Terrence U Chun, MD

Terrence U Chun, MD

Cardiology, Arrhythmia, Apheresis

On staff since September 2004

Academic Title: Associate Professor, Pediatrics

"I am fascinated by how and why arrhythmias occur in children. Many of these frightening conditions are completely curable, and I love being able to educate my patients and their families to demystify the diagnosis. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to rid them of their disease. Some of our patients have life-threatening conditions or have even survived a sudden-death event; we have the technology to bring them back to normal quality of life and enable them to be normal kids again. It amazes me every day. Not a day goes by that I dont relish the chance to help someone in that way."

  • Terrence U. Chun, MD, is attending pediatric cardiologist and pediatric electrophysiologist at Seattle Childrens Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Chun received his MD from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed his pediatrics residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He also completed a fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital and a combined pediatric and adult electrophysiology fellowship at Stanford University and University of California, San Francisco.

    Dr. Chun has expertise and training in pediatric cardiology, pediatric electrophysiology and implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. Specific areas of clinical interest include catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias, postoperative arrhythmias, and implantable device therapy for treatment of arrhythmias, heart failure and prevention of sudden cardiac death. His research interests include utilization of electrocardiography for identifying risk of arrhythmias and sudden death, and novel device implantation strategies.

    • Judith Bigfork, Montana 04.09.16

      Hi, to start with I have to say thank you for Dr. Terrance U Chun, My daughter is now 15 and was born with a very complicated heart, Dr Chun has been her surgeon since she was 4 and has had a lot of Dr's and Dr.Chun is the best she has had. Once we made a big mistake our Montana Dr. thought we should go to Spokane and we had a surgery there it was the biggest mistake we ever made. Sacred heart hospital was the worse hospital we ever had gone to. Trust me we have had lots of heart procedures done everywhere, we had other doctors that moved around and we have gone to Phoenix, Cleveland Heart clinic and now that we are back to Seattle Children's Hospital with Dr. Chun we will never make the mistake and go anywhere else. Dr. Chun takes the time to explain everything he is going to do. And he make sure you and the child understands everything he is going to do. As far as my daughter and I are concerned he is the best surgeon in the world. We have met kids from all around the world and they all have the same to say Dr. Chun is the best. Thank you Dr. Chun From Judith and Cassandra Hill

    • Timm Oak Harbor 01.30.13

      Dr. Chun was the best thing that happened to our lives! My daughter was diagnosed with Wolf Parkinson White( WPW) at 14 yrs old. This came as a complete shock to us as she was very involved in sports. Dr Chun sat with us for some time and explained in lay men terms all about WPW , answered all our questions gave us all the options for treatment and calmed all our fears and worries. Ultimately it was my daughters decision what treatment she would choose, due to her heavy involvement in Basketball and beginning her first year in High School, she opted for the Electrophysiology study with Ablation. Needless to say my daughters proceedure went extraodinarily well and my daughter has no scars and no more SVT! She made the high school freshman and JV Basketball team and has been playing without any problems or past symptoms! It is truly miraculous and we will forever be full of gratitude and thankfulness to Dr. Chun and the cardiology group at Seattle Childrens!

    • Erin Butte, Montana 10.14.12

      Dr. Chun is truly amazing man. He took the time to explain SVT in our newborn and even drew us pictures. He is very knowledgeable and personable. Easy to talk to and answered all of our questions. Dr. Chun even made an effort to visit us and our son Cooper when he was no longer on our rotation. We were in Seattle twice and both times Dr. Chun made us feel like everything was being done to help Cooper get better and he was overseeing it all. I would recommend him to any and everyone, he was there when our world was turned upside down and helped turn it back around!

    • Jodi Edmonds, WA 12.21.11

      Dr. Chun and his team walk the red carpet in our world. They are first class people. Thankfully, my daughter did not have a life threatening heart condition. She did kick into SVT about 2 times a month while at gymnastics practice. Dr. Chun and his team found the culprit group of cells triggering my daughter's heart and put an end to her SVT. I am forever thankful, and I am truly appreciative of their respect and thoughtfulness as they communicated crucial information and procedures in such a patient friendly way. i believed that my daughter's heart was in the right hands. They whole-heartedly earned our total trust. I highly recommend Dr. Chun and his team.

    • Brigette Redmond, WA 11.10.11

      Dr Chun is great. It's really scary when you find out your son has a heart condition. And some of the previous doctors I've talked to didn't take the time to answer all my questions and explain the reasons for the course of action they were recommending. As a parent, I just want to know I can trust the doctor and that the doctor cares and is taking the time to think about what is really best for my son. Dr Chun was the fantastic - he printed off the test results (many, many pages) and was willing to go through them with me until I felt comfortable. If you ever have need for a children's cardiologist (and I hope you don't!) I would definitely recommend Dr Chun!

    • Kate Kirkland, WA 10.20.11

      Dr. Chun is amazing! Besides saving our daughter from her heart surgery complications Dr. Chun is one of those rare doctors who take extra time to listen and truly asks how you are doing. We look forward to our cardio appointments because we know that we are being taken care of.

    • christina bellingham,wa. 08.05.11

      Thank you for all you did for our son JT Marglon! YOu and the staff at Children's are amazing.

