Patient-centered care

From a young age, Dr. John Toksoy was drawn to medicine by its unique blend of science and service. Toksoy immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a teenager. After completing high school in three years, he studied pre-med at Hamilton College. As he approached graduation, a combination of factors — including concerns about the long commitment of medical training during a period of personal and family uncertainty — led him to explore other paths. He went to Oxford University to pursue a master’s degree in economics, but soon realized it was not the right fit. He later returned to the United States, where work in the medical field, followed by research, and the influence of a physician mentor reaffirmed his commitment to medicine.

He began his career at Yale Health in 2000 as a primary care physician and now serves as co-chief of Internal Medicine. While he maintains a full clinical practice, his role has expanded to include administrative leadership responsibilities.

What inspired you to join Yale, and how has your role evolved since you started here?

I came to Yale in 1997 for my residency in internal medicine. As my training was coming to an end, we hoped to stay in Connecticut, close to New Haven, where most of our friends were. At the time, Yale Health was hiring, and while I considered several local opportunities, it quickly became clear that it was the right fit for many reasons.

First, I wanted to practice in a diverse community where I could care for people from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. Second, being part of Yale’s educational mission — precepting medical students and residents — was an essential part of the career I envisioned. And third was Yale Health’s unique physician-led, nonprofit model that fosters evidence-based, patient-centered care, free from the usual constraints of many traditional healthcare systems.

In 2024, I was invited to step into my current leadership role, and was initially hesitant as I have not previously held a formal leadership position. What gave me confidence was my first-hand understanding of the realities our clinicians face and the strong, ongoing support of our senior team, who invested in my development through a formal leadership program.

Over the past two years, my role has been divided between clinical practice and administrative leadership. It has been both demanding and deeply rewarding. I value the opportunity to work collaboratively across the organization — from frontline staff to senior leadership — to support our clinicians and improve the care we provide. I also continue to enjoy teaching medical students.

The Yale community has truly been my professional home for the past 26 years. That longevity, in many ways, reflects how fortunate I feel to have made the right decision.

Did you always want to be a doctor?

From an early age, I knew I wanted to become a physician. Interestingly, I’m currently the only doctor in my family on either side — though my son is now a first-year medical student, so that will soon change. I was always drawn to science and to the remarkable trust at the heart of the physician–patient relationship. As I was finishing college, however, my family went through a difficult period, and I questioned whether I could commit to the long path of medical training. I went to Oxford to pursue a master’s degree in economics, but it quickly became clear it wasn’t the right fit. After returning to the United States, I worked in the medical field and became involved in research. During that time, I met my wife — and her father, an internist — whose character and the way he cared for his patients made a lasting impression on me. Those experiences reaffirmed what I had felt all along: that medicine was my true calling, and gave me the confidence to fully commit to it.

How has healthcare changed in the past decade?

I think healthcare has changed in three fundamental ways: it has become more digital, more data-driven, and more complex, both medically and operationally.

First, the digital transformation has been profound. Telemedicine, remote monitoring, patient portals, and now artificial intelligence tools are reshaping how we interact with patients. The pandemic accelerated this shift dramatically. Care is no longer confined to the exam room. It increasingly extends into patients’ homes and onto their smartphones.

Second, medicine has become far more data-driven. We now have sophisticated risk calculators, predictive analytics, molecular diagnostics, and advanced imaging that guide clinical decisions. At the same time, clinicians are managing more information than ever before, which brings both opportunity and a growing cognitive burden.

Lastly, I think the patient experience and expectations have evolved. Healthcare delivery has shifted toward value-based care, population health, and preventive strategies, rather than purely reactive treatment. Patients are more informed, more engaged, and often more empowered — but also navigating a system that has become increasingly complex and fragmented.

What hasn’t changed — and what remains central — is the human relationship between clinician and patient. If anything, in an era of technology and rapid innovation, that relationship has become even more important.

What do you love most about being a doctor?

I love the human connection and the privilege of being trusted. Patients allow you into some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, when they are scared, uncertain, or in pain. That trust is extraordinary, and I never take it lightly. I also love the intellectual challenge — medicine is constantly evolving. There is always more to learn and more to understand. It keeps you humble and curious. But above all, I value the relationships. Over time you get to know people not just as diagnoses, but as parents, partners, and professionals. Walking alongside someone through illness, recovery, and unfortunately, sometimes loss, is deeply meaningful.

I think, in a world that’s increasingly technological and fast-paced, the human connection at the center of medicine is still what makes it very special.

What do you love most about working at Yale?

What I value most about working at Yale Health is the extraordinary community we serve and the sense of purpose that comes with it. As a primary care physician here, I care for people from every part of the university — students, professors, administrators, physical plant workers, lab technicians, and many others. It is an immensely diverse community, spanning many roles as well as cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and that diversity continues to make my work both humbling and deeply meaningful.

I also value the strong sense of support and collaboration. Yale Health gives us the space to practice thoughtful, high-quality care and build long-term relationships with our patients. We are working toward our 2030 strategic initiative, focused on achieving top-decile nationally in patient and employee experience and reaching new standards of excellence. What makes this especially meaningful is that these goals are not imposed from the top down. Departments and staff are building the roadmap from the ground up, fostering a strong sense of shared ownership, innovation, and collaboration.