DALLAS, Aug 25, 2020 — Children’s Health℠, the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, in affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, today announces Dai H. Chung, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer, the first leadership position named to the Children’s Health and UT Southwestern joint pediatric enterprise announced in late 2019.
In this new role, Dr. Chung will be responsible for increasing physician alignment and engagement, strengthening clinical operations and fostering greater partnerships to improve the overall quality, cost and efficiency of care for the growing pediatric population in North Texas. In addition, Dr. Chung is Professor of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery, and Executive Vice Chair in UT Southwestern’s Department of Surgery, as well as Surgeon-in-Chief and Senior Vice President of Surgical Services at Children’s Health.
“Dr. Chung is one of the country’s most highly acclaimed pediatric surgeons, an accomplished clinical investigator and an incredible educator. He is also a renowned clinician with deep experience in pediatric surgical oncology, neonatal surgery, ECMO and burns,” said Pete Perialas, President, Children’s Health Care Network and Chief Strategy Officer, Children’s Health; Board Co-Chair for the joint pediatric enterprise. “In recent months, he has taken on a leadership role and has been an active and engaged partner as we jointly architect our response to COVID-19. We are fortunate to have Dr. Chung’s leadership and clinical expertise in this new role as we continue to evolve how we provide world-class pediatric care and improve our ability to make life better for children.”
Dr. Chung earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas, where he also completed an internship and a residency in surgery. He received advanced training through a fellowship in pediatric surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center/University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, as well as through research fellowships with the National Institutes of Health at Shriners Burns Hospital and the University of Texas Medical Branch.
“Dr. Chung’s new, expanded role as chief medical officer is a vital part of our efforts to set in place an optimal medical leadership structure for the joint pediatric enterprise,” said John Warner, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs, UT Southwestern and Board Co-Chair for the joint pediatric enterprise. “We’re confident that both his extensive leadership and clinical experience will continue to enhance our shared commitment to deliver the highest quality pediatric care to families and children across North Texas.”
“Since joining the team with Children’s Health and UT Southwestern, I have been privileged to practice with some of the world’s best medical professionals in delivering on our mission to make life better for children,” said Dr. Chung. “As the Chief Medical Officer for our joint pediatric enterprise, I look forward to working more closely with teams across our collective organizations as we continue to deliver high-quality care for children in North Texas.”
Certified by the American Board of Surgery in pediatric surgery, Dr. Chung joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2018. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Section of Surgery. He served as President of the Society of University Surgeons and its Foundation. He also served as a Director of the American Board of Surgery and chaired the Continuous Certification Examination Committee. In addition, Dr. Chung is a member of the Southern Surgical Association, the American Surgical Association, and the Society of Clinical Surgery, among other organizations.
Dr. Chung is on the editorial board of several publications, including JAMA Surgery, Children, and Cancer Research Frontiers, and has published more than 140 academic articles and contributed to dozens of books. He is a sought-after speaker and has delivered scores of presentations around the world. In 2017, he earned the Society of University Surgeons Travel Award and presented his work at the Surgical Research Society of South Africa.