Dr. Ann Tsung - NASA Flight Surgeon - Setting Long Term Goals, Finding Fulfillment.

The Dream Job

Dr. Ann Tsung, NASA flight surgeon and part-time emergency medicine and critical care physician, discusses tips for fulfillment, productivity and following one’s curiosity. Dr. Tsung remembers being fascinated by outer space ever since she was nine years old. Motivated by her background as the immigrant daughter of a single mother, Dr. Tsung had an intense commitment to her goals — a commitment that, today, manifests in “habit-stacking.” She often wakes up at around 5 a.m., takes a cold shower, then tackles her hardest task of the day. As a flight surgeon, Dr. Tsung helps astronauts reach peak performance in space flight by following them through pre-training and going through launch and landing. While astronauts are in space, flight surgeons sit at mission control for eight-hour shifts to be there for any medical contingencies. “We’re basically their primary care physician, but a little bit more because we learn the physiological changes of space,”

NASA flight doctors have specialized practice in the effects of g-force, vibrations and radiation on astronauts’ bodies. Dr. Tsung had initially planned to be an emergency medicine physician full-time but, after completing her residency, felt that something was missing. So she returned to her passion for space, and urged listeners to follow their gut instincts too. To connect with Dr. Tsung, follow her on LinkedIn.