Jae Y. Kim, M.D.

[email protected]
(877) 460-4673
Jae Y. Kim, M.D.
Thoracic Surgeon
Clinical Expertise
  • Robotic Surgery
  • Mesothelioma
  • Thymoma
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Lung Cancer
Research Area
  • Lung Cancer
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Quality of Life
Academic Appointments
  • Chief and Associate Professor, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery
Clinical Teams
Esophageal Cancer
Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma
Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma
Sarcoma
Additional Contacts
  • South Pasadena Patients
    (877) 998-7546
  • Referring Physicians/Colleagues
    (626) 218-4054

The question that I ask myself every day on my way to work is, ‘How can we do better?’

Jae Y. Kim, M.D., our chief of thoracic surgery, joined City of Hope after completing a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery, specializing in thoracic oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

A Harvard graduate in biochemistry, Dr. Kim received his medical degree from University of California San Francisco.

Dr. Kim is heavily involved in research to find better treatments for lung and esophageal cancer. He has led multiple clinical trials to improve the care of lung and esophageal cancer patients, focusing on surgical outcomes and quality of life.

Location

Education & Experience

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery
  • American Board of Surgery

Degrees

  • 1997–2002, M.D., Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  • 1993–1997, M.A., B.A., Biochemistry, Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Fellowship

  • 2009–2011, Fellow, Thoracic Surgery, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Residency

  • 2008–2009, Chief Resident, Department of General Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  • 2002–2008, Resident, Department of General Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Professional Experience

  • 2019–present, Associate Professor, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
  • 2012–present, Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors and Los Angeles Magazine Top Doctors

Memberships

  • 2011–present, Member, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
  • 2010–present, Member, Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Publications

