Professional Journey:
Dr. Tung received his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. After graduating, he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana to work for the state health department and pursue graduate studies in public health.
After completing his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia, Dr. Tung completed his residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation / Rutgers-NJMS. He went on to complete a fellowship in interventional spine and sports medicine at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
Dr. Tung has been involved in clinical research throughout his medical career and has presented clinical research and case studies at national conferences and academic institutions. His research has involved new technology for the treatment of painful degenerative discs, evaluation of gait disorders, peripheral nerve disorders, and the use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of painful spasticity. As a sports medicine physician, Dr. Tung has provided game coverage and injury treatment for amateur and professional athletes.
Professional Certifications & Associations:
Dr. Tung is dual board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and a member of the Spine Intervention Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society and the International Neuromodulation Society.
Education:
- B.S. from the College of William and Mary
- Masters in Public Health from Tulane University
- M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia
- Internal Medicine Internship at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital System.
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation / New Jersey Medical School
- Interventional Spine and Sports Medicine fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York
Learn more about Dr. Tung’s background:
- Check out his LinkedIn profile
- Check out his Doximity profile
Approach
As a pain management physiatrist, Dr. Tung’s goal is to alleviate pain in order to maximize functional recovery.
“My patients can get back to living their lives instead of being preoccupied with pain.”
Dr. Tung believes that treating pain, especially chronic pain, with medications alone is not beneficial.
“Pain is multifaceted, usually having a specific ‘pain generator,’ a generalized central nervous system response to pain, a psychosocial component, and sometimes a related physical impairment. To effectively treat pain, we must address all of these components. As every patient’s pain history is unique, the treatment plan must be individualized.”
Dr. Tung is aggressive with diagnosis because he considers a clear diagnosis essential for effective treatment.
“Too often, a nonspecific diagnosis is given, resulting in nonspecific treatment, which in turn leads to unsatisfactory results. Using diagnostic injections, imaging tests, and electrodiagnosis in addition to the clinical exam, we can evaluate bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves in order to make a clear diagnosis and develop a specific treatment plan.”
“I strongly believe in patient education as it is essential for patients to understand their diagnoses along with the rationale for treatment. This enables my patients to be active participants in their medical care, rather than passive recipients of pills and injections.”