Biography:
Dr. Sudhir Sundaresan was appointed Vice-Dean of Faculty Affairs in January 2025, joining the Executive Leadership Team of the Faculty.
Dr. Sundaresan obtained his medical degree at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency after conducting a rotating internship at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He subsequently undertook a two-year fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery and two-year clinical/research fellowship in lung transplantation at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri. He also received advanced fellowship training in esophageal surgery in Great Britain.
An open and thoughtful leader, Dr. Sundaresan brings passion and expertise in the support of the career development and growth of leaders, clinicians, educators and scientists, in effective advocacy for the personal well-being of all faculty and trainees, and in the cultivation of a professional, inclusive and welcoming environment. As the new Vice-Dean, Faculty Affairs, Dr. Sundaresan is committed to engaging with all clinical departments, basic science departments and schools to promote all programs and initiatives under this portfolio, well aligned with the new 2025–2030 Strategic Plan of the Faculty of Medicine.
Dr. Sundaresan is a Full Professor in the Department of Surgery, which prospered during his leadership as Chair from 2013 to 2024. Under his direction the Department enjoyed considerable growth in academic productivity and promotions, as well as in the number of research chairs. His aggressive recruitment led to a nearly 30% expansion of the Department and a doubling of the percentage of female surgeons, and in 2021 he led a strategic retreat that resulted in departmental support for several new portfolios that included wellness, EDI, global surgery and mentorship, building on the Department’s close alignment with the Faculty’s Strategic Plan.
A leading expert in thoracic surgery and a 22-year veteran of the Faculty, Dr. Sundaresan’s academic surgical career has focused on thoracic oncology and continuous quality improvement. Since 2004 he has led Ontario’s evidence-informed move toward systematic regionalization of thoracic oncology surgery.
In 2024, Dr. Sundaresan was the recipient of The Ottawa Hospital’s Medical Staff Leadership Award. He has also contributed as a member of the Board of Directors of The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization.