Dr. Alan Yahanda has more than 20 years of experience as a surgeon and virtually a lifetime desire to work in the field. Dr. Yahanda knew before the first grade that he wanted to be a surgeon and never wavered from that goal. Today, he is Chief of Staff at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Newnan, Georgia.

He joined CTCA® in January 2014 after practicing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the University of Michigan Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Dr. Yahanda is board-certified in General Surgery with a specialty certification in Surgical Oncology. He is a Fellow with the American College of Surgeons.

While Dr. Yahanda practices general surgical oncology, he has a particular interest in cancers of the pancreas, bile ducts and stomach.

When meeting with patients, Dr. Yahanda views his relationship with them as a partnership, with each patient bringing their own experiences and priorities to help inform their treatment plan.

“It is my job as a physician to ensure that the patient receives an accurate diagnostic evaluation. Then it becomes the job of both the physician and the patient to use that information to jointly develop a treatment plan that is in harmony with the patient’s personal goals,” he says.

Dr. Yahanda’s friends and family members have battled cancer. Shortly after their diagnoses, they would contact Dr. Yahanda starving for information.

“I realized that cancer is an overwhelming diagnosis and people just want honest information from someone who cares. In addition, with each one, I learned of their tremendous courage and strength as they battled through treatments,” he says.