  • Award Name Award Description Awarded By Award Date
    SEATTLE TOP DOCTOR - 2022 Seattle Magazine 2022
    SEATTLE'S TOP DOCTOR - 2015 Seattle Met Magazine 2015
    SEATTLE'S TOP DOCTOR - 2014 Seattle Metropolitan Magazine 2014
    Top Doctors 2011, Pediatric Cardiology Seattle Metropolitan Magazine 2011
    Outstanding Teacher of the Year University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals Pediatrics Residency Program 2007 - 2008
  • Manuscripts in Refereed Journals

    • Atallah J, Erickson CC, Cecchin F, Dubin AM, Law IH, Cohen MI, Lapage MJ, Cannon BC, Chun TU, Freedenberg V, Gierdalski M, Berul CI, Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES)
      Multi-institutional study of implantable defibrillator lead performance in children and young adults: results of the Pediatric Lead Extractability and Survival Evaluation (PLEASE) study.
      23694966 Circulation, 2013 June : 127(24)2393-402
    • Salerno JC, Seslar SP, Chun TU, Vafaeezadeh M, Parrish AR, Permut LC, Cohen GA, McMullan DM
      Predictors of ECMO support in infants with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.
      21448617 Pediatric cardiology, 2011 Aug. : 32(6)754-8
    • Collins KK, Van Hare GF, Kertesz NJ, Law IH, Bar-Cohen Y, Dubin AM, Etheridge SP, Berul CI, Avari JN, Tuzcu V, Sreeram N, Schaffer MS, Fournier A, Sanatani S, Snyder CS, Smith RT Jr, Arabia L, Hamilton R, Chun T, Liberman L, Kakavand B, Paul T, Tanel RE
      Pediatric nonpost-operative junctional ectopic tachycardia medical management and interventional therapies.
      19232902 Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2009 Feb. : 53(8)690-7
    • Chun T
      Pacemaker and defibrillator therapy in pediatrics and congenital heart disease.
      19804341 Future cardiology, 2008 Sept. : 4(5)469-79
    • Salerno JC, Chun TU, Rutledge JC
      Sinus bradycardia, Wolff Parkinson White, and left ventricular noncompaction: an embryologic connection?
      17786379 Pediatric cardiology, 2008 May : 679-82
    • Salerno JC, Johnston TA, Chun TU, Jones TK
      Coronary compression by an epicardial pacing lead within the pericardium.
      17488265 Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology, 2007 July : 18(7)786
    • Chun TU, Gruenstein DH, Cripe LH, Beekman RH 3rd.
      Blade consolidation of multiple atrial septal defects: a novel approach to transcatheter closure.
      15175838 Pediatric Cardiology, 2004 Dec. : 25(6)671-4
    • Chun TU, Van Hare GF
      Advances in the approach to treatment of supraventricular tachycardia in the pediatric population.
      15306087 Current cardiology reports, 2004 Sept. : 322-6
    • Chun TU, Collins KK, Dubin AM
      Implantable cardioverter defibrillators in children.
      15225115 Expert review of cardiovascular therapy, 2004 July : 561-71
    • Chun TU, Epstein MR, Dick M 2nd, Andelfinger G, Ballester L, Vanoye CG, George AL Jr, Benson DW
      Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and KCNJ2 mutations.
      15851159 Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, 2004 July : 235-41

    Manuscripts Submitted

    • Chun PT, Chun TU, Files M, Vo N, McAdams RM
      1. Percutaneous embolization of congenital portosystemic venous fistula in an infant with Down syndrome.
      Case Reports in Vascular Medicine
    • Guse SE, Chun TU, Mazor SS
      Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia following diphenhydramine overdose
      Journal of Medical Toxicology
    • Chun TU, Lin J, Salerno JC, Permut L
      Novel implantable defibrillator configuration in a small patient
      Annals of Thoracic Surgery
    • Dubin AM, Janousek J, Cecchin F, Rosenthal E, Davis A, Kertesz NJ, Sanatani S, Batra A, Chun T, Kanter RJ, Emmel M, Collins KK
      Technical considerations in resynchronization therapy in pediatric and congenital heart disease patients
      Heart Rhythm

    Other Publications

    • Terrence Chun
      Disorders of Cardiac Rhythm
      Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, 2nd edition, 2011

  • Presentations Title Event Location Date
    When to use ICDs in the Pediatric Patient Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions 2013 Denver, CO May 10, 2013
    What New Technologies in Pacemakers are Useful and Relevant for Pediatrics? Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions 2011 San Francisco, CA May 5, 2011
    Cardiovascular Effects of Stimulant Medications Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Symposium Seattle, WA April 30, 2011
    Syncope in Children and Adolescents: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Annual Conference Shoreline, WA March 8, 2010
    Management of arrhythmias in pediatrics and congenital heart disease Northwest Electrophysiology Society Meeting Bend, OR March 5, 2010
    Special considerations for the pediatric EP patient Current Concepts of Arrhythmia and Device Management Symposium Seattle, WA Sept. 25, 2009
    Contemporary approach to pediatric arrhythmias Pediatric Associates all-provider continuing medical education activity Bellevue, WA Jan. 7, 2009
    Device implantation in young patients and congenital heart disease 4th annual Northwest Young EP Symposium Cle Elum, WA Aug. 9, 2008
    Complex cases in pediatric electrophysiology 2nd annual Northwest Young EP Symposium Union, WA Aug. 20, 2006

Overview

Board Certification(s)

Pediatric Cardiology
Certified Cardiac Device Specialist

Medical/Professional School

Mcp Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA

Clinical Interests

Catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias; post-operative arrythmias; implantable device therapy for treatment of arrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death.