Dr. Whang is an Associate Professor in the Yale Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. He received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Harvard University and his medical degree from the Duke University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles and received specialized fellowship training in orthopaedic and neurosurgical spinal surgery at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Whang is a fellowship-trained surgeon who specializes in treating diseases of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine including the following pathologic conditions: neck and arm pain/numbness/weakness, lower back and leg pain/numbness/weakness (sciatica), spondylosis (degenerative arthritis), inflammatory arthritis, degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, spinal stenosis, spinal fractures, cervical whiplash, osteoporosis/compression fractures, spinal deformities, scoliosis (adult and adolescent), spondylolysis (pars defects)/spondylolisthesis, spinal tumors, and spinal infections. Dr. Whang is particularly interested in novel spinal technologies including minimally invasive surgeries and motion-sparing/nonfusion procedures. He regularly performs the following surgeries: spinal fusions, spinal decompressions, microscopic discectomies, artificial disc replacements, X-Stop (for spinal stenosis), minimally invasive spinal procedures, and kyphoplasty (for compression fractures).
Dr. Whang is actively involved in clinical and basic science research with a focus on the biology of spinal fusion and bone healing, bone grafting substitutes, and evidence-based medicine. He continues to present the results of his studies at a number of national and international meetings. He is also involved in the development of new spinal implants and techniques. At this time he is currently an investigator for various clinical trials. Dr. Whang is on the editorial staff of several publications and serves on multiple committees for the National Association of Spine Surgeons (NASS). In addition to his research pursuits, Dr. Whang devotes much of his time to the teaching of residents and medical students in the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Whang welcomes the opportunity to work closely with patients and referring physicians alike and is readily available for consultations regarding any type of spinal concerns. He sees patients at the Yale Physicians Building in New Haven as well as satellite offices in Guilford and Milford. He may be contacted through his office at (203) 785-2584.