Tribute to Dr. Thomas Jui-ting Yeh, Renowned Cardiothoracic Surgeon

A tribute to the remarkable legacy of Dr. Thomas Yeh.

News Summary

Dr. Thomas Jui-ting Yeh, a distinguished cardiothoracic surgeon renowned for pioneering open-heart surgery in Savannah, passed away at the age of 96. Born in Taiwan, Dr. Yeh’s impressive medical career spanned 41 years, during which he influenced countless lives. He was also a beloved family man and an artist. His legacy continues through his three children, all following in his medical footsteps. A visitation and private graveside service are scheduled, with further community celebration details to be announced.

Savannah, Georgia — Esteemed cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Thomas Jui-ting Yeh passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025, at the age of 96. He died surrounded by his loving family in the home he built with his wife, Doris, marking the end of a remarkable life dedicated to medicine and art.

Born in Tainan, Taiwan, Dr. Yeh was a direct descendant of a ten-generation line of physicians. He achieved academic excellence by graduating first in his medical school class at National Taiwan University. Following his graduation, he immigrated to the United States, where he completed his general surgery residency at the University of Louisville, and soon met Doris, who worked as a scrub nurse in the operating room. They married 67 years ago, beginning a partnership filled with love and career accomplishments.

Dr. Yeh continued his pursuit of excellence by completing a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at both the Medical College of Georgia and Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. In 1967, he moved with his family to Savannah, where he pioneered the region’s first open-heart surgery program. This initiative saved the lives of thousands of adults and children across Georgia and beyond, establishing him as a leading figure in the field.

Throughout his 41-year career in cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Yeh was respected for his technical skills, humility, and humanity, traits that garnered him affection from patients and colleagues alike. Following retirement, he embraced a second career as a painter, using this medium to create art that brought joy to his family and former patients.

Dr. Yeh’s legacy continues through his three children, all of whom became physicians themselves, carrying on the family tradition in the medical field. His son is a pediatric heart surgeon, while his daughters have become a surgical oncologist and an interventional cardiologist. He was often described as a renaissance man, with diverse interests that went beyond the medical realm, including learning, teaching, and a passion for good food, the natural world, geopolitics, art, and music.

Known for his soft-spoken demeanor, quick sense of humor, radiant smile, and generous heart, Dr. Yeh leaves behind his wife Doris, his son Thomas Yeh, his daughter Jennifer Yeh (married to Daniel Marrash), and three grandchildren: Kathryn Galloway, Thomas Galloway, and Christopher Marrash. He is preceded in death by his daughter Karen Anne Yeh.

The family has announced a visitation scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Fox & Weeks, Hodgson Chapel, in Savannah. A private family graveside service will take place at Westover Cemetery in Augusta. Additional details for a community celebration of Dr. Yeh’s life will be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Medical College of Georgia to honor Dr. Yeh’s legacy in teaching, reflecting his lifelong dedication to education and healthcare.