphold rigorous quality standards, act as liaisons between leadership teams and medical staff, manage risk” and more. They are considered leaders continually driving for improvement, leading to multiple quality and safety accolades for their organizations.
Dr. Yoo oversees Karmanos’ comprehensive medical operations and spearheads strategic initiatives. A pivotal senior executive, he manages medical directors, multidisciplinary teams of specialists and the entire medical staff. He’s active in numerous Karmanos Cancer Hospital and Wayne State University committees.
With Karmanos’ robust research partnership with WSU, Dr. Yoo contributes to academia at the School of Medicine, as well as clinical research and securing investigational funds for cancer care development. He joined the faculty in 1996. He has significantly contributed to the Department of Oncology as a tenured professor. Dr. Yoo's dedication to education is reflected through the training he provides to otolaryngology residents and his mentoring of head and neck fellows. As a clinical scientist, Dr. Yoo managed a National Institute of Health-funded laboratory, securing $2 million in grant support. He published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles, solidifying his expertise as a co-investigator in influential head and neck Specialized Programs of Research Excellence and Southwest Oncology Group projects, many funded by the National Cancer Institute.
His efforts led to the expansion of Karmanos’ prestigious head and neck cancer program, which includes surgical, medical, radiation and dental oncologists, endocrinologists, pathologists, radiologists, speech-swallow therapists and additional specialists. He was a champion of initiating the oncology service line within McLaren Health Care shortly after the corporation acquired Karmanos in 2014. This service line became known as the Karmanos Cancer Network. Dr. Yoo spearheaded steering committees and introduced electronic tumor boards, tele-oncology services and standardized clinical pathways across the network’s 16 treatment sites in Michigan. Under Dr. Yoo’s leadership and commitment to the latest medical standards and clinical guidelines, the standardization of the Network culminated in exceptional oncology dashboard scores. His commitment to involving physicians in operational projects has been recognized by the Professional Research Consultants survey, resulting in an impressive rating for "Fully Engaged Physician.”
Physician recruitment is crucial to Dr. Yoo’s responsibilities. He adopted a strategic physician recruitment strategy encompassing advertising, web postings and direct mail. Since 2008, he has recruited more than 65 specialized physicians in surgical, radiation, medical oncology and radiology.
Through his leadership, Karmanos has significantly reduced complication rates and patient safety indicators. His implementation of patient service principles has translated into consistently high scores for doctor-patient communication, as indicated by Hospital Consumer Assessment for Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys.
Dr. Yoo has been recognized for his practice and bedside manner. He has been named to HOUR Detroit Magazine’s Top Doc List 14 times between 2005 and 2023 and has been named one of America’s Top Doctors and America’s Top Doctors for Cancer by Caste Connolly Medical Ltd. six times between 2012 and 2023.