Dr. Hyochol Ahn

I received my PhD degree in Nursing Science in May 2012, and am an Associate Professor and the Theodore J. and Mary E. Trumble Distinguished Professor in Aging Research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. I am also founding director of the brain stimulation and imaging laboratory. My overall research goal is to establish a program of clinical and translational research that enhances health and independence in older adults using innovative technologies to optimize pain management. I have a strong background as a computer engineer as well as extensive clinical experience as a registered nurse (RN) and adult nurse practitioner-board certified (ANP-BC). As a computer engineer, I completed graduate-level courses in information science, computer network, image processing, and pattern recognition, and helped several National Institute of Health (NIH)-sponsored clinical studies develop innovative technological solutions for vulnerable populations. In addition, I have acquired professional training and earned certificates in neuromodulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation) and neuroimaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging and near infrared spectroscopy). I also have direct patient care experience as a clinician as a Registered Nurse (RN) at the oncology unit in the tertiary inpatient setting and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) in the outpatient unit. In these environments, I have treated people with chronic pain, cancer, and other painful conditions such as musculoskeletal diseases. My research, which is a direct result of my clinical experience, has focused on pain and symptom management, biobehavioral studies, dementia, health disparities, and biomedical informatics. I have been continuously funded since 2011 as a principal investigator (total > $1.1 million), and produced more than 40 peer-reviewed publications (28 as primary author).