Kristen R. Choi

Kristen R. Choi, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor and Audrienne H. Moseley Chair in Nursing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Nursing. Her research focuses on health services and policy approaches to mental health, trauma, and health disparities among children and vulnerable populations. Dr. Choi holds adjunct roles at KPSC and directs the UCLA National Clinician Scholars Program. She maintains a clinical practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) at a community psychiatric hospital in Los Angeles. Her work spans individual, family, and systemic levels, emphasizing trauma-informed care, homelessness, and autism advocacy.

Education:
- BSN, University of Michigan School of Nursing (Ann Arbor, MI)
- PhD, University of Michigan School of Nursing
- MS in Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, UCLA National Clinician Scholars Program

Research Interests:
Dr. Choi’s research addresses adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed care, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and health policy. She investigates interventions for vulnerable populations, including unhoused individuals and children with developmental disabilities. Recent work explores vaccine outreach strategies, telehealth sustainability, and firearm policy impacts on public health.

Awards:
- 2020 Forbes '30 Under 30' in Healthcare
- 2021 American Academy of Nursing Fellow
- 2022 Early Career Achievement Award from the University of Michigan School of Nursing

Grants & Collaborations:
Funded projects include studies on ACE screening, pandemic vaccine strategies for marginalized groups, and teletherapy for ASD. She collaborates with community health workers and policy stakeholders to bridge clinical and systemic gaps in mental health access.

Future Work:
Ongoing projects focus on longitudinal firearm policy analysis, racial disparities in developmental healthcare, and expanding trauma-informed training for maternity professionals. Her lab prioritizes actionable research to improve health equity for children and underserved communities.