Sunil J. Wimalawansa, MD, PhD, MBA, CCD, CRCP, MACDS, FRCPath, FACP, FACE, FCCP, FRCP, DSc
Dr. Sunil J. Wimalawansa is a globally respected clinician-scientist, educator, and humanitarian with over three decades of leadership in endocrinology, osteoporosis, metabolic bone disease, and nutrition. He holds multiple advanced degrees—including MD, PhD, DSc, and an Executive MBA—and has served as professor and chief of endocrinology at leading U.S. medical institutions, including the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Rutgers University.
His pioneering research, funded primarily by NIH, has led to innovations in hormone assays now used for intra-operative endocrine tumors, osteoporosis therapies, and cost-effective treatments using vitamin E and nitric oxide donors. He was the first to demonstrate telemedicine use in a clinical setup and intra-operative hormone measurements to guide surgical decisions—now a global standard. He also developed a low-cost water purification method to provide clean drinking water to underserved populations.
He has been a member of the board of directors of national and international scientific organizations and foundations. Dr. Wimalawansa has authored over 280 peer-reviewed publications, six books, and numerous book chapters and holds several medical patents. He has delivered over five hundred invited national and international lectures and served on scientific review panels for NIH, NASA, DEA, and other agencies. His editorial contributions span multiple international journals and professional committees.
Rooted in a legacy of compassion inspired by his father, Dr. Wimalawansa began philanthropic work in the 1960s and expanded it during medical school. His initiatives include free medical aid and clinics in remote locations, poverty alleviation and malnutrition prevention, pediatric immunization campaigns, women’s empowerment, construction of houses and infrastructure development, and provision of educational scholarships for needy children. He founded several nonprofit organizations focused on health equity and sustainable development.
His achievements have earned him numerous honors, including the Dr. Oscar S. Gluck Humanitarian Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sri Lanka Foundation. In 2024, he received the Eugene T. Davidson, MD, International Public Service Award from AACE, for Recognizing Exceptional Accomplishments and contributions to medicine and endocrinology. A retired Air Force squadron leader, Dr. Wimalawansa continues to advocate for science-driven solutions to global health challenges, blending academic excellence with deep social commitment.
