Vivien Kon-Ea Sun

All Publications

• Perspectives of PHM Fellowship Graduates Working as Community Hospitalists: A Qualitative Study. Hospital pediatrics Ivancie, R. A., Sun, V. K., Allen, A. H., Thakkar, N., Walker, J. M. 2026

  Abstract

  Although many pediatric hospitalists work in community hospitals, little is known regarding fellowship preparation for community pediatric hospital medicine (CPHM) roles, including nonclinical competencies. This study aims to explore fellowship graduates' perspectives on valuable knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) needed in CPHM and to uncover educational gaps in pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) fellowship training.We conducted 8 online focus groups between October 2023 and August 2024 with recent PHM fellowship graduates who work in CPHM. Study members conducted focus groups using a semistructured interview guide. Demographics were collected by survey and analyzed through descriptive statistics. Two researchers independently coded transcripts and identified domains through content analysis, reconciling differences with a third researcher and reaching consensus with the full team.A total of 20 participants were included in the focus groups. We identified 7 domains relevant to CPHM practice and fellow education: (1) business and leadership, (2) practice in a resource-limited setting, (3) systems-based practice and quality care, (4) interpersonal dynamics, (5) perception of CPHM, (6) career development, and (7) high-stakes clinical competencies.Our findings highlight important KSA necessary for CPHM roles, which are potential educational opportunities during PHM fellowship. For domains already incorporated across fellowship curricula, such as systems-based practice and quality improvement, participants emphasized a need to highlight the CPHM perspective during training. This study suggests an opportunity for PHM fellowship curriculum development to better prepare fellows for careers in CPHM.

  View details for DOI 10.1542/hpeds.2025-008906

  View details for PubMedID 42070783

• The role of prevention and policy in protecting teens from motor vehicle crash and firearm injuries and deaths. Pediatric research Sun, V. K., Dodington, J., Chamberlain, L. J., Lee, L. K., Bogue, C. W. 2025

  Abstract

  Motor vehicle deaths have declined due to safety regulations and policies, but firearm deaths have not seen similar efforts or outcomes. No regulatory agencies focus on firearm safety and some laws prohibit liability for firearm manufacturers from firearm-related harm. Challenges to federal laws prohibiting sales of handguns to individuals under 21 years old may have important implications for suicides among 18-20 year-olds and for homicides in all ages. Secure firearm storage education and Community Violence Intervention programs are two strategies to reduce firearm-related injuries. Ongoing research and advocacy are essential to reduce pediatric firearm violence.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41390-025-04187-7

  View details for PubMedID 40494866

  View details for PubMedCentralID 11106711

• Perspectives on Professional Development Among University and Community Pediatric Hospitalists. Clinical pediatrics Sun, V. K., Chappell-Campbell, L., Blankenburg, R., Sznewajs, A. 2023: 99228231203299

  Abstract

  Multiple professional societies have emphasized the importance of professional development for physicians. This qualitative study aimed to explore pediatric hospitalists' perceptions of professional development needs and to refine a framework for professional development in pediatric hospital medicine (PHM). We conducted four focus groups in April to May 2019 with 19 pediatric hospitalists at six clinical sites within a single institution. Participants identified key components of professional development including skill development, personal growth, career satisfaction, and individualization. Hospitalists agreed upon 8 domains of professional development: clinical excellence, advocacy, global health, health care administration, informatics, medical education, quality improvement, and research. They also identified missing the mentorship necessary to change their passions into career advancement, highlighted barriers and facilitators, and noted that an alignment in personally meaningful projects to what is meaningful to the institution was in everyone's best interests. Faculty programs should build infrastructure to aid pediatric hospitalists in achieving their career goals.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/00099228231203299

  View details for PubMedID 37776239

• Faculty Development in Academic Hospital Medicine: a Scoping Review. Journal of general internal medicine Misky, G. J., Sharpe, B., Weaver, A. C., Niranjan-Azadi, A., Gupta, A., Rennke, S., Ludwin, S., Piper, C., Mlis, Sun, V. K., Brotman, D. J., Frank, M. 2023

  Abstract

  This scoping review sought to identify and describe the state of academic faculty development programs in hospital medicine and other specialties. We reviewed faculty development content, structure, metrics of success including facilitators, barriers, and sustainability to create a framework and inform hospital medicine leadership and faculty development initiatives. We completed a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature and searched Ovid MEDLINE ALL (1946 to June 17, 2021) and Embase (via Elsevier, 1947 to June 17, 2021). Twenty-two studies were included in the final review, with wide heterogeneity in program design, program description, outcomes, and study design. Program design included a combination of didactics, workshops, and community or networking events; half of the studies included mentorship or coaching for faculty. Thirteen studies included program description and institutional experience without reported outcomes while eight studies included quantitative analysis and mixed methods results. Barriers to program success included limited time and support for faculty attendance, conflicting clinical commitments, and lack of mentor availability. Facilitators included allotted funding and time for faculty participation, formal mentoring and coaching opportunities, and a structured curriculum with focused skill development supporting faculty priorities. We identified heterogeneous historical studies addressing faculty development across highly variable program design, intervention, faculty targeted, and outcomes assessed. Common themes emerged, including the need for program structure and support, aligning areas of skill development with faculty values, and longitudinal mentoring/coaching. Programs require dedicated program leadership, support for faculty time and participation, curricula focused on skills development, and mentoring and sponsorship.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11606-023-08089-4

  View details for PubMedID 36877213

• How safe is your neighborhood? Perceived neighborhood safety and functional decline in older adults. Journal of general internal medicine Sun, V. K., Stijacic Cenzer, I., Kao, H., Ahalt, C., Williams, B. A. 2012; 27 (5): 541-7

  Abstract

  Neighborhood characteristics are associated with health and the perception of safety is particularly important to exercise and health among older adults. Little is known about the relationship between perception of neighborhood safety and functional decline in older adults.To determine the relationship between perceived neighborhood safety and functional decline in older adults.Longitudinal, community-based.18,043 persons, 50 years or older, who participated in the 1998 and 2008 Health and Retirement Study.The primary outcome was 10-year functional decline (new difficulty or dependence in any Activity of Daily Living, new mobility difficulty, and/or death). The primary predictor was perceived neighborhood safety categorized into three groups: "very safe", "moderately safe", and "unsafe." We evaluated the association between perceived neighborhood safety and 10-year functional decline using a modified Poisson regression to generate unadjusted and adjusted relative risks (ARR).At baseline 11,742 (68.0%) participants perceived their neighborhood to be very safe, 4,477 (23.3%) moderately safe, and 1,824 (8.7%) unsafe. Over 10 years, 10,338 (53.9%) participants experienced functional decline, including 6,266 (50.2%) who had perceived their neighborhood to be very safe, 2,839 (61.2%) moderately safe, and 1,233 (63.6%) unsafe, P < 0.001. For the 11,496 (63.3%) of participants who were functionally independent at baseline, perceived neighborhood safety was associated with 10-year functional decline (moderately safe ARR 1.15 95% CI 1.09-1.20; unsafe ARR 1.21 95% CI: 1.03-1.31 compared to very safe group). The relationship between perceived neighborhood safety and 10-year functional decline was not statistically significant for participants who had baseline functional impairment.Asking older adults about their perceived neighborhood safety may provide important information about their risk of future functional decline. These findings also suggest that future studies might focus on assessing whether interventions that promote physical activity while addressing safety concerns help reduce functional decline in older adults.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11606-011-1943-y

  View details for PubMedID 22160889

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3326109