Dr. Kwang D. You

Dr Kwang D. You went to be with The Lord on Wednesday, January 29th, 2014. Dr. You was known by his colleagues and patients as a tireless worker with a soothing bedside manner. The family has learned that his colleagues often referred to him as a “maestro” in the operating room because of the way he orchestrated the operating room. Prior to beginning his medical education, Dr. You served with distinction in the Korean Air Force for 3 years. He obtained his bachelor’s of science and his medical degree from Kyungpook University in Taegu, Korea in 1962. He was accepted by the University of Chicago’s School of Medicine General Surgery fellowship, and immigrated to the United States in 1962. He met his wife, Choon Ja You, in his hometown of Taegu, Korea, and they married in March, 1964. He received his thoracic surgery fellowship from the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York, New York. He completed an advanced fellowship in thoracic surgery from Baylor University in Dallas Texas. After the completion of his medical training, Dr. You joined a private practice in Northwest Indiana and worked there for 4 years. Dr. You then branched out to begin a new private practice which lasted over 20 years. Dr. You also co-founded the Cardiovascular Surgery program at Community Hospital in Munster, IN. Dr. You estimated that he had performed over 10,000 open heart procedures in his 48 years of practicing medicine. Dr. You was Board Certified in Surgery, Cardio Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, and the American College of Cardiology. He was also an active member of the Indiana State Medical Society and the Lake County Medical Society. In 2008, Dr. You was acknowledged as one of the “Best Doctors in America” by the US News & World Report for the area of cardio thoracic surgery. Dr. You is survived by his wife of 50 years, Choon Ja You, his sons, Robert, Edward, and David, and his daughters-in-law, Chinnu, Hyounju, and Alexa. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ian, Ava and Alexander. The public viewing will be held at the Kish Funeral Home, 10000 Calumet Ave. Munster, IN on Saturday, February 1st, 2014 from 10am – 2pm.