Voluntary Faculty
Voluntary faculty are typically clinicians or others who are employed outside of the School but make significant contributions to department programs at the medical center or at affiliate institutions.
Voluntary rank detailsMaija Cheung, MD, FACS
Assistant Clinical ProfessorDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Titles
Associate Program Director, General Surgery, Surgery
Biography
Dr. Maija Cheung is an Assistant Professor in Surgery in the Division of Bariatrics and Minimally Invasive Surgery. Dr. Cheung also serves as the Associate Program Director for Clinical Skills for the General Surgery Program and Associate Program Director for the Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship Program. Her clinical interests are in hernia, foregut and bariatric surgery and integrating robotics into this practice.
Dr. Cheung completed her General Surgery Residency at Yale New Haven Hospital and was the first Yale Global Surgery Research Fellow. Her research focused on capacity building and educational projects in pediatric surgery and trauma and emergency general surgery in Uganda. She has worked with a philanthropic organization, KidsOR since 2017 as an International Advisory Board member helping steer clinical development opportunities and data collection policies and in 2021 was appointed as their Global Lead for Surgery.
Dr. Cheung completed her fellowship in Bariatrics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at Yale. Her current research is focused on global trauma and surgical outcomes, developing education, simulation, and training programs both in the United States and in low income countries, and building reciprocal clinical and research collaborations between international institutions.
Last Updated on April 07, 2025.
Departments & Organizations
- Center for Weight Management
Education & Training
- Resident Physician
- Yale University School of Medicine (2020)
- Global Surgery Fellow
- Yale University School of Medicine (2017)
- MD
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (2014)
- BA
- Middlebury College (2005)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Bariatric Surgery; Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures; General Surgery; Global Burden of Disease; Global Health; Health Systems Plans; Healthcare Disparities
Public Health Interests
Health Systems Reform; Health Systems Strengthening; Global Health
ORCID
0000-0002-9777-2378
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Maija Cheung's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Maija Cheung's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Maija Cheung is interested in exploring.
Sarah Ullrich, MD, MHS
John Morton, MD, MPH, MHA, BS, FACS, FASMBS
Nensi Ruzgar
Andrew Duffy, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Geoffrey Nadzam, MD, MHA, FACS
Jason Bini, PhD
35Publications
492Citations
Global Health
Bariatric Surgery
General Surgery
Healthcare Disparities
Publications
2025
Current Landscape of Children's Surgery in Africa: A Multicenter Analysis of 16,000 Cases
Hsu P, Carroll M, Zambeli‐Ljepovic A, Olatunji‐Banire B, Mathew P, Axt J, Diallo T, Eshete M, Ki B, Macharia J, Ngock G, Serawit A, Bryce E, Ozgediz D, Cheung M. Current Landscape of Children's Surgery in Africa: A Multicenter Analysis of 16,000 Cases. World Journal Of Surgery 2025 PMID: 40913246, DOI: 10.1002/wjs.70066.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsSurgical careBurden of pediatric surgical diseaseChildren's surgical careHousehold-based surveyMiddle-income countriesBurden of diseasePediatric surgical carePerioperative clinical dataAssociated with much higher ratesHigher mortalityPediatric surgical diseasesFrequency of proceduresEffective interventionsYoung childrenChildren’s SurgeryMulticenter analysisIntestinal perforationCongenital malformationsGlobal disparitiesCareElective operationsClinical dataCongenital conditionSurgical proceduresSurgical disease
2024
‘Show me the money’: An analysis of US global health funding from 1995 to 2019
