Seul Ki Choi, PhD, MPH
Dr. Choi’s program of research is centered on applying precision health approaches to address social determinants of health and promote health equity among sexual minority populations. In particular, she utilizes innovations in digital platforms to reach sexual and gender minority youths, offer information related to HIV prevention, promote social support, and ultimately, reduce health inequities.
“Although researchers have developed effective digital tools to make healthcare more accessible and promote health equity, patients’ true needs are still not being fully addressed. My goal is to understand their individual needs, suggest innovative strategies to develop more efficient digital health tools, and ensure that patients get the most out of these tools. “
Education
- PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2019
- MPH, Indiana University - Bloomington, 2014
- BPH/BBA, Ewha Womans University, 2012
Innovation
Dr.Choi examines how researchers measure the effects of digital health interventions and utilizes various paradata (automatically generated process data that capture participants’ interactions with the online intervention) to complement intervention design and evaluate the complexities of digital health interventions.
Social Justice
In order to address challenges associated with health disparities, the persistent and pervasive nature of these disparities needs to be understood. Dr. Choi is passionate about determining the root causes of social marginalization, thereby improving the well-being of the marginalized sexual and gender minority communities in Philadelphia and beyond.
Research
Dr. Choi implements precision health approaches to promote health equity for sexual and gender minority populations. She employs advanced quantitative methods to examine the multifactorial operationalization of theoretical concepts (e.g., sexual empowerment) and other health correlates. Her research also aims to increase the effectiveness of digital interventions for HIV prevention by promoting participant engagement. Rather than a “one size fits all” approach, she underscores the importance of optimized and tailored HIV-prevention interventions based on the diverse needs of sexual and gender minorities.
Opportunities to Learn and Collaborate at Penn Nursing
Dr.Choi is a core faculty member of the Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative at Penn Nursing. At Eidos, she seeks to translate evidence-based strategies into innovative and sustainable solutions for the LGBTQ+ community.
Selected Career Highlights
- Inter-CFAR HIV Implementation Science Fellow, 2021
- American Psychological Association (APA) Dissertation Research Award, 2018
- Surgeon General C. Everett Koop HIV/AIDS Research Grant, 2017
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