Pyongsoo D. Yoon, M.D.

Pyongsoo D. Yoon, M.D., is the Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at The Heart Hospital At Forum Health and has become the first chairman of cardiovascular medicine, a newly formed department at Forum Health Northside Medical Center.   He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.  He also serves on the faculty of Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine as clinical assistant professor of surgery.

Dr. Yoon received his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed general surgery residency training at Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine.  Afterwards, he underwent specialized training in cardiothoracic surgery, completing a clinical fellowship and a research fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dr. Yoon is well known for expertise with advanced techniques from minimally invasive surgery, OPCAB and endoscopic vein harvesting, to valve repair and replacements.  The cardiothoracic surgeon is also trained in cardiac transplantation and mechanical assist device utilization. 

Dr. Yoon, arrived in Youngstown in 1997 allowing area patients to receive advanced open-heart surgery at Forum Health Northside Medical Center.  Since that time, the open-heart surgery program flourished, becoming the area’s fastest growing heart surgery program while providing the foundation for The Heart Hospital At Forum Health.  Additionally, Forum Health has become a recognized leader and training site for beating heart surgery, and leads the region for valve replacements and repair, complex cardiac surgery, and endoscopic vein harvesting.  Dr. Yoon also carried the success of the Northside open-heart program to Trumbull County, creating a new and successful cardiac program at Trumbull Memorial Hospital. 

The utilization of innovative techniques and leading edge technology has resulted in excellent clinical outcomes that meet or exceed national benchmarks, even for high-risk patients.  These outcomes include fewer post-operative complications, reduced length of hospital stays and quicker recovery.

Dr. Yoon has a special interest in finding ways to decrease stroke complication in cardiac surgery and has been very active in implementing these findings in patient care.

When taking time off, Dr. Yoon visits Korea every year to do surgery, teach surgery, and give lectures at several university hospitals.  He continues to hold a position as an associate professor in one of their universities.  Additionally, many surgeons from Korea come to Forum Health to observe, learn and exchange ideas.  Dr. Yoon and his colleagues are in the midst of creating a more formalized research fellowship program with the assistance of Dr. Echols.  Dr. Yoon has also had the opportunity to act as a chairperson for a session in an international cardiothoracic surgery meeting.