SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Dec. 19, 2024 – Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, one of the nation’s top 10 pediatric health care systems, and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine proudly announce the appointment of Raphael Jaewon Yoo, MD, MS, as a pediatric vascular and interventional radiologist at Rady Children’s.
Dr. Yoo brings extensive expertise and leadership in pediatric interventional radiology (IR). As the former director of the Pediatric Interventional Radiology Fellowship at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, he led transformative initiatives, including pioneering advancements in interventional oncology. There, he helped advocate for innovative treatments like Y90 (Yttrium-90) radioembolization use in children, a cutting-edge therapy that can shrink larger liver tumors for easier surgical removal or potentially cure smaller tumors. Y90 is frequently used in the adult population but is just beginning to be utilized in pediatric liver tumors.
Raphael Jaewon Yoo, MD, MS
Beyond clinical care, Dr. Yoo is passionate about education and advancing the field of pediatric IR.
“Dr. Yoo is a builder,” said Rush Chewning, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Interventional Radiology Program at Rady Children’s and associate clinical professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “His passion for innovation, collaboration, and education makes him the perfect addition to our team at Rady Children’s. He wasn’t just coming in to fit into the team; he wanted to make it grow. He’s started building programs in the past and knows how to take them to the next level. He will undoubtedly help us expand our services and elevate the quality of care for our patients.”
In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Yoo is dedicated to advancing the field of pediatric IR. He is passionate about fostering collaborations with other specialists and institutions to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes. His appointment marks a significant step forward for Rady Children’s, as it positions the Hospital to become a leading center for pediatric IR and to offer cutting-edge treatments to young patients.
“I’m excited to join Rady Children’s and contribute to the growth of our pediatric IR program,” said Dr. Yoo. “We have a unique opportunity to shape the future of this field and provide innovative, minimally invasive treatments for our young patients.”
Dr. Yoo completed an adult IR fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconness and further subspecialized in pediatric IR at Boston Children’s Hospital, both part of the Harvard University system. He also completed a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Hahnemann University Hospital and earned his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.
Dr. Yoo officially began his role on July 8, 2024.
About Pediatric Interventional Radiology at Rady Children’s
Rady Children’s offers a state-of-the-art Interventional Radiology program, providing minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat a wide range of pediatric conditions. Our team of highly skilled specialists utilizes advanced imaging technologies to perform precise procedures with minimal discomfort and faster recovery times.
About Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego
Ranked as one of the 10 best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego includes a 511-bed pediatric hospital that serves as the largest provider of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, southern Riverside, and Imperial counties. With more than 40 locations, Rady Children’s is the only health system in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric health care and is the region’s only designated pediatric trauma center. Rady Children’s is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations to support its mission. For more information, visit rchsd.org and find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.