Wendy Chung

Wendy Chung
Born Nebraska
Nationality American
Alma mater Rockefeller University, Cornell University
Occupation Clinical and molecular geneticist, physician

Wendy Chung is an American clinical and molecular geneticist and physician.[1] She currently directs the clinical genetics program at Columbia University[2] and serves as Herbert Irving Associate Professor of Pediatrics.[3][4] She is the author of 80 peer-reviewed articles and 20 chapters[5] and has won several awards as a physician, researcher, and professor.[6]

Her research "relates to the molecular genetics of obesity and diabetes in rodents and humans, the genetic basis of congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, long QT Syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, endocrinopathies, congenital diaphragmatic hernias, cleft lip/cleft palate, seizures, mental retardation, inherited metabolic conditions and breast and pancreatic cancer susceptibility."[4]

Early life and education

Chung was born in Nebraska and raised in southern Florida.[7] Her parents were involved in science and medicine; her father was an organic chemistry professor and her mother worked in a medical laboratory.[3] She was the first Miami-Dade County public high school student to win a Westinghouse Science Award, the predecessor to the Intel Science Award.[7] In high school, Chung was valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar.[3]

Chung earned a bachelor's degree at Cornell University, graduating in 1990.[4] She earned a Ph.D. from Rockefeller University in 1996 and a M.D. from Cornell University in 1998.[4] She was a graduate student of Dr. Rudy Leibel at Rockefeller, who described her as a "triple threat" due to her capability as an "equally gifted scientist, clinician, and teacher."[7]

Career

In addition to her work teaching at Columbia and directing Columbia's clinical genetics program, she directs the Pediatric Heart Network Genetic Core, the Pediatric Neuromuscular Network Molecular Core, the New York Obesity Center Molecular Genetics Core and the Diabetes and Endocrine Research Center Molecular Genetics Core.[4] Chung also directs the fellowship program in Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics at Columbia University, supervises medical education in human genetics at Columbia University Medical School,[4] and directs clinical research at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, where she is the principal investigator of the foundation's Simons Variation in Individuals Project.

In April 2014, Chung spoke at TED2014, delivering a talk called "What We Know About Autism."[8][9]

Chung was named one of New York Magazine's "best doctors" and one of America's "top doctors" by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. in a survey conducted when more than 250,000 "leading doctors" were asked to "name America's best physicians in various specialties."[10] She received the American Academy of Pediatrics Young Investigator Award, the Medical Achievement Award from Bonei Olam, and a career development award from Doris Duke.[5]

Personal life

She has two sons[7] and spends most of her free time with her family.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "ASHG Panel Discusses Implementation of Clinical Sequencing in US, Europe". GenomeWeb. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  2. ↑ "Too Much Information". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "309: Dr. Wendy Chung: Hunting Down Genes that Cause Human Disease". People Behind the Science Podcast. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Faculty and Staff | Institute of Human Nutrition". www.cumc.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  5. 1 2 "Columbia University Medical Center - The DHREAMS Team - Molecular Genetic Analysis of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia CDH". www.cdhgenetics.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  6. ↑ "Role of genetics in autism focus of free Kaiser lecture in Portland". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Wendy Chung, MD, PhD | Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center". www.nbdiabetes.org. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  8. ↑ Chung, Wendy. "Wendy Chung | Speaker | TED.com". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  9. ↑ Staff, NPR/TED. "Wendy Chung: Could Genetics Hold The Answer To Curing Autism?". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  10. ↑ "Wendy K. Chung, MD, PhD- NewYork-Presbyterian". www.nyp.org. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
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