Meet Dr. Anthony Yeung

June 7, 2021
Portrait of Leah Sanford in glasses, smiling against a gray background with a purple frame and award badge.

Meet Anthony Yeung, MD


The ArMA Member Spotlight this month is Dr. Anthony Yeung. Dr. Yeung is a physician specializing in orthopedic spine surgery. He attended the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, has traveled internationally, and is the author of over 170 publications. Read ArMA's interview with Dr. Yeung below to learn more about him!

What inspires you?


My mother moved to Tucson from communist China in 1949 to raise her three children. For the sake of our family, I had to work hard to turn our family around in next generation. My mother was a radio broadcaster (the counterpart to Tokyo Rose during World War II) and my father represented China in swimming during the eastern Olympics in 1936.

What was the most memorable patient or event in your career?


I found that I had an affinity for orthopedic surgery after finishing medical school during a surgical internship at the Good Samaritan Hospital. I was destined to go to Vietnam in 1971; I was liked enough by my attending however, that I was offered an orthopedic residency by Tom Taber and Tim Louis, the latter of which was the heir to Johnson & Johnson. My last year of residency was spent in deformity spine surgery and cerebral palsy under Warren Colton at Cripple Children’s Hospital in Tempe. I subsequently entered the U.S. Navy as the first orthopedic spine surgeon in the Far East, just as the Vietnam War ended. I was recruited by the orthopedic clinic after my stint in the Navy.

What do you like to do in your spare time?


I developed a liking for teaching and traveling after embracing organized medicine. I worked my career from President of the Maricopa Medical Society to National and International Orthopedic Societies where I became the executive director of the International Intradiscal Therapy Society, a founding society for chymopapain.

How did you meet your spouse?


I met my wife at a dance in Phoenix after I was accepted to medical school; she was a beauty queen senior at West High. She finished college early so we could get married while I was still in medical school.

Do you speak any other languages?


I lost most of my Chinese trying to assimilate as rapidly as possible, but I took two years of German in both high school and college.

What place would you most like to visit?


I have been all over the world, mostly as an invited speaker on endoscopic MIS surgery, but I like traveling in the Far East the most.

If you weren't a physician, what would you be up to right now?


I would probably be an airline pilot.

What would you like people to remember about you?


I was so focused on being the best at what I do that I likely neglected to round off my life. I did take up tennis and skiing in my later years. I depended more on lonely sports like cross country that took more endurance than skill. I enjoyed martial arts but did not have the time to train.

What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self?


Strive to be the best you can at what you love.

What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?


I wanted to become involved in my chosen profession, but only to the extent that I could have an impact to impart my philosophy of physician autonomy and patient choice.

ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .