Andy I. Choi, MD

Andy I. Choi, MD
(December 17, 1975 - August 15, 2010)

 

Dr. Andy I. Choi was an Assistant Professor of Medicine and former nephrology fellow in the Division of Nephrology at UCSF. He was an extremely talented, dedicated and passionate physician scientist whose primary clinical and research goal was to improve the prevention and treatment of kidney disease among high risk vulnerable populations. He was also a dear friend, compassionate physician and valued collaborator for colleagues at UCSF and at institutions across the country.

Early in his training, Andy recognized that African Americans with HIV infection were at high risk for developing chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in the United States, and that kidney disease was an emerging threat to the health of persons living with HIV disease in the era of effective antiretroviral therapy. When Andy began his research career, this was an almost unpopulated area of epidemiological research, and there were no established experts to guide him. Undaunted, he developed his own kidney research database leveraging the VA's national Immunology Case Registry. Using these and other data, he made numerous important contributions to our understanding of how kidney disease develops and progresses in HIV infected persons. In just a few short years, he became a national expert in HIV-related kidney disease, and had been recognized with 3 NIH grants and appointment to a national guideline panel on the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease in the HIV population.

Andy had all the requisite skills and personal qualities to have a long, productive career in research. He was extremely creative and continuously pursued novel approaches to better characterize disease epidemiology and to guide diagnosis and treatment strategies in this vulnerable population. Andy also loved statistical methodology and spent long hours mastering complicated modeling techniques that were far beyond the grasp of most clinical researchers. Andy was a rising star and there is no doubt that he would have gone on to become a preeminent thought leader within the field.

Andy was kind, humble, thoughtful, and extremely hard-working. Over time, it became evident to many of those who knew and worked with Andy that he had a very special talent for collaboration. After his death, dozens of colleagues and collaborators from around the country came forward with stories about how unselfish Andy had been in helping them with their research. Andy seemed never to turn anyone away who sought his help; he was generous with his time and expertise no matter how many projects he was already working on. Many trainees saw him as a supportive, approachable and successful role model.

Despite having appeared in normal health, Andy died suddenly on August 15, 2010 after collapsing at the San Francisco airport upon returning from a family vacation. Andy leaves behind his wife, Nahyion, two young daughters (Allison and Charlotte), his sister (Sandy) and his parents (Mr. and Mrs. Kon Young Choi).

This is an enormous loss for his family and for those of us at UCSF who worked closely with Andy and were able to enjoy his commitment and passion for his work, his dedication to his family, and his easy-going manner and sense of humor. Andy's death is also a tremendous loss to colleagues across the country, to the scientific community, and to patients with kidney disease, HIV infection, or both conditions who may have benefited from Andy's research. Even though Andy is no longer with us, his work and commitment will continue to inspire all of us who worked with him. Our colleagues at the UCSF Center for AIDS Research have re-named their mentoring program the Andy I. Choi Mentoring Program of the UCSF-GIVI Center for AIDS Research.

Andy loved attending scientific meetings. He valued the opportunity to learn about and be inspired by the work of others, to develop new collaborations, and to reunite with friends and colleagues from across the country. To further honor Andy's memory, the UCSF Division of Nephrology and the Department of Medicine are pleased to announce the establishment of an endowed 'Andy I. Choi, MD Memorial Scholarship.' This will be an annual scholarship which will support fellow travel to a scientific meeting devoted to kidney disease or HIV, two of Andy's research passions. Criteria for selection include: academic promise as well as embodiment of kindness and generosity which we all so appreciated in Andy.

