Dr. Helena A. Yu

Dr. Helena A. Yu welcomes every person with lung cancer into a care conference where surgeons, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, pharmacists, nurses, and social workers sit at the same table, share imaging in real time, and shape one unified plan. As Associate Attending Physician on the Thoracic Medical Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she guides this multidisciplinary team to consider genomic drivers, comorbid conditions, and the rhythms of the patient’s daily life before the first prescription is written. Nurse navigators telephone within hours to confirm next steps; financial advocates fast-track insurance authorizations so treatment never stalls; social-work colleagues link families to housing and childcare resources near the center. In this setting, complex terminology—ALK rearrangement, EGFR exon 20 insertion, PD-L1 expression—becomes understandable explanations of why a certain drug, surgery, or radiation schedule fits best. The result is fewer delays, better tolerance of therapy, and the reassurance that every specialist remains focused on one coordinated goal: prolonging life while protecting everyday routines.

 

Inside adjacent laboratories, Dr. Yu studies how rare EGFR exon 20 or HER2 insertions ignite tumor growth, then moves candidate inhibitors from bench to bedside through carefully designed phase 1 and 2 trials. Her flagship work with zipalertinib and CLN-081 shows how structurally flexible compounds can fit an altered receptor pocket that older drugs cannot reach; parallel efforts pair amivantamab with lazertinib to outmaneuver early resistance. Tumor biopsies move directly to high-throughput sequencing, revealing micro-clones that shape dose selection, while liquid-biopsy teams track circulating DNA so adjustments happen before scans detect change. Statistical partners review emerging data weekly, letting protocols evolve without losing scientific rigor. For patients, this ecosystem translates laboratory insights into timely access to therapy that targets the cancer’s exact blueprint.

 

Innovation also defines Dr. Yu’s role as educator and advocate. She moderates virtual tumor boards streamed to community hospitals, reviews molecular reports side by side with local physicians, and shares dosing algorithms that reduce toxicities without compromising control. Fellows advance through a curriculum that pairs kinase-inhibitor pharmacology with communication workshops, then practice bronchoscopy and biopsy techniques in simulation labs until motions become reflexive. Beyond the institution, she records plain-language videos that explain targeted therapy, stigma-free smoking cessation, and the importance of clinical-trial participation; subtitles in multiple languages broaden reach. Survivors join open forums to describe their journey, shaping research priorities and reinforcing a culture where science and empathy travel together. These efforts empower patients and clinicians alike, spreading state-of-the-art lung-cancer care far beyond one campus.