MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Clinical Research
Gastrointestinal Oncology Program, Bone and Soft Tissue Oncology Program, and Spinal Tumor Program
Area of Interest
Dr. Yanagihara is a board-certified radiation oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers and soft tissue sarcoma. He has clinical and research interests in advanced radiation techniques, including with the use of intraoperative radiotherapy, stereotactic treatment, including with the Cyberknife radiosurgery, and the use of spatially fractionated radiation.
He is a tenure track Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine and oversees a wide range of research activities that aim to improve the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy while also investigating new applications where radiation could benefit patients.
He is a member of the American Association for Radiation Oncology, the American Board of Radiology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and is a senior reviewer for the national maintenance of certification assessment in radiation oncology.
Dr. Yanagihara is an active member of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program, Bone and Soft Tissue Oncology Program, and Spinal Tumor Program.
Awards and Honors
- Intramural research funding for research in circulating tumor DNA, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2023-2024
- Extramural research funding for research in spatially fractionated radiotherapy, Radiation Oncology Institute, 2023-2025
- ARRO Teacher of the Year Award, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 2018-2019
- New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital Healer’s Hall of Fame, 2018
- Radiological Society of North America Resident/Fellow Annual Institutional Research Award, 2017
- Chief Resident, Columbia University Medical Center, 2016-2017
- State of the Art Radiation Therapy Travel Grant Award Recipient. Las Vegas, Nevada, 2015
- Employee of the Month: New York Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia University Medical Center, 12/2013
- National Institutes of Health, Medical Scientist Training Program, 2005-2012
- National Institutes of Mental Health, Research Training Fellowship, 2002-2004
- Delegate to the California state government to lobby for research funding on behalf of the University of California, 2004
- University of California, Irvine Alumni Association, annual Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Undergraduate Research, 2004
- University of California, Irvine Office of the Chancellor, Chancellor’s annual Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, 2004
- University of California, Irvine Department of Graduate Studies, Undergraduate Research Training Fellowship, 2001-2003
