Jisook Ko, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
I have a background in cardiovascular nursing with specific training and expertise in self-management of nutrition and biobehavioral research. During my doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin, I developed expertise in self-management of chronic diseases and constructed a research portfolio on nutrition. Specifically, I acquired advanced quantitative methodological skills and expertise managing and analyzing nutritional datasets focusing on dietary sodium contents and sources collected from clinical trials. My postdoctoral training in the Center for Transdisciplinary Collaborative Research in Self-Management Science at the University of Texas at Austin introduced me to the field of precision healthcare for chronic diseases focusing on personalized nutrition interventions among individuals with chronic diseases. As a scholar in the KL2 program, an institutional career development grant, I am investigating the metabolites changes associated with lowering blood pressure in response to the sodium-restricted diet intervention. I am also the PI of a pilot study funded by NIA Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research on testing the effects of personalized nutritional advice based on metabolites profile on diabetic outcomes.
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Professional Background
Education
- 2016 - Doctor in Philosophy - Nursing Science - The University of Texas at Austin
- 2010 - Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing Science - Yonsei University
- 2003 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing Science - Yonsei University
- Nursing Science - Yonsei University
Highlights
Licensure and Certification
- Registered Nurse
Honors and Awards
- 2022 The Federation of Koreans Association Mid-South, Appreciation for Community Service
- 2016, University of Texas at Austin Graduate School Dissertation Writing Fellowship
- 2016, Minority Health Research 3rd Place Poster Award in SNRS 30th Annual Conference
- 2016, Professional Development Award, The University of Texas at Austin Graduate School
Appointments
- 2021 - present - Interim Co-Director, Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2018 - Present - Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2016 - 2018 - Social Science/Humanities Research Associate III - The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, TCRSS Center
- 2013 - 2016 - Graduate Research Assistant - The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing
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Instruction & Training
- 2022, NURS 4217 Population-focused Health Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2021, NURS 4217 Population-focused Health Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 7215 Application of Research in Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 4227 Population-focused Health Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 4217 Population-focused Health Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 3305 Foundation of Clinical Nursing Practice: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019 , NURS 4317 Population-focused Health Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 4227 Population-focused Health Clinical, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 7381 Nursing: Synthesis & Application of Clinical Research, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
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Research & Grants
Grants
Currently Funded:
- 2020 – 2022 Funder: NIH CTSA Grant # KL2 TR002646 Dollars: $221,709. Title: Examining Individual Response to Sodium Restricted Diet in Hypertensive Patients. Role: KL2 Scholar (PI: Joel Tsevat)
- 2020 – 2023 Funder: NIH NIA P30 Grant # P30AG059304 Dollars: $34,290. Title: Personalized Behavioral Nutrition Intervention for older Asian Americans. Role: RCMAR Scholar and Pilot PI (PI: Xinqi Dong)
- 2022 – 2023 Funder: IIMS Community Engagement Small Project Grant Dollars: $5,000. Title: Tai Chi with Music for Health in Individuals Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and their Caregivers. Role: Co-Investigator
Completed Research/Projects:
- 2019 – 2020 Funder: UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing, The Nursing Advisory Council (NAC). Pilot Project Grant # n/a Dollars: $12,000. Title: A Biobehavioral Approach to Identifying Factors of Blood Pressure in Korean Americans with Hypertension and Exploring Salt Sensitivity. Role: PI
- 2019 – 2020 Funder: STTI Delta Alpha-at-Large Chapter Grant # n/a Dollars: $1,500. Title: A Feasibility Study to Investigate Salt Sensitivity Biomarker and Collect Sodium Intake. Role: PI
- 2018 – 2019 Funder: The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, Expedited Proposal Enhancement Grants Grant # n/a Dollars: $25,000. Title: Health literacy focused Computer Tailored Intervention Program lead by Community Health Workers to Promote Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening for Linguistically Isolated Asian American Women in Austin city/Travis County: Feasibility Study. Role: Co-Investigator
- 2015 – 2016 Funder: The University of Texas at Austin Health Communication Scholarship Program (HCSP) Grant # n/a Dollars: $2,000. Title: The Relative Impact of Infographics on e-Health Information Comprehension and Health Promoting Behaviors. Role: PI
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Service
Institutional
- 2021 UT Health SA School of Nursing Dean Search Advisory Committee
- 2021, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Selection Committee on Research Coordinator / Committee Member
- 2020, 2021 UT Health SA, School of Nursing Committee on Scholarship / Standing Committee Member
- 2020, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Selection Committee on Senior Grant Writer/Committee Member
Service to the Profession
- 2022 Peer Reviewer BMC Public Health
- 2022 Abstract Reviewer International Nursing Research Conference of World Academy of Nursing Science (WANS)
- 2021 Poster Judge Aging and Health Informatics Conference (AHIC)
- 2021 – present, Grant Reviewer Southern Nursing Research Society
- 2016 – present, Peer Reviewer Journal of Aging and Health
- 2020 – present, Peer Reviewer Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- 2021, Mock Reviewer School of Nursing, UT Health SA
Community Service
- 2019 – present, Community Health Educator Korean American Association, SA, TX
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Publications
Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based)
- Jang, Y., Ko, J., Rhee, M. K., Park, N. P., Chiriboga, D. A., & Kim, M. T. Factors associated with dietary risks in older Korean Americans. International Journal of Aging and Human Development. 2022.
