Sunny Wang was named chief of the SFVAHCS division of Hematology-Oncology

Dear Colleagues:

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Sunny Wang, Associate Professor of Medicine, has accepted the position of chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology for the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS). Sunny has been serving as the interim division chief since 2016, as well as director of the Hematology-Oncology Clinic.

Sunny received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and MD from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2002, she moved west to UCSF for her internal medicine residency, and subsequently served as chief medical resident. She remained at UCSF for her fellowship in hematology-oncology before joining our faculty in 2009, based primarily at the VA.   

Sunny has a strong clinical and research interest in lung cancer. The SFVAHCS has been a national leader in the use of low-dose CT for lung cancer screening, and Sunny has played a key role in the program’s success. Her current research focuses on barriers to lung cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes – particularly within the geriatric population. As division chief, she will work to expand access by VA patients to clinical trials, especially among patients with lung, prostate, GI, and head and neck cancers.  

Sunny is a fabulous educator who has served as the hematology-oncology fellowship site director since 2014. The consistently high ratings of the SFVA rotation among heme-onc fellows and students reflects her deep commitment to education. In recognition of her achievements, she has received teaching awards from the UCSF oncology fellows and the Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Education (AME).  She was inducted into the AME in 2014. 

We are grateful to the members of the SFVAHCS Division of Hematology-Oncology Search Committee, chaired by Dr. Ben Davoren, for their commitment and dedication. We particularly wish to thank Alan Ashworth, PhD, Director of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the division chiefs at UCSF Health and ZSFG, Drs. Eric Small and Terry Friedlander, for their support and collaboration.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sunny Wang on her appointment as chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at our VA medical center.


Kenneth R. McQuaid, MD                                               
Chief, SFVAHCS Medical Services                               
Professor of Clinical Medicine                     
Marvin H. Sleisenger Endowed Chair                       
Vice-Chair, Department of Medicine


Robert M. Wachter, MD
Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine
Holly Smith Distinguished Professor in Science and Medicine