Lyen C. Huang
( out of 134 reviews )

Lyen C. Huang, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCRS

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Huntsman Cancer Institute - Cancer Hospital South

Clinic 3A, Gastrointestinal
801-587-4700

University of Utah Hospital

General Surgery, Area E
801-587-5854

  • Dr. Lyen C. Huang, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCRS, is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Family & Preventative Medicine and Population Health Sciences at the University of Utah. He specializes in complex and minimally-invasive intestinal surgery. His clinical practice includes the treatment of cancers of the small bowel, colon, rectum, and anus; inflammatory bowel disease; diverticulitis; and other diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract.

    Dr. Huang received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University and his Master of Public Health degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He completed his General Surgery residency at Stanford University followed by a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

    He is a co-leader of the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) Colorectal Cancer Research Group and an associate member of the HCI Cancer Control and Population Sciences (CCPS) program. He serves as the Physician-Scientist Advisor to the University of Utah Health Regional Network, LLC. He is a member of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology committee on Colorectal Cancer Screening and a former committee member for Colorectal Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment. He has routinely presented and served on committees for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), American College of Surgeons (ACS), Society of Asian Academic Surgeons (SAAS), and Association for Academic Surgery (AAS).

    His research focuses on (1) peri-operative opioid stewardship, appropriate disposal of unused opioids, and patient recovery after surgery, (2) dissemination and implementation of quality and safety initiatives across health systems, particularly those in rural and under-served communities, (3) improving access and quality of rural/frontier cancer care, and (4) misalignment between the law, state and federal policy, drug courts, and health systems. He is funded as a University of Utah CTSI KL2 Mentored Career Development Scholar and a clinical advisor to the NIH HEAL Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network (ERN).

    Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, sailing, running, cycling, camping, and spending time with his family.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery
    American Board of Surgery

    Patient Rating

    4.9 /5
    ( out of 134 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety.
    Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    September 02, 2023
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Very experienced and knowledgeable.

    August 19, 2023
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Inspires confidence

    August 12, 2023
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    He is one of the best all around Dr I have had the pleasure and good fortune to attend to me! He has a warm and caring presence that will put you at ease and you can feel his concern and care in his word and actions. I felt complete relief after first talking to him, I was going to receive the best care and I will have a complete understanding of my situation, what the process will be and at the end a clear understanding of my illness. I thanked him for educating me about my illness. If Im in a hospital I can only hope I am being attended to by him.

    August 11, 2023
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Professional and kind. Honest and knowledgeable.

    August 03, 2023
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    He came highly recommended and we live in a Wyoming. We are very grateful for his expertise.

    July 28, 2023
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr. Huang was very kind and considerate. Explained what I needed done and explained everything so I can be prepared. I never felt rush, he took his time and answered my questions in a way I understood what to expect.

    June 14, 2023
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Not quick to do surgery unless its necessary Very understanding and listened to my concerns. Very personable

    May 28, 2023
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    He tried everything he could to fix my issue before making the decision to do surgery.

    May 15, 2023
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr. Huang continues to enthusiastically try to help me with a very unusual and complex case.

    See More Patient Comments

  • Dr. Lyen C. Huang, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCRS, is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Family & Preventative Medicine and Population Health Sciences at the University of Utah. He specializes in complex and minimally-invasive intestinal surgery. His clinical practice includes the treatment of cancers of the small bowel, colon, rectum, and anus; inflammatory bowel disease; diverticulitis; and other diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract.

    Dr. Huang received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University and his Master of Public Health degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He completed his General Surgery residency at Stanford University followed by a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

    He is a co-leader of the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) Colorectal Cancer Research Group and an associate member of the HCI Cancer Control and Population Sciences (CCPS) program. He serves as the Physician-Scientist Advisor to the University of Utah Health Regional Network, LLC. He is a member of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology committee on Colorectal Cancer Screening and a former committee member for Colorectal Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment. He has routinely presented and served on committees for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), American College of Surgeons (ACS), Society of Asian Academic Surgeons (SAAS), and Association for Academic Surgery (AAS).

    His research focuses on (1) peri-operative opioid stewardship, appropriate disposal of unused opioids, and patient recovery after surgery, (2) dissemination and implementation of quality and safety initiatives across health systems, particularly those in rural and under-served communities, (3) improving access and quality of rural/frontier cancer care, and (4) misalignment between the law, state and federal policy, drug courts, and health systems. He is funded as a University of Utah CTSI KL2 Mentored Career Development Scholar and a clinical advisor to the NIH HEAL Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network (ERN).

    Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, sailing, running, cycling, camping, and spending time with his family.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Surgery -Primary
    Family & Preventive Medicine -Adjunct
    Population Health Sciences -Adjunct
    Academic Divisions General Surgery
    Public Health
    Board Certification
    American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery
    American Board of Surgery

    Education history

    Fellowship Colon and Rectal Surgery - Mayo Clinic Fellow
    General Surgery - Stanford University School of Medicine Administrative Chief Resident
    Residency General Surgery - Stanford University School of Medicine Resident
    Implementation Science, Health Services Research - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health/Brigham and Women’s Hospital Research Fellow
    Research Fellow Health Disparities and Outcomes - Stanford University School of Medicine Research Fellow
    General Surgery - Stanford University School of Medicine Resident
    Internship General Surgery - Stanford University School of Medicine Intern
    University of Cape Town M.P.H.
    Professional Medical Medicine - Stanford University School of Medicine M.D.
    Major: Symbolic Systems; Minor: Political Science - Stanford University B.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Huang LC, Nibley H, Cheng M, Bleicher J, Ko H, Johnson JE, McCrum ML (2023). Naloxone co-prescriptions for surgery patients prescribed opioids: A retrospective cohort study. Surg Pract Sci, 15.
    2. Bleicher J mentored surgical trainee, Stauder EL mentored medical student, Johnson JE, Ko H, Huang LC (2023). Trial of a simple, patient-centered opioid prescribing guideline: 2 x 24-hour pre-discharge opioid consumption (PDOC). JAMA Surg.
    3. Huang LC, Bleicher J, Torre M, Johnson JE, Presson A, Millar MM, Gordon AJ, Brooke BS, Kaphingst KA, Harris AHS (2023). Evaluating a health system-wide opioid disposal intervention distributing home-disposal bags. Health Serv Res, 58, 1256–1265.
    4. Cohan JN, Horns JJ, Ramsay JM, Huang LC, Allen-Brady K (2023). The Familiality of Diverticulitis: A Statewide Case-Control Study. J Am Coll Surg, 237(5), 689-696.
    5. Bediako-Bowan A, Yorke J, Brand N, Panzer K, Dally CK, Debrah S, Agbenorku P, Mills JN, Huang LC, Laryea J, Lowry A, Appeadu-Mensah W, Adanu R, Kwakye G (2023). Creating a Colorectal Surgery Fellowship in Ghana to Address the Growing Need for Colorectal Surgeons in West Africa. Dis Colon Rectum, 66(9), 1152-1156.
    6. Bleicher J mentored surgery trainee, Johnson JE, Cain BT, Shaw RD, Acher AA, Gleason L, Barth RJ, Chu DI, Jung S, Melnick D, Kaphingst KA, Smith BK, Huang LC (2023). Surgical Trainee Perspectives on the Opioid Crisis: The Influence of Explicit and Hidden Curricula. J Surg Educ, 80(6), 786-796.
    7. Fender Z mentored medical student, Bleicher J, Johnson JE, Phan K, Powers D, Stoddard G, Brooke BS, Huang LC (2023). Improving pain management and safe opioid use after surgery: A DMAIC-based quality intervention. Surg Open Sci, 13, 27-34.
    8. Himbert C mentored PhD student, Ose J, Gigic B, Viskochil R, Santuci K, Lin T, Ashworth A, Cohan JN, Scaife CL, Jedrzkiewicz J, Damerell V, Atkins KM, Gong J, Mutch MG, Bernadt C, Felder S, Sanchez J, Cohen SA, Krane MK, Hinkle N, Wood E, Peoples AR, Figueiredo JC, Toriola AT, Siegel EM, Li CI, Shibata D, Boucher K, Round JL, Ulrich AB, Schenider M, Huang LC, Hardikar S, Ulrich CM (2023). Associations of combined physical activity and body mass index groups with colorectal cancer survival outcomes. BMC Cancer, 23(1), 300.
    9. Huang LC, Johnson JE, Bleicher J, Blumling AN, Savarise M, Wetter DW, Cohan JN, Harris AAS, Kaphingst KA (2023). Promoting disposal of left-over opioids after surgery in rural communities: A qualitative description study. Health Educ Behav, 50(2), 281-289.
