Dr. Andrew Juneyee Yang, MD

As a hospitalist, I am a board-certified internist who has chosen to practice solely in the hospital setting, caring for hospitalized patients from the time they are admitted to the Emergency Department to the time they are discharged from the hospital. Every day, I see all of my patients at their bedside and am in constant communication with their family members. I spend most of my time behind the scenes, reviewing lab data, X-rays, nursing records, and specialists' recommendations. I am your advocate in a vast, complex hospital system, working closely with specialists, pharmacists, nutritionists, physical therapists, and social workers. I handle emergencies, such as cardiac resuscitation. I treat and manage very ill patients. I spend time teaching our physicians-in-training. No day is ever the same. I am a hospitalist, and I love my job.

Biography
Though I was born in New York, I consider myself a native Southern Californian, having moved here at the age of 3. After graduating …from UCLA for college, I decided to move back to New York for medical school. On the East Coast, having actual seasons was a new and enjoyable experience for me. However, scraping ice off my windshield in the dead of winter got old really fast, so I decided it was time to head back to California after graduation. I completed my residency training in the Bay Area in Northern California, and while residency is always a busy time, I did have enough time to meet my future wife there. Fortunately, she's from Southern California too, so after residency we decided to come back to this region, and we've been here ever since.

About my practice
I believe that practicing medicine is more than just a vocation; it's a life calling. Medicine is about not only treating sickness, but also improving the human condition. At no time can this be seen more clearly than when national disasters strike. Wherever there's a need, I want to help. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, I headed to Louisiana as part of a medical disaster relief team, offering whatever aid I could to those who had lost so much. When the fires hit San Diego, I joined another team and headed down for a weekend to offer free medical care. As a physician, I feel it is my duty to help those in need. Ironically, I think I gained more from these trips than my patients did. In the face of complete loss, I have seen such strength and inner peace that I can't help but feel inspired. I know that this is something I want to do for the rest of my life, and regularly too, lest I forget the lessons the work teaches me.

How I thrive
Thriving is more than just physical health. It's mind, body, and spirit. I enjoy exercising my mind by picking up new skills: I see every day as an opportunity to learn something new. Currently, being a newlywed, I'm learning how to cook for two and have enjoyed reading books, watching cooking shows, and taking cooking classes. Cooking is definitely a skill that give a great return on the time invested, and I hope to keep expanding my repertoire as time goes on. For physical exercise, I enjoy recreational tennis, a sport I've been playing since I was 8 years old. Spiritually, I believe strong relationships are vital to one's spiritual health, especially the relationship with one's life partner. I like to meet weekly with other married friends for support. Sure, it's another time commitment in an already packed schedule, but it's been worth every minute. After all, nothing is more important than one's (mental, physical, and spiritual) health.