About Professor Hun H. Sun

In 1948 Professor Sun traveled from his home in China to the United States to study engineering. Joining Drexel’s faculty as an electrical engineer in 1953, he pioneered the study of biomedical engineering and established one of the first such programs in America at Drexel University. A committed researcher and teacher, he also established the H.H. Sun Professorship, which has been held by Dr. Banu Onaral, current director of the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems, since 1998.

The roots of the Translational Research Program at Drexel University can thus be traced to Professor Sun’s legacy as the Founder of the Biomedical Engineering and Science Institute (later reorganized as the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems), and his mentoring of Dr. Banu Onaral and generations of numerous other gifted biomedical engineers. Early on, Professor Sun’s leadership was vital in securing the Calhoun Endowment, which anchored the Biomedical Engineering and Science Institute and enabled its evolution to become the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. Over the years, the Calhoun Endowment has sponsored Chair Professorships, countless graduate students and numerous growth initiatives.

Professor Sun always led by example, working closely with clinical partners to bring new technologies into healthcare practice. In addition to building local and regional partnerships, Professor Sun forged strong and purposeful connections with colleagues in China. We are particularly grateful for his efforts to unite his alma mater, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, with Drexel University, in a partnership that is poised to strengthen the doctoral programs of both institutions and incubate powerful new medical technologies.

In addition to being a gift mentor, Professor Sun is a world-class scientist and inventor. As just one of many examples, in 1991 Professor Sun and Dr. Xiang Wang, his student, invented a non-invasive method to measure nine different cardiac parameters. The system resulted in three U.S. patents awarded in 1995 and is now widely used throughout the world, placing patients in less risk and generating significant cost savings.

Professor Sun has also led by the example of his philanthropy. Beginning with his generous donation to establish the H. H. Sun Endowed Professorship, his philanthropy has dramatically enhanced Drexel University’s capacity to bring life saving, life enhancing solutions to healthcare and create valuable learning opportunities for students of biomedical engineering. The Sun Fund recognizes Professor Sun’s accomplishments as a researcher, mentor, entrepreneur and philanthropist and will enable current and future Drexel faculty and students to continue his tradition of bringing life saving solutions to doctors and their patients.