- Lee, M., Lee, M. A., Ahn, H., Ko, J., Yon, E., Lee, J., Kim, M., & Braden, C. J. Health Literacy and Access to Care in Cancer Screening Among Korean Americans. Health literacy research and practice, 5(4), e310–e318. https://doi.org/10.3928/24748307-20211104-01
- Ko J, Du Y, Jiwani R, Li C, Wang J. Personalized behavioral nutrition among older Asian Americans: Study protocol. Nurs Res 2021;70(4):317–322. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000514
- Ko J, Lee M, Patel D, Nguyen V, Wang J. Examining the Potential Effect of a Salt Sensitivity Biomarker in Korean American Immigrants: A Pilot Study. J Immigr Minor Health 2021;10.1007/s10903-021-01253-0. doi:10.1007/s10903-021-01253-0
- Du Y, Dennis B, Rhodes SL, Sia M, Ko J, Jiwani R, Wang J. Technology-assisted self-monitoring of lifestyle behaviors and health indicators in diabetes: Qualitative study. JMIR Diabetes 5(3):e21183, 2020.*
- Jiwani R, Wang J, Berndt A, Ramaswamy P, Mathew Joseph N, Du Y, Ko J, Espinoza S. Changes in patient-reported outcome measures with a technology-supported behavioral lifestyle intervention among patients with type 2 diabetes: Pilot randomized controlled clinical trial. JMIR Diabetes 5(3):e19268, 2020.*
- Lee M, Lee MA, Ahn HB, Ko J, Kim MT, Kim BK, Braden CJ. The impacts of health insurance literacy, health literacy, and health information seeking behaviors on cancer screening compliance among Korean Americans. Health Lit Res Pract (In press)*
- Kim MT, Kim BK, Ko J, Murry N, Xie Bo, Radhakrishnan K, Han HR. Health literacy and outcomes of a community-based self-help intervention, Nurs Res 69(3):210-218, 2020.*
- Kim MT, Li Z, Nguyen TH, Murry N, Ko J, Kim KB, Jacobs E, Han HR. Development of a Diabetes-Focused Print Health Literacy Scale Using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine Model. Health Lit Res Pract 4(4):e237-e249, 2020.*
- Phillips C, Ko J, Porter J, Becker H. Does receipt of survivorship care plan enhance survivor’s knowledge of cancer history: A retrospective study. J Oncol Navig Surviv 11(3), 2020.*
- Ko J, Timmerman G, Kim KB, Kim MT. Food Sources of Sodium in Korean Americans With Type 2 Diabetes: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease. J Transcult Nurs 30(2):154-162, 2019.*
- Kim MT, Kim KB, Ko J, Murry N, Levine D, Lee JY. The differential role of vitamin D in type 2 diabetes management and control among minority populations. J Immigr Minor Health 21(6):1266-1274, 2019.*
- Kim MT, Kim KB, Nguyen TH, Ko J, Zabora J, Jacobs E, Levine D. Motivating people to sustain healthy lifestyles using persuasive technology: A pilot study of Korean Americans with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Patient Educ Couns 102(4):709-717, 2019.*
Abstracts
- Lee S, Kim JW, Ko J. The Interplay between Temporal Frame and Message Format in Health Messages. Annual International Communication Association Conference, 2017.
Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations
- 2018, “Improving CHW's impact by using a persuasive technology based management system in self-management support program for chronic diseases: A Case of Korean Americans with Type 2 Diabetes”. APHA Annual Meeting & Expo, San Diego, CA
- 2017, “Multi-level workforce analysis of CHW’s in Texas”. APHA Annual Meeting & Expo, Atlanta, GA
- 2016, “Health Literacy, Health Information Seeking Behavior, and Diabetes Self-Care Activities in Low-income Populations with Type 2 Diabetes”. APHA Annual Meeting & Expo, Denver, CO
Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations
- 2022 “Effect of adherence to smartphone app use on the effectiveness of dietary sodium reduction and blood pressure control with human coaching” The 12th Annual Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day in San Antonio, Texas, May 4, 2022
- 2022 “Feasibility of A Dietary Sodium Reduction Intervention Using mHealth Technology to Improve Adherence in Hypertensive Patients” Translational Science 2022 in Chicago, Illinois, April 20-22, 2022
- 2021 “Genetic and Dietary Risks for High Blood Pressure among Korean Americans” 2021 AAPINA & Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Joint. Virtual Conference. November 29-30, 2021
- 2020, “Examining a salt sensitivity biomarker using genetics approach in Korean Americans: A feasibility study”. International Society of Nurses in Genetics 2020 World Congress, Virtual Conference
- 2020, ”Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and metabolic syndrome risk of Mexican-Americans living on the Texas-Mexico border”. 2020 The 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of Society of Behavioral Medicine, Virtual Conference
- 2020, “Hypertension Related Topics in an Online Community for Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD): A Qualitative Inquiry”. South Texas Alzheimer’s Conference 2020, San Antonio, TX
- 2019, “What do Asian American women think about breast and cervical cancer screening? : Findings from Focus Groups”. Texas Public Health Association Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX