Meeryo Choe, MD

Dr. Choe grew up in the Los Angeles area, traveled east to attend Amherst College, and then returned to L.A. to attend medical school at USC. She came to UCLA in 2004 for a pediatrics residency and child neurology fellowship. After completing training, Dr. Choe combined her personal interest in sports with her professional interest in the developing brain by serving as a Neurotrauma/Sports Neurology Fellow at UCLA with Dr. Christopher Giza. Her clinical and research interests include post-traumatic headache/migraine, gender differences in outcome after concussion, and dysautonomia.

An avid equestrian competing in show jumping and former swimmer, Dr. Choe coaches at a local high school as well, giving her a unique perspective on an athlete’s desire to return to his/her sport and the outside pressures they might experience.

Her clinical and research interests include post-traumatic headache/migraine, gender differences in outcome after concussion, and dysautonomia. She is also Associate Director for the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT program.

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Project Title: Characterizing Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in Autistic Children

Project Overview: This project investigates POTS in autistic children, emphasizing the syndrome's varied presentations and comorbidities such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The study focuses on the enhanced sympathoexcitatory system in autistic individuals, contributing to sensory sensitivities and behavioral difficulties. The aim is to improve understanding and treatment approaches for autistic individuals with POTS. The study addresses the prevalence, natural history, and treatment of POTS in autistic children, considering the high incidence of comorbid conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and others.