Dr. Yu completed her undergraduate education at the California Institute of Technology, where she graduated with honors and was a member of the women’s tennis team. She earned her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. She went on to complete her internship and ophthalmology residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She matriculated in an American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowship at Mayo Clinic, where she received extensive training in a range of complex eyelid, lacrimal, and orbital surgeries. She is one of the few oculoplastic surgeons in the world to have participated in a face transplant surgery.

Throughout her academic career, Dr. Yu has contributed to numerous research projects, including research on thyroid eye disease, periorbital and orbital cancers, and face transplantation. Dr. Yu has contributed over 27 publications to the medical literature, given talks at national meetings, and served on the editorial board of EyeRounds. Her clinical skills and academic achievements earned her many awards during her training, including the W.M. Keck Foundation Medical Scholarship and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Travel Grant.