    10. Cohan JN, Horns JJ, Hanson HA, Allen-Brady K, Kieffer M, Huang LC, Brooke BS (2023). The association between family history and diverticulitis recurrence: a population-based study. Dis Colon Rectum, 66(2), 269-277.
    11. Draper P mentored medical student, Bleicher J, Kobayashi JK, Stauder EL, Stoddard GJ, Johnson JE, Cohan JN, Kaphingst KA, Harris AHS, Huang LC (2022). Patient Willingness to Dispose of Leftover Opioids After Surgery. Ann Surg Open, 3(4), e223.
    12. Bleicher J mentored surgery trainee, Place A, Harris AHS, Scaife CL, Huang LC (2022). Patient Perceptions of Decision-making and Quality-of-life Following Surgical Resection of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Ann Surg Open, 3(4), e214.
    13. Himbert C mentored PhD candidate, Stephens WZ, Gigic B, Hardikar S, Holowatyj AN, Lin T, Ose J, Swanson E, Ashworth A, Warby CA, Peoples AR, Nix D, Jedrzkiewicz J, Bronner M, Pickron B, Scaife C, Cohan JN, Schrotz-King P, Habermann N, Boehm J, Hullar M, Figueiredo JC, Toriola AT, Siegel EM, Li CI, Ulrich AB, Shibata D, Boucher K, Huang LC, Schneider M, Round JL, Ulrich CM (2022). Differences in the gut microbiome by physical activity and BMI among colorectal cancer patients. Am J Cancer Res, 12(10), 4789-4801.
    14. Johnson JE mentored MPH student, Bleicher J, Blumling AN, Cain BT, Cohan JN, Savarise M, Harris AHS, Kaphingst KA, Huang LC (2022). The Influence of Rural Healthcare Systems and Communities on Surgery and Recovery: A Qualitative Study. J Surg Res, 281, 155-163.
    15. Himbert C mentored PhD candidate, Warby CA, Gigic B, Ose J, Lin T, Viskochil R, Peoples AR, Ashworth A, Schrotz-King P, Scaife CL, Cohan JN, Jedrzkiewicz J, Schirmacher P, Grady WM, Cohen SA, Krane M, Figueiredo JC, Toriola AT, Siegel EM, Shibata D, Round JL, Huang LC, Li CI, Schneider M, Ulrich A, Hardikar S, Ulrich CM (2022). Associations of individual and combined physical activity and body mass index groups with pro-inflammatory biomarkers among colorectal cancer patients. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 31(12), 2148-2156.
    16. Bleicher J mentored surgery trainee, Fender Z, Johnson JE, Cain BT, Phan K, Powers D, Wei G, Presson AP, Kwok A, Pickron TB, Scaife CL, Huang LC (2022). Use of post-discharge opioid consumption patterns as a tool for evaluating opioid prescribing guidelines. Am J Surg, 224(1 Pt A), 58-63.
    17. Bleicher J mentored surgery trainee, Brooke BS, Bayless K, Anderson Z, Beckstrom J, Zhang C, Presson AP, Huang LC, Buys MJ (2022). Postoperative Opioid Prescribing, Use, and Pain Trends Following General Surgery Procedures: A Retrospective Cohort Study Among Veterans Comparing Non-Opioid vs Chronic Opioid Users. Reg Anesth Pain Med.
    18. Yu JK, Marwaha JS, Kennedy CJ, Robinson KA, Fleishman A, Beaulieu-Jones BR, Bleicher J, Huang LC, Szolovits P, Brat GA (2022). Who Doesn’t Fit? A Multi-Institutional Study Using Machine Learning to Uncover the Limits of Opioid Prescribing Guidelines  . Surg J (N Y), 172(2), 655-662.
    19. Cain BT, Horns JJ, Huang LC, McCrum ML (2022). Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with greater mortality after high-risk emergency general surgery. J Trauma Acute Care Surg, 92(4), 691-700.
    20. Robinson KA, Thiels C, Stokes SM, Duncan SD, Feramil M, Fleishman A, Cook CH, Nathanson LA, Huang LC, Habermann EB, Brat GA (2022). Comparing Patient-Reported Opioid Use Across Multiple Hospital Systems to Clinician Consensus Recommendations: Closing the Gap between Belief and Reality. Ann Surg, 275(2), e361-365.
    21. Bleicher J mentored surgery trainee, Esplin J, Blumling AN, Cohan JN, Savarise M, Wetter DW, Harris AHS, Kaphingst KA, Huang LC (2021). Expectation-setting and patient education about pain control in the perioperative setting: A qualitative study. J Opioid Manag, 17(6), 455-464.
