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Work experience

2011Present

Scientific Medical Advisor:

Turner Syndrome Foundation

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2012Present

Scientific Advisor:

Int. Society Clinical Densitometry (ISCD)

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19842016

Summary: Former Chief of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Nutrition, Tenured full-Professor of Medicine for over 20 years.

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He has 38 years of broad experience in:

  • Teaching (CME programs, graduate and postgraduates)
  • Research: basic, animal, translational & human clinical research/trials
  • New drug development (bench to the clinic; e.g., nitric oxide therapy for osteoporosis)
  • Pharmaceutical industry collaborations and expert witness work
  • Clinical and laboratory management
  • Cost-effective and forward-thinking management
  • Philanthropy and grant funding
  • Leadership and administration

He has delivered hundreds of CME and non-CME lectures nationally and internationally for industry, academia, scientific, and philanthropic organizations.  

In addition to be a retired Air force Squadron Leader, he has experience with patent litigation as an expert scientific witness, reviewer for NIH, NASA, DEA, and VA, and experience in dealing with the FDA, media, and legislature. 

He has been a chairperson or a board of director of several non-profit foundations and scientific organizations, and has conducted a number of philanthropic work over the past    40 years.

He has successfully completed the National Faculty Education Initiative.

19842015

President & Chair, Board of Directors:

Non-Profit Organizations:

Founding (and current) President:  International foundation for Chronic Disabilities (IFCD)

Past President:  International Foundation of Revitalization, Education, Empowerment & Development

Founding  (and current) President:  Wimalawansa Foundation

Founding (& current) President:  Education Trust Fund for Disadvantaged Children (WETF)

Founding  (and current) President:  Foundation for Preventive Health, Environmental Protection, and Research

20012015

Professor and the Chief of Endocrinology (2001-2008):

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ
  • Chief of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Nutrition, University of Medicine & Dentistry of    New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (2001-2008)
  • Tenured Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology & Nutrition (2001-2013)
  • Professor of Physiology & Integrative Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, (UMDNJ/Rutgers University, 2002-2013)
  • Hon. Fellow, Cardio-Metabolic Institute (2013-present)
20112015

Board Member, Board of Directors:

American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) and The American College of Endocrinology; National

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20092014

Board Member, Board of Directors:

American Association for Clinical Endocrinology (AACE), New Jersey chapter

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20022013

Director, Regional Osteoporosis Center:

University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey

Established a self-funded university-approved regional center of excellence with a major grant from the federal government.

The center was fully funded and managed with grants and income it generated.

20012013

Professor of Physiology & Integrative Biology:

University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey(UMDNJ): Medical School and Graduate School of Biomedical Studies
  • Cell biology, animal studies, and translational research
  • Human clinical studies
  • Postgraduate level teaching
20092012

Board Member, Non Profit Board of Directors:

Samadhi Buddhist Foundation

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20072009

Board Member, Board of Directors:

International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD)

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20012008

Chief of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Nutrition:

Tenured Professor of Medicine & Director, Regional Osteoporosis Center
  • Developed clinical operations of the division
  • Doubled outpatient encounters and tripled new patient visits, enabling doubling of revenue and profits
  • In addition to new recruitments, improved efficiency by streamlining the clinic process and patient access based on a mathematical model he developed
  • Enhanced clinical and basic scientific research and increased the number of fellowship & collaborative research programs.
20012006

Founding Director:

VasoGenix Corporation

He and two colleagues founded this Biotech Company using a product for which he holds  the patents.  Company is engaged on IND-based phase II and III clinical trials using two of its novel products.

Dr Wimalawansa is the founder and the chair of the board of CG-Therapeutics.

19942001

Tenured Professor of General Medicine, Endocrinology, & Orthopedics:

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas

Director of the Metabolic Bone Center, and the director, biochemical endocrinology unit
Annually, averaged six peer-reviewed scientific papers in high-impact journals.

19942001

Director Osteoporosis Center & Biochemical Endocrinology Laboratory:

UTMB, Galveston, TX

Initiated multiple collaborative research programs leading to state and federal grant funding.

Both the self-sustaining/self-funded research unit and the Osteoporosis Center were built from the ground up and funded by grants from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and National Institutes of Health.

19921994

Director, Regional Diabetes & Endocrinology Centre:

Enfield Hospital, North London, United Kingdom

Managed this large diabetes referral center with more than 35,000 annual clinic visits.  Significantly enhanced efficiency of the center by streamlining its operation and referral   base, and cutting the wait list time from 9 months to 4 weeks.

19841992

Director, Biochemical Endocrinology - Senior Lecturer:

Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, United Kingdom

Consultant Physician & Endocrinologist, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London

Director, Chemical Pathology & Endocrinology, Royal Postgraduate Medical
He initiated this research unit funded by the British Heart Foundation.  On average, seven peer- reviewed scientific papers published each year in high-impact journals.

