Research: Projects, Presentations & Publications

Journal: FSTL3 is Essential for Placental Development.    | Submitted Fall 2020

Poster: FSTL3, a TGFβ Ligand Inhibitor Regulates Placental Development  Endocrine Society ENDO2020; Josef Huntington BSc presenter with Dr. Abir Mukherjee.   |  March 2020

Grand Rounds Lecture:  Probiotics, Useless or Useful?  University of California at Davis, Sacramento CA   |   Jan 2020

Poster:  Does CPAP alter the Fecal Microbiota of VLBW Infants? Western Medical Research Conference, Carmel CA  |  Jan 2020

Article: Brown Fat Bonanza: Why the color of your adipose tissue helps or hinders metabolic disorders   |  2012

Journal:  Synexpression Group Analyses Identify New Functions of FSTL3.  Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 427(3):568-73  |  Sept  2012

Primary Aim:  The Role of FSTL3 in Angiogenesis & Placental  Development Lifestyle Research Group, Dept of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, RVC London UK  Dr. Abir Mukherjee, Supervisor  |  2011-2012

Primary Aim:  Role of Adiponectin Receptors in Muscle Insulin Sensitivity Wellcome Trust Clinical Veterinary Research Training Program, London UK; Dr. Mark Cleasby, Supervisor  |  2010

Research Project: Observations on Gastro-Intestinal Parasites in Pigs on an Organic Farm in Scotland   |   2011

Science & Medical Credentials

♦  United Kingdom Society for Endocrinology Undergraduate Achievement Award Winner 2012

♦  Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons) in BioVeterinary Science with First Class Honors

♦  Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) St. George’s University

♦  California State Medical License (2018-Present)

♦  Pediatrics Residency, Lehigh Valley Children’s Hospital, PGY-1

♦  Pediatrics Residency, University California at Davis, PGY 2 & 3

♦  Board Certified Diplomate in Pediatrics

Additional Certifications

♦  Certified American Council on Exercise (ACE) Youth Fitness Specialist

♦  Certified Personal Trainer American Council on Exercise (ACE) 2002-2006

♦  BLS (Basic Life Support) Certification

♦  ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) Certification

♦  PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification)

♦  Certified Medical Examiner for Federal Motor Carrier Saftey Administration, National Registry #8890487148

♦  Certified in Qualitative Respirator Fit Testing

♦  Certified to Perform National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) Approved Spirometry

Continuing Medical Education

♦  International Society of Travel Medicine:  2022 ISTM Travel Medicine Review & Update Course

♦  Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine: Malaria Prevention in Travel Health

♦  Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine: Governance & Safety in Travel Health

Many had the fortunate circumstances to pursue undergraduate and then medical school right out of high school.  That was their path and by late 20’s they are in that one career until Retirement. My life path was different, which did expose me to other careers. Importantly, I can relate to the term “self-made” reflective of career and working. The struggles of building from scratch, living paycheck to paycheck etc.

I have had help along the way from more impersonal sources – to which I am very grateful. The Federal Government for example, allowed me to pay for tuition as I did not have a “College Fund” from any source. Thank you. Like many students, I have a lot of student loan debt — but I was supported in going to school when I wanted to and for that I am truly grateful. We live in a spectacular Country. One that allows us to remake ourselves at any point in time.

I worked throughout High School, had “Outside Work Experience” so left school at noon and went to work. When I graduated I was an Assistant Office Manager. Then I pursued Real Estate, got my License and learned a lot. For a bit, was in Commercial Real Estate then transitioned to Property Management, which I preferred. Over time, I wanted more out of my career and was able to pivot into Technology.

It was the mid-90’s and Computers were taking over. I always loved to work, thankfully people appreciated that. I was blessed with good jobs and management who supported me. I worked my way through Technology eventually to become a Local Area Network Manager and then Wide Area Network Manager and Consultant.

Some things in my life changed. I no longer had some of the responsibilities that necessitated me being full-time employed with benefits. My best friend was attending State University and said to me – “Why don’t you try out Community College?”; I had no idea where to begin. She helped me fill out a BOG Waiver and FAFSA and off I went to Cabrillo College.

