Dr. Wendy Chung: Rock Star, Advocate, Chief

Several patients of Wendy Chung, MD, PhD, have asked to take selfies with her. Although she’s not a celebrity, the world-renowned clinical and molecular geneticist has identified the genetic basis of more than 50 rare diseases. For families affected by these conditions, that makes Dr. Chung a rock star.

“It means a lot to families to know there’s a person behind the scenes who is on their side, working for them,” says Dr. Chung, who joined Boston Children’s as chief of pediatrics in July 2023. It’s an ideal time for her to step into the role.

“This is a transformative moment in history—scientific and medical advances are poised to change the future of children’s health. Boston Children’s is one of the only places that has the expertise to push this vision forward.”

Here, explains Dr. Chung, physicians and scientists deliver exceptional care, seek ways to improve that care and find cures. They disseminate their findings widely, empowering pediatricians around the world to treat kids with complex conditions and minimizing gaps in care for patients who don’t have access to specialists.

“The goal is to ensure that no child is left behind,” says Dr. Chung.

To that end, Boston Children’s new chief plans to expand her work as principal investigator on the GUARDIAN study (Genomic Uniform-screening Against Rare Diseases in All Newborns), which screens newborns for more than 250 genetic disorders not currently included in standard screening. Catching these conditions early can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

Another area of focus is precision medicine. Dr. Chung develops personalized therapies for children with genetic disorders and aids families in search of treatments. For Steve Baum, her guidance has been indispensable. “She provided practical and moral support to my family as we investigated therapeutic options tailored for my grandson. We’d be lost without her,” says Baum.

Grateful for Dr. Chung’s partnership, Baum made a gift to establish the Julian Grey Fund for Rare Disease Research at Boston Children’s. For Dr. Chung, her inspiration comes from all families affected by complex conditions—those she knows personally, and those far away, waiting for help. Next on her ambitious agenda? Moving beyond diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders to preventing these conditions.