(Boston)—Eric Sung, a third-year medical student at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has received an Excellence in Research Award in the vascular surgery category from the American College of Surgeons. His abstract, Hemodialysis Access Outcomes Among Patients With Unstable Housing, was recognized during the 2022 Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum Dedication, Excellence in Research, and Resident Research Scholarship session at the Clinical Congress meeting in San Diego, October 16-20. The Clinical Congress is one of the largest educational meetings of surgeons in the world.
Patients experiencing unstable housing conditions have historically had higher rates of chronic illnesses. Unstable housing is a broad term that encompasses many different housing conditions that include, but are not limited to, lack of permanent housing, frequent address changes and crowded living conditions. Sung’s project investigates whether these social housing conditions played a role in the success of arteriovenous fistula creation (a surgery to connect an artery to a vein for patients with end-stage renal disease in order to receive dialysis) or long-term hemodialysis access given the challenges patients experiencing unstable housing conditions face.
Sung was born in St. Paul, Minn., but was raised and spent the majority of his life in Southern California. He moved to Boston to attend Boston University where he studied medical sciences and minored in public health as an undergraduate.
While at the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM, he has participated in various clubs and organizations including leading the interest group in vascular surgery as well as cardiology under his BUSM mentors Drs. Jeffrey Siracuse and Alik Farber.
Sung is interested in investigating the social influence leading to gaps in health outcomes among vascular surgery patients and how providers can minimize disparities in health outcomes. Upon graduation from medical school, he hopes to pursue a career of evidence based and investigative medicine.