Soyoung Choi.Soyoung Choi, an assistant professor of kinesiology and community health and the director of the Accessible Healthcare Lab, has joined the Beckman Institute.

Choi's research focuses on enhancing the health-promoting behaviors and self-care activities of visually impaired individuals through the design of accessible mobile health, or mHealth, tools. Under her leadership, Choi's research team is making significant strides in developing a conversational AI mHealth system designed to assist visually impaired individuals in efficiently tracking their health. Choi’s team is also actively engaged in a collaborative effort with community partners to devise a home-based exercise program specifically tailored to this demographic.

Choi earned her Ph.D. in nursing from Pennsylvania State University and gained practical experience by working as a professional nurse at University Hospital for three years. Her blend of academic expertise and real-world clinical experience positions her uniquely in the field, enabling her to contribute meaningfully to the intersection of healthcare technology and community health.

At the Beckman Institute, Choi's research team is engaged in a collaborative venture with Professor Deana C. McDonagh. Together, they are focused on creating a tangible tool aimed at facilitating the co-design of user interfaces for mobile health applications. This initiative is specifically tailored to involve and address the needs of users with low vision and blindness, ensuring their active participation in the design process.

Choi and her research team are committed to collaborating with the Beckman community, focusing on bringing innovative health technologies to marginalized groups. By diminishing access barriers and easing the user burden associated with technologies and systems, it is possible to significantly narrow the digital and technology divide in society, she said.