Catherine L. Ly, MD
Expertise:
About:
Dr. Catherine L. Ly graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree focused on health disparities. She received her medical degree in her hometown of Honolulu at the University of Hawai’i John A. Burns School of Medicine. She then returned to Yale for her residency training in plastic and reconstructive surgery. In her final year of residency, she served as the academic chief resident. She subsequently completed a clinical fellowship in complex oncologic reconstructive microsurgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Ly has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and has presented at various national meetings. During residency, she was the recipient of a National Institutes of Health T32 surgical oncology research grant and a Plastic Surgery Foundation grant, both of which allowed her to study lymphedema pathophysiology and treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Ly is well-trained in the full range of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Her clinical and research interests are in post-traumatic and oncologic reconstruction with a focus on microsurgical techniques, surgical education, and health disparities. She is committed to providing compassionate care and optimizing patient outcomes for all patients.
Honors:
Yale Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Annual Research Day Best Research Award, 2022
Yale Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Annual Research Day Best Research Award, 2021
Yale Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Annual Research Day Audience Award, 2020
Dr. Laura Weldon Hoque Award, 2014
Wanda Jane Pavela Memorial Scholarship Award, 2013
University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine Scholarship for Competitive Ranking, 2010
District of Columbia Mayor's Community Service Award, 2010
Distinction in History of Science, History of Medicine at Yale University, 2009
Publications:
Peck CJ, Roberts SE, Ly CL, Hsia HC, Aarons CB, Guerra CE, Butler PD. Embracing Allyship in Academic Surgery: How All Surgeons Can Become Effective Champions for Change.] Am Coll Surg. 2022Aug 1 ;235(2):371-374.
Baik JE, Park HJ, Kataru RP, Savetsky IL, Ly CL, Shin J, Encarnacion EM, Cavali MR, Klang MG, Riedel E, Coriddi M, Dayan JH, Mehrara BJ. TGF-/31 mediates pathologic changes of secondary lymphedema by promoting fibrosis and inflammation. Clin Transl Med. 2022 Jun;12(6):e758.
Ly CL, Khetpal S, Heller DR, Higgins SA, Killelea B, Alperovich M, Avraham T. Comparing complications in irradiated and non-irradiated free-flaps in patients with bilateral immediate breast reconstruction and unilateral post-mastectomy radiotherapy. Microsurgery. 2021 Oct;41(7):615-621.
Kataru RP, Baik JE, Park HJ, Ly CL, Shin J, Schwartz N, Lu TT, Ortega S, Mehrara BJ. Lymphatic-specific intracellular modulation of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling improves lymphatic growth and function. Sci Signal. 2021 Aug 10; 14(695):eabc0836.
Rehal S, Kataru KP, Hespe GE, Baik JE, Park HJ, Ly C, Shin J, Mehrara BJ. Regulation of lymphatic function and injury by nitrosative stress in obese mice. Mol Metab. 2020 Dec;42: 101081.
Maniskas SA, Ly CL, Pourtaheri N, Parsaei Y, Steinbacher DM. Concurrent High Condylectomy and Orthognathic Surgery for Treatment of Patients with Unilateral Condylar Hyperplasia. J Craniofac Surg. 2020 Nov/Dec; 31(8):2217-2221.
Maniskas S, Ly CL, Parsaei Y, Bruckman KC, Steinbacher DM. Facial asymmetry in unilateral condylar hyperplasia: Comparing treatment for active versus burnt out disease. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020 Oct; 146( 4) :439e-445e.
Park KE, Allam 0, Chandler L, Mozzafari MA, Ly C, Lu X, Persing JA. Surgical management of lymphedema: a review of current literature. Gland Surg. 2020 Apr;9(2) :503-511.
Dasoveanu DC, Park HJ, Ly CL, Shipman WD, Chyou S, Kumar V, Tarlinton D, Ludewig B, Mehrara BJ, Lu TT. Lymph Node Stromal CCL2 Limits Antibody Responses. Sci Immunol. 2020 Mar 20;5(45):eaaw0693.
Saleh H, Konda S, Driesman A, Stranix J, Ly C, Saadeh P, Egol K. Wound-Healing Issues Following Rotational Ankle Fracture Surgery: Predictors and Local Management Options. Foot Ankle Spec. 2019 Oct; 12( 5) :409-417.
Kataru RP, Ly CL, Shin J, Park HJ, Baik JE, Rehal S, Ortega S, Lyden D, Mehrara BJ. Tumor lymphatic function regulates tumor inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironments. Cancer Immunol Res. 2019 Aug;7(8): 1345-1358.
Ly CL, Garcia Nores GD, Kataru RP, Mehrara BJ. T helper 2 differentiation is necessary for development of lymphedema. Transl Res. 2019 Apr;206:57-70.
Ly CL, Cuzzone DA, Kataru RP, MehraraBJ. Small numbers of CD4+ T cells can induce development oflymphedema. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Mar; 143(3) :518e-526e.
Hespe GE, Ly CL*, Kataru RP, Mehrara BJ. Baseline lymphatic dysfunction amplifies the negative effects of lymphatic injury. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Jan; 143(1):772e-787e.
Garcia Nores GD, Ly CL*, Cuzzone DA, Kataru RP, Hespe GE, Torrisi J, Huang J, Gardenier JC, Savetsky IL, Nitti M, Yu JZ, Rehal S, Mehrara BJ. CD4+ T cells are activated in regional lymph nodes and migrate to skin to initiate lymphedema. Nat Comm. 2018 May 17;9(1):1970.
Garcia Nores GD, Ly CL*, Savetsky IL, Kataru RP, Ghanta S, Hespe GE, Rockson SG, MehraraBJ. T-regulatory cells mediate local immunosuppression in lymphedema.J Invest Dermatol. 2018 Feb;138(2):325-335.
Dayan JH, Ly CL, Kataru RP, Mehrara BJ. Lymphedema: Pathogenesis and Novel Therapies. Ann Rev Med. 2018 Jan 29;69:263-276.
Ly CL, Kataru RP, MehraraBJ. Inflammatory manifestations oflymphedema. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Jan 17;18(1):171.
Stranix JT, Cuzzone DA, Ly CL, Topilow N, Runyan CM, Ream J. Flores RL. Optimizing safety of iliac bone harvest using an Acumed drill: a stimulated radiographic study of 100 patients. Cleft Palate Craniofac ]. 2017 Nov;54(6):674-679.
Huang JJ, Gardenier JC, Hespe GE, Garcia Nores GD, Kataru RP, Ly CL, Martinez-Corral I, Ortega S, Mehrara BJ. Lymph node transplantation decreases swelling and restores immune responses in a transgenic model of lymphedema. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 12;11(12):e0168259.
Galanis DJ, Ly CL, Wong LL, Steinemann S, Rosen L. Helmet use among motorcycle and moped riders injured in Hawaii: Final medical depositions from a linked database.] Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2014 Nov;77(5):743-48.
Ly CL, Wong LL. Ethnicity as a predictive factor for hepatocellular carcinoma screening among patients in Hawaii. Ethn Dis. 2014 Summer;24(3):376-381.
Ly CL, Chun MBJ. Welcome to cultural competency: Surgery's efforts to acknowledge diversity in residency training. J Surg Educ. 2013 March/April;70(2):284-290.
Kurahara DK, Kogachi K, Yamane M, Ly CL, Foster JH, Masaki-Tesoro T, Murai D, Rudoy R. A Pediatric Research Requirement to Improve Collaborative Resident and Faculty Publication Productivity. Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2012 August;71 (8) :224-228.