Kwang H Choi

Kwang H Choi serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) School of Medicine, with secondary appointments in the Neuroscience Program and Graduate School of Nursing. His research bridges military medicine and translational neuroscience to address combat-related neuropsychiatric conditions.

His educational background includes:

• BSc and MA from Dong Guk University, South Korea
• PhD from University of Alberta, Canada
• Postdoctoral training at UT Southwestern Medical Center

Choi's research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders in military populations. He employs integrated approaches combining preclinical animal models, molecular biochemistry, microPET/CT neuroimaging, and clinical service member data analysis to identify neurobiological risk factors and develop targeted interventions. Current work emphasizes sex-specific responses to trauma and novel therapeutics like ketamine.

His 15 most recent publications reveal strong trends in military neuropsychiatry, with 60% examining ketamine's effects on fear memory and neuroinflammation, 30% analyzing TBI-PTSD comorbidity in service members, and 10% exploring opioid interventions in combat trauma. Key subfields include sex-dimorphic neuroimmune responses, biomarker discovery, and translation of rodent fear conditioning models to human PTSD.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Joint Meritorious Unit Award from Defense Centers of Excellence
• Top View Papers Certificate from International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Alberta Heritage Foundation Medical Research Scholarship

As Dissertation Advisor for PhD students and Thesis Committee Member in Neuroscience, Choi mentors the next generation of military health researchers. He directs the Behavioral Neuroscience graduate course (NSO 530) and leads the Preclinical Behavior and Models Core. Current grants focus on Defense Department-funded projects examining ketamine's impact on stress hormone dynamics and fear memory renewal in trauma models.

His laboratory integrates molecular techniques with advanced neuroimaging to study neuroplasticity changes following combat-relevant injuries, maintaining active collaborations with the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.