Zhonghua Sun
Professor in Medical Imaging
Zhonghua Sun
Basic career demographics:
Dr Sun is a Professor in Medical Imaging at Curtin University, Australia. He gained his M.B and PhD degrees in clinical medicine and medical imaging, respectively, from Harbin Medical University in China and University of Ulster in UK. He worked as a radiologist in the department of radiology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital for 9 years prior to taking up one-year medical fellowship during 1998-1999 in Japan.
His research interests include diagnostic imaging/radiology, 3D medical image visualization and processing, and hemodynamic analysis of cardiovascular diseases. He has published over 150 refereed journal papers in medical/medical imaging journals. He is serving as an associate editor for Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, Journal of Medical Imaging and Health Informatics, and Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, and an editorial board member in more than 20 medical and medical imaging journals.
He has been appointed as visiting professor by a number of universities including University of Malaya and Chang Gung University in Taiwan. He is a member of several international professional bodies including Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging, European Atherosclerosis Society and Institute of Physics in Engineering and Medicine.
Research areas of interest:
Diagnostic radiology, 3D image processing and visualisation of cardiovascular disease, coronary CT angiography of coronary plaques, haemodynamic analysis of cardiovascular disease, CT radiation dose optimisation.
Research qualifications: PhD, 2002, MB, 1989
What is your greatest research achievement?
Prolific publications and serve as editor and editorial board member.
What sort of activities/studies have you been involved in?
Clinical research, mainly focusing on cardiovascular CT imaging.
Why and how did you get involved in research?
I showed strong interest in doing research, and conducting research is part of my life.
What do you enjoy most about being involved in these research activities?
Get research papers published in international refereed journals, invited to review manuscripts by esteemed journals such as Circulation, BMJ, Journal of American College of Cardiology, and invited to serve as editor or editorial board member, etc. Last but not least, research students successfully progress to complete their studies.
What has been your biggest challenge or barrier to being involved in research?
Time management, as a lot of extra time including weekends and holidays will be sacrificed to contribute to research.
What one piece of advice would you give other researchers who have never been involved in research before?
To get a good mentor, setting up targets to achieve within a reasonable timeframe, and most importantly, persevere in doing research.
How do you balance research/work/family life?
Good question. I think I have contributed most of my time to do research, with little time spent with the family. I understand this is not healthy, however, with so much involved in research, I find it hard to balance it.
How did you find a mentor/supervisor?
I did not really have a mentor. I only obtained some guidance from my supervisors when I did my PhD in UK.