Lena S. Sun, MD, Receives SPA Lifetime Achievement Award
Lena S. Sun, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics, has been selected to receive the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia’s (SPA) Myron Yaster Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her transformative contributions to pediatric anesthesiology and decades of leadership in clinical care, education, and research. The award will be presented at the SPA Annual Meeting on October 16 in San Diego.
Dr. Sun previously served as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, where she led remarkable growth across all mission areas. During her 24-year tenure in this role, the number of anesthetizing locations expanded from 8 to 16, and annual pediatric case volume more than doubled—from approximately 5,000 to over 11,000 cases.
After completing her training in pediatrics, Dr. Sun served in the National Health Service Corps as a primary care pediatrician. She then completed her anesthesiology residency and pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Columbia University, followed by T32-funded research training in the Department of Pharmacology.
A dedicated educator, Dr. Sun served as Program Director for the pediatric anesthesiology fellowship, guiding the program through ACGME accreditation and expanding it to as many as seven fellows per year. She also developed a pediatric cardiac anesthesiology fellowship. In addition, she has played a pivotal role as Chair of the department’s Committee on Appointments and Promotions, supporting faculty career development and advancement.
Dr. Sun has made significant national and international research contributions. She served as Medical Director of SmartTots—a public-private partnership between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Anesthesia Research Society—and is currently supported by multiple FDA grants and contracts focused on neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and the safe and effective use of analgesics, sedatives, and anesthetics in infants and young children. She also serves as Treasurer of the Association of University Anesthesiologists.
A globally recognized expert in anesthesia and neurodevelopment, Dr. Sun led the landmark, multi-center Pediatric Anesthesia and NeuroDevelopment Assessment (PANDA) study, published in JAMA, one of the most highly cited investigations of anesthetic neurotoxicity. She continues to advance the field through the biennial PANDA Symposium, convening international, multidisciplinary leaders to foster collaboration and innovation.
Dr. Sun is also a deeply committed mentor and advocate. She founded the CHAMPS (Chinese American Pediatric Scholars) Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving pediatric healthcare in China. The many faculty and fellows she has mentored have gone on to become independent investigators and leaders in pediatric anesthesiology across the country.