We are delighted to share that Sunny Lovin, MSW, LICSW, director of outpatient behavioral health at Harborview Medical Center, is the 2025 recipient of the John R. Pettit Endowed Leadership Award.

Sunny Lovin has worked at UW Medicine since 2005. In her current role as director of outpatient behavioral health at Harborview Medical Center, she leads a highly skilled and dedicated team of both clinical and non-clinical staff, overseeing a diverse range of programs designed to support Harborview’s mission by improving the well-being of individuals facing behavioral health challenges.

Colleagues recognized Sunny’s ability to guide teams with empathy and transparency while empowering staff to reach shared goals. They shared that this has led to not only a more positive workplace but has also created better patient outcomes, with one colleague noting that she is “a person who can create a vision and inspire us to engage and turn that vision into a reality.”

Dean Tim Dellit, a member of the nominating committee, says, “Sunny has been a dedicated member of the UW Medicine and Harborview Medical Center community for 20 years and has proved herself an exceptional leader in supporting the behavioral health of people in our community. She took on the role of director during the stressful time of the pandemic and not only managed to move the clinic forward but was also able to meet the department’s long-term goals. We are incredibly grateful for her vision, empathy and ability to inspire hope.” Congratulations, Sunny!