Carroll M, Ruzgar N, Fedatto M, Schultz K, Cheung M. ‘Show me the money’: An analysis of US global health funding from 1995 to 2019. Journal Of Global Health 2024, 14: 04173. PMID: 39451051, PMCID: PMC11505566, DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04173.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDisease-specific interventionsUniversal health coverageSurgical capacity buildingHealth systemWorld Health OrganizationMillennium Development GoalsWorld Health Organization building blocksHealth system building blocksStronger health systemsSystem building blocksMiddle-income countriesCapacity buildingIntervention categoriesMaternal healthGlobal health fundingLancet CommissionHealth coverageHealth FundChild mortalityGlobal surgeryHealth problemsSustainable Development GoalsHealthInterventionHealth OrganizationCorrelation of Pediatric Surgical Infrastructure With Clinical and Economic Outcomes: A Cohort Study
Negash S, Yap A, Stephens C, Nigussie B, Tefera R, Bryce E, Cheung M, Fedatto M, Laverde R, Ozgediz D, Tadesse A, Derbew M. Correlation of Pediatric Surgical Infrastructure With Clinical and Economic Outcomes: A Cohort Study. Journal Of Surgical Research 2024, 303: 215-223. PMID: 39369594, DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2024.09.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsDisability-adjusted life yearsSurgical infrastructureHealth benefitsCohort studyHousehold incomeCatastrophic healthcare expenditureMedian annual household incomeAnnual household incomeImprove equitable accessMiddle-income countriesEthiopian public hospitalsPatients' household incomePediatric operating roomHousehold annual incomeCompare patient outcomesPatients' caregiversRetrospective cohort studyChild healthEconomic outcomesPediatric ORPublic hospitalsHealthcare expendituresEthiopian hospitalsSurgical careOperating roomDevelopment and Internal-External Validation of a Post-Operative Mortality Risk Calculator for Pediatric Surgical Patients in Low- and Middle- Income Countries Using Machine Learning
Eyler Dang L, Klazura G, Yap A, Ozgediz D, Bryce E, Cheung M, Fedatto M, Ameh E. Development and Internal-External Validation of a Post-Operative Mortality Risk Calculator for Pediatric Surgical Patients in Low- and Middle- Income Countries Using Machine Learning. Journal Of Pediatric Surgery 2024, 59: 161883. PMID: 39317568, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.161883.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsMiddle-income countriesPost-operative mortality ratePost-operative mortalityPediatric surgical patientsRisk algorithmPediatric surgery patientsMortality risk calculatorInternal-external validationSurgery patientsEligible patientsSurgical patientsCalibration slopeHospital dischargePatientsType of studyMortality rateClinical practiceCross-validated AUCIncome countriesRisk calculatorAUCMortalityDischarge statusValidation AUCCost-effectiveness of a pediatric operating room installation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Yap A, Halid S, Ukwu N, Laverde R, Park P, Klazura G, Bryce E, Cheung M, Marseille E, Ozgediz D, Ameh E. Cost-effectiveness of a pediatric operating room installation in Sub-Saharan Africa. PLOS Global Public Health 2024, 4: e0001748. PMID: 38536860, PMCID: PMC10971580, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001748.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsDisability-adjusted life yearsPediatric operating roomIncremental cost-effectiveness ratioSub-Saharan AfricaSurgical infrastructureProbabilistic sensitivity analysesOperating roomLocal healthcare systemCost-effective interventionPayor perspectiveCost-effectiveSub-SaharanHealth outcomesPediatric surgical servicesSurgical capacityCost-effectiveness thresholdPatient's familyCost-effectiveness ratioHealthcare systemLack of knowledgeGlobal surgerySurgical deliveryUnited States dollarsLife yearsSurgical servicesCollateral Benefit of Systematic Improvement in Bariatric Surgery Outcomes Following a Single Quality Improvement Project for Bleeding
