Fall 2023 (Volume 33, Number 3)
Rising Star:
Dr. May Choi
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Following in the footsteps of
her late father, Dr. Vincent
Choi, Dr. May Choi became
a rheumatologist (University of
Calgary, 2019) with an interest in
studying systemic lupus erythematosus
early on. She left Calgary
in 2020 to complete a clinical
and research lupus fellowship at
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
(Boston, Massachusetts) under
the supervision of lupus expert,
Dr. Karen Costenbader (Professor
of Medicine at Harvard Medical
School). While in Boston, she obtained
a Master of Public Health in
Epidemiology at Harvard University
in 2021. When she returned to
Calgary, she started on faculty at
the Cumming School of Medicine,
University of Calgary, and became
a Member of the McCaig Institute
for Bone and Joint Health. She
was promoted to Associate Professor
three years later (July 2023).
Dr. Choi is also the Associate Director of MitogenDx Laboratory
for novel autoantibody and biomarker testing for autoimmune
diseases and the Associate Director of Research
for the University of Calgary Lupus Centre of Excellence,
which complements her research.
As an early career investigator, her research is focused on
biomarker discovery and validation for prediction of clinical
outcomes in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and the
prevention of autoimmune disease development and disease-related complications. Her studies have made use of
large cohorts including the Systemic Lupus International
Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) and the Nurses’ Health Study
(NHS). She leads a research laboratory and biobank for local,
national, and international collaborators including the
Canadian Inflammatory Myopathy Study (CIMS), Canadian
Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG), and the Canadian
Research Group of Rheumatology in Immuno-Oncology
(CanRIO). She was funded by several career development
awards including the prestigious Lupus Foundation of America
Gary S. Gilkeson Career Development Award. She has
received funding as a nominated principal investigator and
co-investigator on several peer-reviewed grants including a
Canadian Institutes of Health Research project grant in her
first year and a Canadian Foundation
of Innovation (CFI) John R.
Evans Leaders Award in her second
year as an early career investigator.
Dr. Choi would like to acknowledge
Dr. Marvin Fritzler, Dr. Ann
Clarke, and Dr. Karen Costenbader
for their guidance and mentorship
through the years. She would also
like to recognize the support of her
institution, her research team, and
lab members for their hard work
and dedication to the research program.
Finally, she would like to
thank her family (Chris, Vincent,
Lisa, Wayne, Jen, and John) for
always being there for her. Dr. Choi
also has two young children, Sydney
(2.5 years old) and Benjamin
(1 year old) and they represent her
proudest achievements yet!
May Y. Choi, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine
University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services
Calgary, Alberta
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