So Yeon Kim, MD

So Yeon Kim, MD, is a medical oncologist who cares for patients with lung cancer, an area that she says is changing rapidly, thanks to new drugs in the past decade, targeted treatments, and immunotherapies that have led to significant improvements in outcomes even in people with advanced forms of the disease.

“I always knew I wanted to do something to help people,” Dr. Kim says. “I ultimately chose oncology because I enjoyed the long-term relationships I was able to build with patients and families. I really enjoy working with cancer patients because they are among the most resilient and courageous people, who continue to fight against a disease that still has many more problems to solve.”

Dr. Kim is working with colleagues toward personalizing cancer treatment for all patients with carefully selected treatment options based on the tumor’s “molecular fingerprint,” she says. “At Yale, there is a lot of ongoing scientific collaboration between clinicians and researchers that is helping bring the latest scientific discoveries to patients with the goal of improving their outcomes.”

An assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Kim focuses her research on both targeted treatment options and immunotherapy. “Oncology is a humbling field that can bring up more questions than answers, but I think that ultimately allows space for creativity and innovation,” she says. “While my research interests currently remain broad, I am interested in developing a more personalized approach to lung cancer care as we learn more about the science around what drives specific patients to respond better to certain therapies than to others,” she says.