  • Kim JY. The Use of Biomarkers in Early-Stage NSCLC. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2023 Mar;21(3):131-133.PMID: 36867556 No abstract available.
  • Liu J, Govindarajan A, Williams TM, Kim JY, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, Massarelli E, Salgia R, Chen YJ, Amini A. An Updated Review on Radiation Treatment Management in Thymus Cancers. Clin Lung Cancer. 2022 Nov; 23(7):561-570. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2022.07.004. Epub 2022 Jul 21. PMID:35941046
  • Liu J, Ladbury C, Tam A, Chao J, Kim JY, McGee HM, Williams TM, Amini A, Chen YJ. Current Landscape of Radiation Oncology in Esophageal Cancer: A Narrative Review. J Thorac Dis. 2022 Nov;14(11):4494-4505. doi: 10.21037/jtd-22-939.PMID: 36524066 Free PMC article. Review.
  • Raoof M, Ituarte PHG, Haye S, Jacobson G, Sullivan KM, Eng O, Kim JY, Fong Y. Medicare Advantage: A Disadvantage for Complex Cancer Surgery Patients. J Clin Oncol. 2022 Nov 10:JCO2101359. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.01359. Online ahead of print. PMID: 36356283
  • Kim JY. Stepwise Improvements in Esophagectomy Outcomes Over a Quarter Century. Ann Thorac Surg. 2022 Oct;114(4):1126-1127. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.04.018. Epub 2022 Apr 25. PMID: 35472406 No abstract available.
  • Teteh DK, Barajas J, Ferrell B, Zhou Z, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, Kim JY, Sun V. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care delivery and quality of life in lung cancer surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2022 Sep;126(3):407-416. doi: 10.1002/jso.26902. Epub 2022 Apr 23. PMID: 35460517
  • Love M, Debay M, Hudley AC, Sorsby T, Lucero L, Miller S, Sampath S, Amini A, Raz DJ, Kim JY, Pathak R, Chen YJ, Kaiser A, Melstrom K, Fakih M, Sun V. Cancer Survivors, Oncology and Primary Care Perspectives on Survivorship Care: An Integrative Review. J Prim Care Community Health. 2022 June 9; 13:21501319221105248. doi: 10.1177/21501319221105248. PMID:35678264
  • Blakely A, Eng O, Nelson R, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, Paz IB, Kim JY. Results of Comprehensive Dysphagia Evaluation and Delayed Oral Intake Following Esophagectomy. 2022 25 Mar. Ann Esophagus. doi.org/10.21037/aoe-20-28.
  • Fakih M, Sandhu J, Wang C, Kim JY, Chen YJ, Lai L, Melstrom K, Kaiser A. Evaluation of Comparative Surveillance Strategies of Circulating Tumor DNA, Imaging, and Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels in Patients With Resected Colorectal Cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Mar 1;5(3):e221093. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.1093. PMID: 35258578
  • Liu J, Ladbury C, Kim JY, Raz DJ, Erhunmwunsee L, West HJ, Williams T, Salgia R, Massarelli E, Amini A. Postoperative Radiation Therapy Should Be Used for Completely Resected Stage III-N2 NSCLC in Select Patients. J Thorac Oncol. 2022 Feb;17(2):194-196. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2021.08.006. PMID: 35074226
  • Akhtar A, Sosa E, Castro S, Sur M, Lozano V, D'Souza G, Yeung S, Macalintal J, Patel M, Zou X, Wu PC, Silver E, Sandoval J, Gray SW, Reckamp KL, Kim JY, Sun V, Raz DJ, Erhunmwunsee L. A Lung Cancer Screening Education Program Impacts both Referral Rates and Provider and Medical Assistant Knowledge at Two Federally Qualified Health Centers. Clin Lung Cancer. 2021 Dec 12:S1525-7304(21)00289-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2021.12.002. Epub ahead of print. PMID:34991968.
  • Prieto R, Ferrell B, Kim JY, Sun V. Self-Management Coaching: Promoting Postoperative Recovery and Caregiving Preparedness for Patients With Lung Cancer and Their Family Caregivers. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2021 Jun 1;25(3):290-296. doi: 10.1188/21.CJON.290-296. PMID:34019030
  • Liu J, Hui C, Ladbury C, Waddington T, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, Kim JY, Salgia R, Chenery S, Pearlstein D, Schwer A, Amini A. Improved Survival Outcomes in Medically Fit Patients With Early-Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy. Clin Lung Cancer. 2021 Sep;22(5):e678-e683. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2021.01.003. Epub 2021 Jan 19. PubMed PMID: 33712362.
  • Erhunmwunsee L, Wing SE, Shen J, Hu H, Sosa E, Lopez LN, Raquel C, Sur M, Ibarra-Noriega P, Currey M, Lee J, Kim JY, Raz DJ, Amini A, Sampath S, Koczywas M, Massarelli E, West HL, Reckamp KL, Kittles RA, Salgia R, Seewaldt VL, Neuhausen SL, Gray SW. The Association between Polluted Neighborhoods and TP53-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Aug;30(8):1498-1505. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-1555. Epub 2021 Jun 4. PubMed PMID: 34088750; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8338883.
  • Blakely AM, Hu H, Wong FL, Raz DJ, Erhunmwunsee L, Sun V, Kim JY. Deterioration in Health-Related Quality of Life Diminishes Benefit of Lung Cancer Resection in Older Adults. Clin Lung Cancer. 2021 Jul;22(4):e544-e551. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2020.06.022. Epub 2020 Jul 3. PubMed PMID: 32727705; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7779707.