19901991

Acting Head, Department of Chemical Pathology:

Royal Postgraduate Medical School and the Hammersmith School, London, United Kingdom

Successfully managed the department with approximately 50 employees and a budget of $24 million

Expert Witness, Leadership Development, & Process Consultant

Medicolegal work [osteoporosis, metabolic bone disease, and general endocrinology]:

  • Pharmaceutical patent litigations [defending generics drugs]
  • Defending litigations against osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures secondary to 'the use of' anti-resorptive pharmaceutical agents [defending pharmaceutical corporations].

Skills

Advisory Boards: Consultancy and Lectureships:

•  Amgen Pharmaceuticals
•  Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals
•  Novartis Pharmaceuticals
•  Procter and Gamble (NPF)
•  Aventis Pharmaceuticals (NPF)
•  Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals
•  AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
•  Bayer Pharmaceuticals 
•  Apotex, Inc.
•  Teva Pharmaceuticals

Invited Medical Lectures: delivered over 190 national & international lectures:

Nutrition, Vitamin D, Obesity, & Type 2 Diabetes:

  • Vitamin D
  • New approaches in treating Type 2 diabetes 
  • Ways to overcome obesity epidemic 
  • Diabetes, obesity & vitamin D deficiency
  • Management of metabolic syndrome: new concepts  
  • Nutrition and healthy lifestyles 
  • New strategies of obesity management
  • Preoperative management of bariatric surgery
  • Life-Style Medicine (Healthy Living)
  • Healthful nutrition for students
  • Fundamentals of nutrition & healthy living for professionals
  • Ethical challenges in using enhancement medicine/technologies 

Osteoporosis and BMD testing:

  • Any aspect of osteoporosis
  • Strengths & limitations of therapies for osteoporosis
  • Pitfalls of DXA bone mineral density testing and interpretation 
  • Advances in osteoporosis drug therapy
  • Nitric oxide and skeletal health
  • Adverse effects of antiresorptive therapies:  
    • Osteonecrosis of the jaw
    • Atypical subtrochanteric fractures
  • Paget’s Disease of bone

General endocrinology topics:

  • Hyperparathyroidism or Hypoparathyroidism
  • Pituitary or Thyroid disorders
  • Endocrinology of female reproduction or Adrenal gland
  • Ethical challenges in practicing medicine
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder:  a new endocrine disease
  • Tackling diseases affecting South Asians 
  • Prevention of CKDuo (CKDmfo)
Educational & Charitable Work:

Educational work:

  • Writing a series of medical and philosophy books
  • Teach endocrinology & nutrition CME programs, symposia and courses globally, and engaged in web-based teaching.

Charitable work:

  • Managing an education foundation and philanthropic work including
  • Establishing novel, cost-effective water purification methods applicable to all developing countries
  • Broader programs to alleviate chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology from affected countries
  • Programs design to alleviate malnutrition in pregnant mothers in a infants
  • Development of unique, international educational nature center
  • Job creation, poverty alleviation, provision of shelter, safe sanitation and clean water, economic development, and women’s empowerment in deprived regions (https://wimalawansa.org). 
Non-Medical Lectures (Domestic & International)

Non-Medical topics:

  • Water, sanitation, human health, and policies
  • Spirituality, meditation, and personal development
  • Taming non-communicable diseases burden
  • Public-private partnerships for better health (e.g. nutrition programs)
  • One-hundred years of the Legacy of Col. Henry Steel Olcott
  • Ethical challenges in using enhancement medicine/technologies  
  • Spirituality, meditation, and personal development  
  • Prevention of violence against women  
  • Dietary, lifestyle, and medical choices in promoting health 
  • Lifestyle medicine
  • Healthful nutrition for professional  
  • Healthy-Lifestyles, Alternative Medicine & Spirituality
  • Alternative medicine & spirituality as tools for stress management & enhancing individual performance

Leadership Training topics:

  • Leadership:
    • Basics (101) vs. Management; the way forward
    • Development, or Leadership qualities, or Responsibilities
    • Styles and becoming a leader
    • From management to leadership
    • Skill-set for transition from residency to an attending
    • Leadership skills for physicians
    • Improved corporate productivity via self-discipline
    • How to become a physician leader
    • Compassionate capitalism
    • Crisis in leadership or Operational leadership
  •    Art of integrative thinking
  •    Non-verbal communication
  •    Communicating with children
  •    Generation gap and the industry

Current Projects:

Prevention of premature deaths from chronic kidney failure (CKDuo / CKDmfo):

Wimalawansa Foundation:

  • https://wimalawansa.org
  • Education, women's' empowerment, provision of clean potable water, sanitation, shelter, poverty alleviation, environmental protection

Wimalawansa Education Trust Fund (WETF):

International Foundation for Chronic Disabilities (IFCD):

Professional Affiliations

  • Fellow, American College of Endocrinology, (FACE)
  • Fellow, American College of Physicians, (FACP)
  • Master, American College of Diabetes Specialists (MACDS) 
  • Certified Clinical Densitometrist (CCD)
  • Former member of board of directors:  ISCD
  • Scientific Adviser, International Society for Clinical Densitometry
  • Certified Research Contract Professional (CRCP)
  • Fellow, Ceylon College of Physicians (FCCP)
  • Fellow, International Neuropeptide Society (USA)
  • Member, Royal College of Surgeons, UK (MRCS)
  • Fellow, Royal College of Pathologists, UK (FRCPath)
  • Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, UK (FRCP)
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of London, UK (PhD)
  • Doctor of Science, University of Peradeniya (DSc.)