    22. Coffman AR, Tao R, Cohan JN, Huang LC, Pickron TB, Torgeson AM, Lloyd S (2021). Factors associated with the refusal of surgery and the associated impact on survival in patients with rectal cancer using the National Cancer Database. J Gastrointest Oncol, 12(4).
    23. Eisele Y, Mallea PM, Gigic B, Stephens WZ, Warby CA, Buhrke K, Lin T, Boehm J, Schrotz-King P, Hardikar S, Huang LC, Pickron TB, Scaife CL, Viskochil R, Koelsch T, Peoples AR, Pletneva MA, Bronner M, Schneider M, Ulrich AB, Swanson EA, Toriola AT, Shibata D, Li CI, Siegel EM, Figueiredo J, Janssen K-P, Hauner H, Round J, Ulrich CM, Holowatyj AN, Ose J (2021). Fusobacterium nucleatum and Clinicopathologic Features of Colorectal Cancer: Results From the ColoCare Study. Clin Colorectal Cancer, 20(3), e165-e172.
    24. Bleicher J mentored surgery trainee, Stokes SM, Brooke BS, Glasgow RE, Huang LC (2021). Patient-Centered Opioid Prescribing: Breaking Away from One-Size-Fits-All Prescribing Guidelines. J Surg Res, 264, 1-7.
    25. Himbert C mentored PhD candidate, Figueiredo JC, Shibata D, Ose J, Lin T, Huang LC, Peoples AR, Scaife CL, Pickron B, Lambert L, Cohan JN, Bronner M, Felder S, Sanchez J, Dessureault S, Coppola D, Hoffman DM, Nasseri YF, Decker RW, Zaghiyan K, Murrell ZA, Hendifar A, Gong J, Firoozmand E, Gangi A, Moore BA, Cologne KG, El-Masry MS, Hinkle N, Monroe J, Mutch M, Bernadt C, Chatterjee D, Sinanan M, Cohen SA, Wallin U, Grady WM, Lampe PD, Reddi D, Krane M, Fichera A, Moonka R, Herpel E, Schirmacher P, Kloor M, von Knebel-Doeberitz M, Nattenmueller J, Kauczor H-U, Swanson E, Jedrzkiewicz J, Schmit SL, Gigic B, Ulrich AB, Toriola AT, Siegel EM, Li CI, Ulrich CM, Hardikar S (2021). Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer in the ColoCare Study: Differences by Age of Onset. Cancers (Basel), 13(15), 3817.
    26. Cohan JN, Orleans B, Brecha F, Huang LC, Presson A, Fagerlin A, Ozanne EM (2021). Factors associated with decision regret among patients with diverticulitis in the elective setting. J Surg Res, 261, 159-166.
    27. Bleicher J, Cohan JN, Huang LC, Peche W, Pickron TB, Scaife CL, Bowles TL, Hyngstrom JR, Asare EA (2021). Trends in the Management of Anorectal Melanoma: A Multi-institutional Retrospective Study and Review of the World Literature. World J Gastroenterol, 27(3), 267-280.
    28. Brecha FS, Ozanne EM, Esplin J, Stoddard GJ, Nirula R, Huang LC, Cohan JN (2020). Patient Willingness to Accept Antibiotic Side Effects to Reduce SSI After Colorectal Surgery. J Surg Res, S0022-4804(20), 30583-7.
    29. Pannucci CJ, Fleming KI, Varghese TK, Stringham J, Huang LC, Pickron TB, Prazak AM, Bertolaccini C, Momeni A (2020). Low anti-Factor Xa level predicts 90-day symptomatic venous thromboembolism in surgical patients receiving enoxaparin prophylaxis: A pooled analysis of eight clinical trials. Ann Surg, 154(8), 697-704.
    30. McCrum ML, Cannon AR, Allen CM, Presson AP, Huang LC, Brooke B (2020). Drivers of Increased Mortality Associated with Care Fragmentation after Emergency General Surgery. JAMA Surg, 155(9), 841-848.
    31. Geijsen AJMR, Ulvik A, Gigic B, Kok DE, van Duijnhoven FJB, Holowatyj AN, Brezina S, van Roekel EH, Baierl A, Bergmann MM, Bhm J Bours MJL, Brenner H, Breukink SO, Bronner MP, Chang-Claude J, de Wilt JHW, Grady WM, Grnberger T, Gumpenberger T, Herpel E, Hoffmeister M, Huang LC, Jedrzkiewicz JD, Keulen ETP, Kiblawi R, Klsch T, Koole JL, Kosma K, Kouwenhoven EA, Kruyt FM, Kvalheim G, Li CI, Lin T, Ose J, Pickron TB, Scaife CL, Schirmacher P, Schneider MA, Schrotz-King P, Singer MC, Swanson ER, van Duijvendijk P, van Halteren HK, van Zutphen M, Vickers K, Vogelaar FJ, Wesselink E, Habermann N, Ulrich AB, Ueland PM, Weijenberg MP, Gsur A, Ulrich CM, Kampman E (2020). Circulating Folate and Folic Acid Concentrations: Associations With Colorectal Cancer Recurrence and Survival. JNCI Cancer Spectr, 4(5), pkaa051.