  • Sosa E, D'Souza G, Akhtar A, Sur M, Love K, Duffels J, Raz DJ, Kim JY, Sun V, Erhunmwunsee L. Racial and socioeconomic disparities in lung cancer screening in the United States: A systematic review. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 Jul;71(4):299-314. doi: 10.3322/caac.21671. Epub 2021 May 20. PubMed PMID: 34015860; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8266751.
  • Castro S, Sosa E, Lozano V, Akhtar A, Love K, Duffels J, Raz DJ, Kim JY, Sun V, Erhunmwunsee L. The impact of income and education on lung cancer screening utilization, eligibility, and outcomes: a narrative review of socioeconomic disparities in lung cancer screening. J Thorac Dis. 2021 Jun;13(6):3745-3757. doi: 10.21037/jtd-20-3281. PMID: 34277066; PMCID: PMC8264678.
  • Blakely AM, Hu H, Wong FL, Raz DJ, Erhunmwunsee L, Kim JY, Sun V. Deterioration in health-related quality of life is associated with lower lung resection rates in older adults. J Geriatr Oncol. 2021 Apr;12(3):422-427. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.09.001. Epub 2020 Sep 12. PubMed PMID: 32933871.
  • Banapour P, Yuh B, Chenam A, Shen JK, Ruel N, Han ES, Kim JY, Maghami EG, Pigazzi A, RazDJ, Singh GP, Wakabayashi M, Woo Y, Fong Y, Lau CS. Readmission and complications after robotic surgery: experience of 10,000 operations at a comprehensive cancer center. J Robot Surg. 2021 Feb;15(1):37-44. doi: 10.1007/s11701-020-01077-4. Epub 2020 Apr 10. PMID: 32277400
  • Sun V, Raz DJ, and Kim JY, Melstrom LG, Hite S, Varatkar G, Fong Y. (2020) Barriers and facilitators of adherence to a perioperative physical activity intervention for older adults with cancer and their family caregivers. J Geriatr Oncol. doi:10.1016/j.jgo.2019.06.003. 2020 June 5.
  • Mambetsariev I, Wang Y, Chen C, Nadaf S, Pharaon R, Fricke J, Amanam I, Amini A, Bild A, Chu P, Erhunmwunsee L, Kim JY, Munu J, Pillai R, Raz DJ, Sampath S, Vora L, Qiu F, Smith L, Batra SK, Massarelli E, Koczywas M, Reckamp K, Salgia R. Precision Medicine and Actionable Alterations in Lung Cancer: A Single Institution Experience. PLoS One. 2020 Feb 11;15(2):e0228188. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228188. eCollection 2020. PMID: 32045431
  • Lafaro KJ, Raz DJ, Kim JY, Hite S, Ruel N, Varatkar G, Erhunmwunsee L, Melstrom LG, Lee B, Singh G, Fong Y, Sun V. Pilot study of a telehealth perioperative physical activity intervention for older adults with cancer and their caregivers. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Dec 16. doi: 10.1007/s00520-019-05230-0. PMID: 31845007
  • Konstantinidis I, Ituarte PHG, Woo Y, Warner S, Melstrom K, Kim JY, Singh G, Lee B, Fong Y, Melstrom LG. (2019) Trends and outcomes of robotic surgery for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in the USA: maintaining perioperative and oncologic safety. Surg Endosc. 2019 Dec 9. doi: 10.1007/s00464-019-07284-x. PMID: 31820161
  • Wong P, Newman IM, Kim JY, D’Apuzzo M, Melstrom LG. (2019) Underestimating the Burden of Disease in Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of The Lung: A Case Report and Literature Review. Global Surgery Case Reports Journal. dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.GSCR.2019.01.03. 2019 October 10.
  • Wu Gx, Ituarte PHG, Ferrell B, Sun V, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, Kim JY. (2019) Causes of Death and Hospitalization in Long-term Lung Cancer Survivors: A Population-based Appraisal. Clin Lung Cancer. 2019 Aug 30. pii: S1525-7304(19)30256-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2019.08.007. PMID: 31591032
  • un V, Raz DJ, Erhunmwunsee L, Ruel N, Carranza J, Prieto R, Ferrell B, Krouse RS, McCorkle R, Kim JY. (2019) Improving family caregiver and patient outcomes in lung cancer surgery: Study protocol for a randomized trial of the multimedia self-management (MSM) intervention. Contemp Clin Trials. 2019 Aug;83:88-96. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.07.002 PMID: 31279090
  • Li R, Shinde A, Glaser S, Chao J, Kim JY, Karam SD, Goodman K, Chen YJ, Amini A. (2019) Analyzing the impact of neoadjuvant radiation dose on pathologic response and survival outcomes in esophageal and gastroesophageal cancers. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2019 Aug;10(4):712-722. doi: 10.21037/jgo.2019.02.18. PMID: 31392052
  • Sun V, Raz DJ, Kim JY. (2019) Caring for the informal caregiver. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2019 May 30.
  • Mao Y, Yu Z, You B, et al. (2019) Society for Translational Medicine Expert consensus on the selection of surgical approaches in the management of thoracic esophageal carcinoma. J Thorac Dis Jan;11(1):319-328.
  • Zhang K, Wang J, Yang L, Yuan YC, Tong TR, Wu J, Yun X, Bonner M, Pangeni R, Liu Z, Yuchi T, Kim JY, Raz DJ. (2018) Targeting histone methyltransferase G9a inhibits growth and Wnt signaling pathway by epigenetically regulating HP1α and APC2 gene expression in non-small cell lung cancer. Mol Cancer. 17(1):153.
  • Eng OS, Kim JY, Ruel N, Raz DJ, Erhunmwunsee L, Melstrom LG, Chao J, Woo Y, Kim J, Sun V. (2018) Quality of Life, Symptoms, and Self-Management Strategies After Gastroesophageal Cancer Surgery. J Pain Symptom Manage. 56(2):e4-e8.