Chao G, Nadzam G, Cheung M, Duffy A, Ghiassi S, Morton J. Collateral Benefit of Systematic Improvement in Bariatric Surgery Outcomes Following a Single Quality Improvement Project for Bleeding. Obesity Surgery 2024, 34: 1041-1044. PMID: 38280157, DOI: 10.1007/s11695-023-07037-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsQuality improvement projectImprovement projectImprove patient careTargeted quality improvement projectsVenous thromboembolism prophylaxisPatient careRoot cause analysisBariatric surgery outcomesIndications conferencePatient outcomesPostoperative complicationsThromboembolism prophylaxisSurgery outcomesStudy aimCause analysisAdverse outcomesBleedingImprove outcomesOutcomesTechnique standardization
2023
Out-of-pocket costs and catastrophic healthcare expenditure for families of children requiring surgery in sub-Saharan Africa
Yap A, Olatunji B, Negash S, Mweru D, Kisembo S, Masumbuko F, Ameh E, Lebbie A, Bvulani B, Hansen E, Philipo G, Carroll M, Hsu P, Bryce E, Cheung M, Fedatto M, Laverde R, Ozgediz D. Out-of-pocket costs and catastrophic healthcare expenditure for families of children requiring surgery in sub-Saharan Africa. Surgery 2023, 174: 567-573. PMID: 37385869, DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2023.05.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCatastrophic healthcare expenditureFamilies of childrenHealthcare expendituresChildren's surgeryPocket costsPediatric surgical patientsMultivariate logistic regressionPediatric operating roomIntensive resource utilizationPocket healthcare costsUniversal healthcare coverageChart reviewSurgical patientsSubgroup analysisClinical dataAfrican hospitalsHealthcare costsEconomic burdenMedian annual incomeSurgeryOlder ageLogistic regressionHealthcare coverageOperating roomOlder children
2021
Performing Bariatric Surgery on Previously COVID+ Patients Is Safe and Effective
Cheung MS, Ying L, Duffy AJ, Ghiassi S, Nadzam G, Roberts KE, Morton JM. Performing Bariatric Surgery on Previously COVID+ Patients Is Safe and Effective. Obesity Surgery 2021, 31: 5082-5084. PMID: 34453312, PMCID: PMC8396140, DOI: 10.1007/s11695-021-05659-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH KeywordsThe Role of Positron Emission Tomography in Bariatric Surgery Research: a Review
Bini J, Norcross M, Cheung M, Duffy A. The Role of Positron Emission Tomography in Bariatric Surgery Research: a Review. Obesity Surgery 2021, 31: 4592-4606. PMID: 34304378, DOI: 10.1007/s11695-021-05576-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPositron emission tomographyBariatric surgeryEmission tomographyBariatric surgery researchMalabsorption of foodBlood flowWhole-body PET imagingRadioligand developmentWeight lossPET imagingAmount of foodSurgery researchPhysiological effectsSurgeryPicomolar concentrationsTomographyRadioactive moleculesMetabolismMalabsorptionObesityPatientsFoodStomachPharmacologyReceptorsAccess to pediatric surgery delivered by general surgeons and anesthesia providers in Uganda: Results from 2 rural regional hospitals
Grabski DF, Ajiko M, Kayima P, Ruzgar N, Nyeko D, Fitzgerald TN, Langer M, Cheung M, Cigliano B, D'Agostino S, Baird R, Duffy D, Tumukunde J, Nabukenya M, Ogwang M, Kisa P, Sekabira J, Kakembo N, Ozgediz D. Access to pediatric surgery delivered by general surgeons and anesthesia providers in Uganda: Results from 2 rural regional hospitals. Surgery 2021, 170: 1397-1404. PMID: 34130809, DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2021.05.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPediatric surgical capacityRural regional hospitalGeneral surgeonsSurgical capacitySurgery admissionsMiddle-income countriesSurgical guidelinesRegional hospitalPediatric surgeryAnesthesia providersRegional Referral HospitalProspective clinical databasePediatric surgical servicesPediatric surgical careGeneral surgery casesMajority of casesHospital mortalityPrimary outcomeReferral hospitalSurgical infectionsClinical outcomesSurgery casesHernia repairSurgical careSurgical procedures
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