Dr. Phung is a primary and/or co-investigator in the following: 

Cowboys Get Healthy, Get Fit: A medical-community collaborative program for healthy lifestyle changes in overweight & obese children
Primary Investigator. Retrospective study to assess the effects of the medical-community partnership collaborative program called “Cowboys Get Healthy, Get Fit”, designed for healthy lifestyle changes in overweight & obese children ages 10-16. Medical-community model wherein overweight or obese children receive systematic staged-approach intervention coupled with local community partnerships to maximize obesity treatment. This was the first retrospective study on childhood obesity from Oklahoma, in collaboration with the local YMCA and Oklahoma’s premier Stage 3 & 4 comprehensive obesity treatment center called “Family Health and Nutrition Clinic”. The outcome analysis of BMI, aerobic fitness, and lifestyle behaviors results from this study was utilized for program improvements and support a medical-community model.

Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC)
Primary Investigator. Quality improvement (QI) project with the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at St. Francis Children’s Hospital & St. Jude’s Affiliate Hospital to develop a pediatric palliative curriculum for pediatric residents in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The curriculum was based on the extrapolated survey results completed by osteopathic and allopathic resident physicians, with 16 comprehensive domains measuring physician self-confidence, clinical skills, and concerns about pediatric end-of-life care. Didactic modules included topics such as nausea/vomiting, dyspnea, delirium, artificial hydration, constipation, depression, and pain management. Clinical modules also included discussions on DNR, hospice, psychosocial issues, breaking bad news, and cultural awareness. Residents were surveyed at least quarterly to measure progress and document changes in confidence. The curriculum lasted for 18 months, designed to be repeated at least twice during the 3-year pediatric residency.

Resilience Study: Threshold and impact of resilience among pediatric cancer families
Co-Investigator & Research Mentor. Ongoing study to develop a screening tool to identify psychological distress and/or those individuals in need of additional support in order to provide effective interventions for the pediatric cancer patients and their families. This pilot study will analyze how family functioning (including parental adjustment and distress) can change during the course of pediatric cancer treatment.