    32. Thiesset HF mentored PhD candidate, Schliep KC, Stokes SM, Valentin VL, Gren LH, Porucznik CA, Huang LC (2020). Opioid misuse and dependence screening practices prior to surgery. J Surg Res, 252, 200-205.
    33. Stokes SM mentored surgery trainee, Kim RY, Kwok A, Varghese TK, Glasgow R, Brooke BS, Finlayson SR, Huang LC (2019). Home Disposal Kits for Leftover Opioid Medications After Surgery: Do They Work? J Surg Res, 245, 396-402.
    34. Lovely JK, Huang LC, Meyers AJ, Spears GM, Huebner M, Larson DW (2018). Post-surgical opioid prescribing patterns and risk factors for additional opioid prescriptions within one year after non-emergent colorectal surgery. Am J Surg, 218(1), 56-61.
    35. Holowatyj AN, Lewis MA, Pannier ST, Kirchhoff AC, Hardikar S, Figueiredo JC, Huang LC, Shibata D, Schmit SL, Ulrich CM (2019). Clinicopathologic and Racial/Ethnic Differences of Colorectal Cancer Among Adolescents and Young Adults. Clin Transl Gastroenterol, 10(7), e00059.
    36. Pannucci CJ, Fleming KI, Bertolaccini CB, Prazak AM, Huang LC, Pickron TB (2019). Assessment of Anti-Factor Xa Levels of Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery Given Once-Daily Enoxaparin Prophylaxis: A Clinical Study Examining Enoxaparin Pharmacokinetics. JAMA Surg, 154(8), 697-704.
    37. Lloyd S, Baraghoshi D, Tao R, Garrido-Laguna I, Gilcrease GW 3rd, Whisenant J, Weis JR, Scaife C, Pickron TB, Huang LC, Monroe MM, Abdelaziz S, Fraser AM, Smith KR, Deshmukh V, Newman M, Rowe KG, Snyder J, Samadder NJ, Hashibe M (2020). Mental Health Disorders are More Common in Colorectal Cancer Survivors and Associated With Decreased Overall Survival. Am J Clin Oncol, 42(4), 355-362.
    38. Cloyd JC, Huang LC, Ma Y, Rhoads KF (2016). Predictors of Readmission to Non-Index Hospitals Following Colorectal Surgery. Am J Surg, 213(1), 18–23.
    39. Molina G, Jiang W, Edmondson L, Gibbons L, Huang LC, Kiang MV, Haynes AB, Gawande AA, Berry WR, Singer SJ (2016). Implementation of the Surgical Safety Checklist in South Carolina Hospitals Is Associated with Improvement in Perceived Perioperative Safety. J Am Coll Surg, 222(5), 725-736.e5.
    40. Singer SJ, Jiang W, Huang LC, Gibbons L, Kiang MV, Edmondson L, Gawande AA, Berry WR (2015). Surgical team member assessment of the safety of surgery practice in 38 South Carolina hospitals. Med Care Res Rev, 72(3), 298-323.
    41. Huang LC, Tran TB, Ma Y, Ngo JV, Rhoads KF (2015). Factors that influence minority use of high-volume hospitals for colorectal cancer care. Dis Colon Rectum, 58(5), 526-32.
    42. Huang LC, Conley D, Lipsitz S, Wright CC, Diller TW, Edmondson L, Berry WR, Singer SJ (2014). The Surgical Safety Checklist and Teamwork Coaching Tools: a study of inter-rater reliability. BMJ Qual Saf, 23(8), 639-50.
    43. Huang LC, Ma Y, Ngo JV, Rhoads KF (2014). What factors influence minority use of National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers? Cancer, 120(3), 399-407.
    44. Rhoads KF, Ngo JV, Ma Y, Huang L, Welton ML, Dudley RA (2013). Do hospitals that serve a high percentage of Medicaid patients perform well on evidence-based guidelines for colon cancer care? J Health Care Poor Underserved, 24(3), 1180-93.

    Review

    1. Cain BT mentored trainee, Huang LC (2021). Benign Colonic Strictures. [Review]. Dis Colon Rectum.
    2. Huang LC, Merchea A (June 2017). Dysplasia and Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. [Review]. Surg Clin North Am, 97(3), 627-639.

    Commentary

    1. Huang LC, Kim RY, Berry WR (2013). Creating a Culture of Safety by Using Checklists. AORN J, 97(3), 365–8.