With great sadness, the UAB Department of Surgery announces the passing of a phenomenal surgeon and friend, Dr. George Yang. George passed in the community of his family and friends, and we take great comfort knowing that his end-of-life care was reflective of the love of the many individuals who worked alongside and knew George.

George Yang, M.D., Ph.D., went to undergraduate and medical school at Northwestern University. He earned his Ph.D. in molecular genetics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He completed his residency in general surgery at Stanford University and remained at Stanford as faculty until coming to UAB in 2018.

George ran a successful laboratory that focused on mechanisms of injury repair. And his caring nature and surgical skill helped countless patients not only at UAB but at the Birmingham Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital – a place where his dedication to his patients, peers, and staff was unparalleled.

In addition to his clinical and research leadership, George was known across the community as someone who acted on his values. He was motivated, inclusive, and humble, and the field of surgery took note. In 2021, George was named the Society of University Surgeons Inaugural Trailblazer Award Winner. The SUS noted that he was nominated and selected by his peers based on his leadership and contributions to the SUS as well as his unwavering vision, commitment, and dedication to the promotion of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community in academic surgical leadership.

George has always been an advocate for underrepresented groups in medicine. In 2010, he was a founding member of the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons (SAAS) and was named their first executive director in 2016. George will always be known for championing social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion. He believed in building groups of individuals with shared experiences and creating deep community. He believed in creating spaces where everyone felt safe. In 2021, SAAS honored George by creating and bestowing him the George Yang SAAS Trailblazer Award.

Details on services for George will be communicated as they become available. In lieu of flowers, George, his wife Karen, and their family would like individuals to donate to the George Yang SAAS Trailblazer Fund.

Let us honor George by lifting up those around us, giving back, and moving the field of surgery forward.