Of all my College experiences, I feel that the California Community College experience was the greatest. The Professors were accessible and kind, classes were small — it was just neat. I loved learning.

To make a long story short, I decided to pursue Medicine, worked part-time and attended school part-time until many years later…I had a tremendous opportunity presented to me.

I initially wanted to pursue Veterinary Medicine. My love of animals goes without saying. C.J. (dog above) was my first Dog and absolute Best Friend. I remember when she got sick and I took her to a Vet Hospital in Irvine. I was so amazed by Medicine and how they saved her. I visited her everyday at the Hospital. It was then I decided Medicine was for me.

I got accepted into Royal Veterinary College in London, part of the University of London infrastructure. I love to travel and always wanted to see and experience other cultures. I lived in London and traveled all over the UK and Europe while studying and working there. The last year of my Undergraduate Degree I worked with an amazing Researcher Dr. Mukherjee who mentored me in a year-long Laboratory Research project. I could not have asked for a better mentor. It was an amazing experience, full Bench work, running PCR’s, slicing for histology and analyzing statistical data.

I graduated with Honors, earning a Bachelors in BioVeterinary Science, moved back to the US and pursued Medical School.  Over time, I was accepted into St. George’s University School of Medicine. From there I graduated with my Medical Doctorate (M.D.).

Residency was next. First year I trained at Lehigh Children’s Hospital in Allentown Pennsylvania. I then transferred to University of California at Davis to finish my Pediatrics Residency. I found Residency to be extremely difficult. The rigors we go through and the 80+ hour work weeks are nothing less than brutal. UC Davis is a renowned Hospital; its size, diverse Patient population, and Specialties it houses exposes Residents to a extremely wide breadth of Medicine. One of the most intense parts was working in the Pediatric Emergency Room, managing Patients on the General Ward, along with the highly specialized therapy managed on the Children’s Oncology Floor.  They had a full blown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Ultimately at heart I enjoyed PICU medicine very much.  Overall, I will never forget some of my experiences there.

Things worked out — I now have my own Company and Practice which is extremely rewarding and the honor to treat and help others.

I look forward to meeting and caring for you or your precious little ones!

Dr. Zoë Sun, M.D. C.E.O.

ZenithMedicine, a Professional Corporation

Certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE) #23002104

Research: Projects, Presentations & Publications

Journal: Sachdeva R, Theisen CC, Ninan V, Twiss JL, Houlé JD. Exercise dependent increase in axon regeneration into peripheral nerve grafts by propriospinal but not sensory neurons after spinal cord injury is associated with modulation of regeneration-associated genes. Experimental Neurology. 2016;276:72-82. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol. 2015.09.004.

Journal: Detloff MR, Quiros-Molina D, Javia AS, Daggubati L, Ninan V. Houlé JD. Delayed exercise is ineffective at reversing aberrant nociceptive afferent plasticity or neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury in rats. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. 2016:30(7):685-700. doi:10.1177/1545968315619698.

Science & Medical Credentials

♦  Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Drexel University, Philadelphia PA

♦  Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia PA

♦  California State Medical License

♦  Family Medicine Residency, University California at Davis, 2017-2020

♦  Board Certified Diplomate American Board of Family Medicine

♦  Professional Member of American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)

My family is my world. My wife is an amazing superwoman who is also an accomplished physician and mother. My two beautiful children keep me on my toes and are a constant source of wonder and meaning for me. 

I believe that the patient is at the center of care and medicine needs to be catered to the individual. I work with patients to better their health through education, lifestyle changes, preventative health measures, and medication management. My goal is to make my patients feel in control of their own health and live fulfilling lives as long as possible.

I love being a general family medicine physician as I can offer both prevention and treatment focused care for all patients from infants and children to adult and geriatric patients. My special area of clinical interest includes minor office based procedures, musculoskeletal injuries, reproductive counseling, and chronic disease (hypertension, diabetes, substance use, etc) management.

I work at UC Davis Medical Center as an Associate Physician and also enjoy mentoring and teaching academically.