A bibliography of Andy's publications (updated November 2014):
1. Choi, AI. “FAMILY” Hospital Physician 2004; 40(7): 22.
2. Choi AI, O’Hare AM, Rodriguez RA. Update on HIV-associated Nephropathy. Nephrology Rounds, August 2007.
3. O’Hare AM, Choi AI, Bertenthal D, Bacchetti P, Garg AX, Kaufman JS, Walter LC, Mehta KM, Steinman MA, Allon M, McClellan WM, Landefeld CS. Age affects outcomes in chronic kidney disease. J Am Soc Nephrol 2007;18(10):2758-65.
4. Choi AI, Rodriguez RA, Bacchetti P, Bertenthal D, Volberding PA, O'Hare A M. Racial Differences in End-Stage Renal Disease Rates in HIV Infection versus Diabetes. J Am Soc Nephrol 2007; 18(11), 2968-74.
5. Choi AI, Rodriguez RA, Bacchetti P, Bertenthal D, Volberding PA, O’Hare AM. The impact of HIV on chronic kidney disease outcomes. Kidney Int 2007; 72(11), 1380-7.
6. Choi AI, Rodriguez RA, Bacchetti P, Volberding PA, Havlir A, Bertenthal D, Bostrom A, O’Hare AM. Low Rates of Antiretroviral Therapy Among HIV-infected Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2007; 45(12), 1633-9.
7. Prakash S, Kanjanabuch T, Austin PC, Croxford R, Hsu CY, Choi AI, Cattran DC. Continental variations in IgA nephropathy among Asians. Clinical nephrology 2008;70(5):377-84.
8. Choi AI, Rodriguez RA, Bacchetti P, Bertenthal D, O'Hare AM. White/Black Racial Differences in Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease and Death. Am J Med. 2009 Jul;122(7):672-8.
9. Choi AI, Shlipak MG, Hunt PW, Martin JN, Deeks SG. HIV-infected persons continue to lose kidney function despite successful antiretroviral therapy. AIDS. 2009 Oct 23;23(16):2143-9. PMID: 19684507
10. Choi AI, Li Y, Deeks SG, Grunfeld C, Volberding PA, Shlipak MG. Association Between Kidney Function and Albuminuria with Cardiovascular Events in HIV-Infected Persons. Circulation. 2010 Jan 25. PMID: 20100969
11. Choi AI,* Hall YN,* Chertow GM, Bindman AB. Chronic Kidney Disease in the Urban Poor. CJASN. 2010 March 3. PMID: 20200149 * co first authorship
12. Choi AI, Li Y, Deeks SG, Grunfeld C, Volberding PA, Shlipak MG. Long-Term Clinical Consequences of Acute Kidney Injury in the HIV-Infected. Kidney Int. 2010 June 2. PMID: 20520594
13. Tien PC, Choi AI, Zolopa AR, Benson C, Scherzer R, Bacchetti P, Shlipak MG, Grunfeld C. Inflammation and Mortality in HIV-infected Adults: Analysis of the FRAM Study Cohort. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2010 Nov 1;55(3):316-22. PMID: 20581689 
14. Choi AI, Scherzer R, Bacchetti P, Tien PC, Saag MS, Gibert CL, Grunfeld C, Shlipak MG. Cystatin C, Albuminuria, and 5-Year All-Cause Mortality in HIV-Infected Persons. Am J Kidney Dis. 2010 Nov;56(5):872-82. PMID: 20709438
15. Hall YN, Choi AI, Xu P, O’Hare AM, Chertow GM. Racial ethnic differences in rates and determinants of deceased donor kidney transplantation. JASN. 2011 Apr;22(4):743-51. Epub 2011 Mar 3. PMID: 21372209
16. Choi AI, Lo JC, Mulligan K, Schnell A, Kalapus C, Li Y, Hunt PW, Martin JN, Deeks SG, Hsue PY. Association of Vitamin D Insufficiency with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in HIV-Infected Persons. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Apr 1;52(7):941-4. Epub 2011 Jan 27. PMID: 21273298
17. Jotwani V, Scherzer R, Choi AI, Szczech L, Polak JF, Kronmal RA, Grunfeld C, Shlipak M. Reduced kidney function and preclinical atherosclerosis in HIV-infected individuals: the study of fat redistribution and metabolic change in HIV infection (FRAM). Am J Nephrol. 2011;33(5):453-60. Epub 2011 Apr 21. PMID: 21508633
18. Choi AI, Vittinghoff E, Deeks SG, Weekley CC, Li Y, Shlipak MG. Cardiovascular risks associated with abacavir and tenofovir exposure in HIV-infected persons. AIDS. 2011 Jun 19;25(10):1289-98. PMID: 21516027
19. Choi AI, Weekley CC, Chen SC, Li S, Tamura MK, Norris KC, Shlipak MG. Association of Educational Attainment with Chronic Disease and Mortality: The Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP). Am J Kidney Dis. 2011 Aug;58(2):228-34. Epub 2011 May 20.
20. O'Hare AM, Choi AI, Boscardin WJ, Clinton WL, Zawadzki I, Hebert PL, Kurella Tamura M, Taylor L, Larson EB. Trends in Timing of Initiation of Chronic Dialysis in the United States. Arch Intern Med. 2011 Oct 10;171(18):1663-9. PMID: 21987197
21. Choi AI, Karter AJ, Liu JY, Young BA, Go AS, Schillinger D. Ethnic Differences in the Development of Albuminuria: The DISTANCE Study.  Am J Manag Care. 2011 Nov;17(11):737-45. PMID: 22084893
22. Li Y, Shlipak MG, Grunfeld C, Choi AI. Incidence and Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury in HIV Infection. Am J Nephrol. 2012 Mar 24;35(4):327-334. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22456100
23. Jotwani V, Li Y, Grunfeld C, Choi AI, Shlipak MG. Risk Factors for ESRD in HIVInfected Individuals: Traditional and HIV-Related Factors. Am J Kidney Dis. 2012 May;59(5):628-35. Epub 2011 Dec 28. PMID: 22206742 
24. Scherzer R, Estrella M, Li Y, Choi AI, Deeks SG, Grunfeld C, Shlipak MG. Association of tenofovir exposure with kidney disease risk in HIV infection. AIDS. 2012 Apr 24;26(7):867-75. PMID: 22313955
25. Hall YN, Choi AI, Himmelfarb J, Chertow GM, Bindman AB. Homelessness and CKD: A cohort Study. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012 Jul;7(7):1094-102. Epub 2012 Jun 14. PMID: 22700883
26. Hall YN, Choi AI, Xu P, Smith NL, Boyko EJ. Predictors of End-stage Renal Disease in the Urban Poor. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2013 Nov;24(4):1686-700. PMID: 24185164
27. Sandler NG, Zhang X, Bosch RJ, Funderburg NT, Choi AI, Robinson JK, Fine DM, Coombs RW, Jacobson JM, Landay AL, Douek DC, Tressler R, Read SW, Wilson CC, Deeks SG, Lederman MM, Gandhi RT. Sevelamer Does Not Decrease Lipopolysaccharide or Soluble CD14 Levels But Decreases Soluble Tissue Factor, LowDensity Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol, and Oxidized LDL Cholesterol Levels in Individuals With Untreated HIV Infection. J Infect Dis. 2014 Nov 15;210(10):1549-54. PMID: 24864123 

Andy I. Choi, MD Memorial Scholarship Recipients