  • Stewart CL, Warner S, Ito K, Raoof M, Wu G, Lu WP, Kessler J, Kim JY, Fong Y. (2018) Cytoreduction for Colorectal Metastases: Liver, Lung, Peritoneum, Lymph Nodes, Bone, Brain. When Does it Palliate, Prolong Survival, and Potentially Cure? Current Problems in Surgery. 55(9):330-379. doi: 10.1067/j.cpsurg.2018.08.004
  • Shinde A, Li R, Kim JY, Salgia R, Hurria A, Amini A. (2018) Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Early Stage Lung Cancer in the Elderly. Seminars in Oncology. pii: S0093-7754(18)30008-3. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2018.06.002.
  • Eng OS, Nelson RA, Konstantinidis I, Chao J, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, Kim JY. (2018) Disparities in survival after trimodality therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Dis Esophagus. 10.1093/dote/doy020.
  • Sun V, Kim JY, Raz DJ, Chang W, Erhunmwunsee L, Uranga C, Ireland AM, Reckamp K, Tiep B, Hayter J, Lew M, Ferrell B, McCorkle R. (2018) Preparing Cancer Patients and Family Caregivers for Lung Surgery: Development of a Multimedia Self-Management Intervention. J Cancer Educ. 33(3):557-563.
  • Park IH, Kim JY. (2018) Surveillance or resection after chemoradiation in esophageal cancer. Ann Transl Med. 6(4):82.
  • Nardi I, Reno T, Yun X, Sztain T, Wang J, Dai H, Zheng L, Shen B, Kim JY, Raz DJ. (2018) Triptolide inhibits Wnt signaling in NSCLC through upregulation of multiple Wnt inhibitory factors via epigenetic modifications to Histone H3. Int J Cancer. Nov 15;143(10):2470-2478.
  • Zhang K, Keymeulen S, Nelson R, Tong TR, Yuan YC, Yun X, Liu Z, Lopez J, Raz DJ, Kim JY. (2018) Overexpression of Flap Endonuclease 1 Correlates with Enhanced Proliferation and Poor Prognosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Am J Pathol. 188(1)242-251
  • Raz DJ, Wu GX, Consunji M, Nelson RA, Kim H, Sun CL, Sun V, Kim JY. (2018) The Effect of Primary Care Physician Knowledge of Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines on Perceptions and Utilization of Low-Dose Computed Tomography. Clin Lung Cancer. 19(1):51-57.
  • Wu G, Consunji M, Nelson RA, Yeung K, Sun C, Kim JY, Raz DJ. (2017) Perspectives on Managing Solitary Pulmonary Nodules: A Survey of Primary Care Physicians. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 29(3):391-405.
  • Wu GX, Nelson RA, Kim JY, Raz DJ. (2017) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer as a Second Primary Among Patients with Previous Malignancy: Who Is at Risk? Clin Lung Cancer. 18(5):543-550.e3
  • Zhang K, Wang J, Tong TR, Wu X, Nelson R, Yuan YC, Reno T, Liu Z, Yun X, Kim JY, Salgia R, Raz DJ. (2017) Loss of H2B monoubiquitination is associated with poor-differentiation and enhanced malignancy of lung adenocarcinoma. Int J Cancer. 141(4):766-777.
  • Reb A, Ruel N, Fakih M, Lai L, Salgia R, Ferrell B, Sampath S, Kim JY, Raz DJ, Sun V. (2017) Empowering survivors after colorectal and lung cancer treatment: Pilot study of a Self-Management Survivorship Care Planning Intervention. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 29:125-134.
  • Zheng L, Ji J, Dai H, Wan L, Liu J, Hu L, Zhou M, Qiu M, Chen X, Chang L, Kim JY, Reckamp K, Raz DJ, Xia Z, Shen B. (2017) Triptolide-Assisted Phosphorylation of p53 Suppresses Inflammation-Induced NF-κB Survival Pathways in Cancer Cells. Moll Cell Biol. 37(15). pii: e00149-17.
  • Sun V, Raz J, Ruel N, Chang W, Erhunmwunsee L, Reckamp K, Tiep B, Ferrell B, McCorkle R, Kim JY. (2017) A Multimedia Self-management Intervention to Prepare Cancer Patients and Family Caregivers for Lung Surgery and Postoperative Recovery. Clin Lung Cancer 18(3):e151-e159.
  • Kim JY. (2017) Analyzing competing risks in the treatment of lung cancer: a good start. J Thorac Dis. 9(3): 474-476.
  • Choi AH, O’Leary MP, Merchant SJ, Sun V, Chao J, Raz DJ, Kim JY, Kim J. (2017) Complications of Feeding Jejunostomy Tubes in Patients with Gastroesophageal Cancer. J Gastrointest Surg. 21(2):259-265.

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings and reviews below are gathered from the Press Ganey Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG CAHPS) survey. CG CAHPS is a standardized survey that is used to measure a patient's experience in the physician office setting. Ratings are an average of all responses to questions about a provider's care, with five stars being the highest.
4.9
Recommend this provider office
4.9
Provider explain in way you understand
4.9
Provider listen carefully to you
4.9
Know important info medical history
4.9
Show respect for what you say
4.9
Rate provider 0-10
4.8
Spend enough time with you
04/24/25
Good experience [...] - Verified patient
04/13/25
Good - Verified patient
02/03/25
Dr. Kim and his team are caring, kind, professionals who have the patients' best interest in mind. They listen respectfully while imparting their medical expertise and responding to questions. Their encouragement instills hopefulness in us as we continue our cancer journey. I'm most fortunate to have such an outstanding team. - Verified patient
01/28/25
Outstanding care. - Verified patient
01/28/25
Staff is within expected care. - Verified patient