“Dr. Sung’s unique background and track record of exemplary scholarship and leadership is an asset in our Department. She has the necessary experience and is well-positioned to oversee faculty development and wellness for the department. Dr. Sung has articulated a very thoughtful vision for enhancing faculty development and wellness, and I am confident that her leadership will help take our department to the next level of excellence and national distinction,” said Methodius G. Tuuli, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women & Infants Hospital; Executive Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Care New England Health System.
Dr. Sung is an established, independent physician-scientist in female pelvic floor disorders. She has built a prestigious research program in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at Women and Infants Hospital (WIH), maintaining active funding support since 2009. Under her leadership, WIH has become one of the leading clinical research programs in the country, and part of the NICHD Pelvic Floor Disorders Network for the past 11 years. This program has brought innovative, cutting-edge treatments to the women of Rhode Island and Southern New England. Her most recent grant through PCORI will support Dr. Sung’s vision of taking research in pelvic floor disorders to the next level by engaging and building partnerships with our local, under-represented communities to expand inclusivity and representation.
Notably, Dr. Sung is a certified career and life coach with a focus on work-life integration, wellness, and empowering physicians which is in line with recent initiatives supported by numerous medical organizations to help improve faculty development, wellness, and retention and decrease burnout and the loss of academic physicians. Dr. Sung has served as the primary research mentor for students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty over the past 15 years, and is a career mentor to fellows and junior faculty both nationally and internationally. She has developed research and mentorship programs through national societies which continue to be highly successful and impactful.
“The faculty are the department’s most critical asset. In this constantly changing healthcare landscape, a coordinated support system is needed to help them achieve successful careers as measured by our academic institution and importantly by their own individual standards,” said Vivian Sung, MD, MPH, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women & Infants Hospital.
She added, “Our department recognizes the current challenges of work-life integration, burnout, and loss of academic faculty across the country. I look forward to working with Dr. Tuuli to address these needs through innovative initiatives in faculty development and wellness and to help improve the workplace for our faculty.”
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