Broader Areas of Interests

Education

Masters in Medical Sociology (pending):

Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

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20042006

Executive Masters in Business Administration: Major in Leadership and Marketing

Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey

  • First prize, Annual open, Business Plan Competition, 2005, Rutgers Business University

  • Recipient of the McNulty Scholarship, 2006; Executive MBA program, Rutgers Business School    
  • Summer Study in Shanghai and Beijing to enhance international business & the curriculum
19992001

Diploma in Healthcare & Medical Administration:

Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School, Baltimore, MD

Leadership & Managmeent

19841987

Ph.D.; Doctorate of Philosophy:

University of London, United Kingdom
  • Endocrine Pathology
  • Receptor Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
19701975

M.D.; Doctorate of Medicine:

University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics/Gyn, and Pediatrics

Certifications

Full Unrestricted Medical Licenses:

Active: New Jersey [United Kingdom & Sri Lanka]

Inactive:  Pennsylvania; Texas, and Tennessee

Summary of Education

  • MBA (Executive MBA), Majored in Leadership & Marketing, Rutgers Business School, NJ, 2006
  • Master of Sociology: Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, pending
  • Doctor of Science (D.Sc.), University of Sri Lanka, 2001
  • Graduate Certification Course, Business in Medicine diploma, Johns Hopkins University, School of Business, Baltimore, Maryland, 2000
  • Royal Postgraduate Medical School/Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom, 1983–1992
  • Doctorate in Endocrine Pathology, University of London, United Kingdom, 1987
  • Diploma course in Aviation Medicine, Royal Air Force, United Kingdom, 1986
  • Fellowship in Endocrinology & Metabolism and Chemical Pathology; Royal Postgraduate Medical School/Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom, 1986
  • Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine & Rehabilitation, Manchester, United Kingdom, 1983
  • Fellowship in General Internal Medicine, Sri Lanka/United Kingdom, 1981
  • Doctor of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 1975

GOVERNMENT, VOLUNTEER, AND NGO SERVICE

  • American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Board of Directors
  • American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists―AACE-New Jersey chapter, Board of Directors
  • International Society for Clinical Densitometry, Scientific advisor, and a former Board of Director
  • Turner Foundation, Board of Directors (from 2010); International Atomic Energy Agency (former consultant); Samadhi Foundation of New Jersey, Board of Directors (2007 to 2013)
  • Hela Bodhu Padanama, North America, Founder–President
  • International Foundation for Chronic Disabilities (chronic dissbilities.org), Founder–President
  • International Foundation for Revitalization, Empowerment, Education & Development, Founder President
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Life-Sciences Review Committees
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH), Scientific Review Committee; VA- external scientific reviewer
  • U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Scientific Reviewer
  • New Jersey Inter Agency Council of Osteoporosis, Chairman from 2005 to 2009; oversaw more than 250 volunteer programs per year in New Jersey with >15,000 volunteer community service hrs/year)

ACADEMIC ACTIVITY SUMMARY

Scientific Publications and related work:

https://wimalawansa.org/publications-by-the-founder

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sunil_Wimalawansa/publications

Have published 165 peer-reviewed academic articles, 45 reviews & proceedings, 15 book chapters, and 5 medical books, 50 medicine grand-rounds, over 285 scientific presentations; multiple non-medical lectures; and holds 5 medical U.S. and international patents.

A regular reviewer for several national and international scientific journals and has served on editorial boards and in several national and international scientific review committees (NIH, VA, DEA, and NASA).

Has delivered over 200 national and international invited lectures

CURRENT PHILANTHROPIC PROJECTS

Current academic and charitable work:

(A) teaching in Medical Education (CME) programs, and writing a series of medical and philosophy books,

(B) teach endocrinology & nutrition CME programs, symposia and courses globally, and engaged in web-based teaching,

(C) managing an education foundation and philanthropic work including, establishing novel, cost-effective water purification methods applicable to developing countries,

(D) broader programs to alleviate chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology from affected countries,

(E) programs design to alleviate malnutrition in pregnant mothers in a infants,

(F) development of unique, international educational nature center in Sri Lanka (PHEPRO Foundation), and

(G) job creation, poverty alleviation, provision of shelter, safe sanitation and clean water, economic development, and women’s empowerment in deprived regions (https://wimalawansa.org).

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