Kelvin Choi, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Scientific Director
Senior Investigator and Head
Tobacco Related Disparities and Control Lab
Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch
Division of Intramural Research (DIR)
tsz.choi@nih.gov
301-771-1643
Dr. Kelvin Choi is the scientific director for NIMHD’s Division of Intramural Research (DIR). He is the first tenure-track investigator at NIMHD recruited through the Earl Stadtman Program. Prior to joining NIMHD, Dr. Choi was an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, where he received his M.P.H. in community health education and Ph.D. in social and behavioral epidemiology. Dr. Choi was tenured and promoted to senior investigator in 2021.
As head of the Tobacco-Related Disparities and Control Lab within the Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch of NIMHD’s Division of Intramural Research, his research focuses on three objectives:
- Examine the interrelationship between social determinants and commercial tobacco use in the US
- Investigate factors that reduce or worsen commercial tobacco use disparities, (e.g., tobacco marketing)
- Develop, evaluate, and forecast the impact of tobacco control interventions on commercial tobacco use disparities.
Dr. Choi’s research is published in more than 150 peer-reviewed articles. He is a past co-chair and advisory committee member of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Health Disparities Network, and a member of the California Tobacco Prevention Program Evaluation Task Force. In 2019, Dr. Choi received the SRNT’s Jarvik-Russell Early Career Award for his extraordinary contributions to nicotine and tobacco research. In 2021, he received the NIH Director’s Ruth L. Kirschstein Mentoring Award for exemplary performance while demonstrating significant leadership, skill, and ability. In 2022, Dr. Choi was named a SRNT Fellow for his significant contributions to the field of nicotine and tobacco research. Additionally, he has been recognized as reviewer of the year by the journals Tobacco Control and Nicotine & Tobacco Research. He currently serves as an editorial advisory board member for Tobacco Control.
Selected Publications
- King Jensen JL, Rashid M, Ajith A, Jewett B, Hacker K, Phan L, Choi K, Chen-Sankey J. Correlates of Anticipated Responses to Cigar Price Increase Among U.S. Adults Who Smoke Cigars.(external link) Health Educ Behav. 2023;50(5):671-676.
- Duan Z, Hamilton-Moseley KR, McNeel TS, Berg CJ, Choi K. Cumulative Exposure to E-Cigarette Coupons and Changes in E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adults.(external link) Am J Prev Med. 2024;66(1):55-63.
- Williams RJ, Wills TA, Choi K, Pagano I. Associations for subgroups of E-cigarette, cigarette, and cannabis use with asthma in a population sample of California adolescents.(external link) Addict Behav. 2023;145:107777.
- Phan L, Choi K. Awareness of electronic cigarette industry practices and their associations with anti-electronic cigarette attitudes among susceptible US young adults.(external link) Tob Control. 2023.
- Pakdaman S, Broun A, Duarte DA, Ajith A, Jewett B, Wong N, Mead-Morse EL, Choi K, Chen-Sankey J. Exploring the hypothetical impact of flavored cigar sales restrictions among black young adult cigar smokers: a semi-structured in-depth interview investigation.(external link) J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2024;23(3):501-519.
Page published Feb. 21, 2025
