Dr. Josh Choe is an advocate for health care policies that best serve his patients. As an Archer Fellow, he interned on a federal government committee examining the health care industry’s environmental impact and, since then, has been working for another federal agency to improve access to behavioral health therapies for Medicare beneficiaries.

Josh Choe, M.D.

What this award means: I am grateful to Jessica Voit, M.D., and Deborah Freeland, M.D., Assistant Professors of Internal Medicine, for introducing me to this field and to the UTSW Geriatric Medicine faculty for nurturing my interest during my clerkship rotations and sub-internship. I am honored to receive this award and hope to represent the geriatric field well in residency and beyond.

Mentor comment: Josh Choe has embodied the principles of age-friendly care throughout medical school. In one of his electives, he was paired with an older adult in the community whom he called regularly. When that man was hospitalized, Josh came to the hospital to support him and his family. We look forward to seeing all the ways that Josh will continue to care for older adults! – Deborah Freeland, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine

Background and family: I was born and raised in Colorado. My father is an aerospace engineer, and my mother is a pharmacist. They both emigrated from South Korea and met at UT Austin while getting their Ph.D.s. My brother is a lawyer who practices in New York City.

What led to your career path: Through work in clinics during college, I saw firsthand the impact of policy on patients. These experiences motivated me to explore aspects of the health care system, from philanthropy to federal regulatory agencies. Working alongside physicians at these organizations inspired me to pursue a career in medicine where I can leverage clinical insight and patient experiences to shape our country’s health policy.

College: I graduated Phi Beta Kappa as a biophysics major from Johns Hopkins University. I volunteered at a Johns Hopkins Bayview clinic, which connected patients to resources that addressed their social needs, and I also worked at a mobile clinic that provided health screenings. During my gap year, I conducted drug policy research with the Johns Hopkins Drug Access and Affordability Initiative.

UTSW activities: I served as a coordinator for the Hospital Elder Life Program, which seeks to prevent delirium in the inpatient setting. I also was a Graduate Archer Fellow in 2022 and interned with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, focusing on the health care industry’s environmental impact. In addition, I have been with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this past year, working to improve access to behavioral health therapies for Medicare beneficiaries and strengthen the primary care workforce.

Surprising fact: Although I’m known to be a bit chatty, I didn’t start talking until I was 4 years old.

Future plans: I will be starting my internal medicine residency through the primary care track at UCLA Medical Center. As the population of older adults in our country continues to grow, I hope to serve them both in clinical practice and through health policy.

About the award: The Sulkin-Schein Award recognizes a medical student who has demonstrated compassion, keen interest, and commitment to the care of older adults. The award is named in honor of Mrs. Schein, a longtime supporter of UT Southwestern who bequeathed funds to promote geriatrics as a career path for medical students. She died in 2007 at the age of 89.