College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Associate Professor Dr. Keum Hwa Choi has passed away after a valiant fight with cancer.

Throughout her nearly four-decade career at CVM, Choi demonstrated a steadfast commitment to life-long learning, undertaking countless postgraduate training experiences to integrate Eastern and Western medicine, ultimately becoming trained and certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society to practice acupuncture and Oriental medicine for both humans and animals.

Choi was a trailblazer in establishing the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) section in the Veterinary Medical Center, where she developed and taught CAM content in the DVM curriculum, mentored students at all levels, and advised the Holistic Club. Her colleagues, students, and clients cherished her for her quiet strength, endless compassion, and unwavering dedication to her work. They also inspired her.

“My mentors and my teachers, including family members, friends, my patients, challengers, and individuals whom I have met in daily life, keep teaching and awakening me,” Choi said in a 2017 Profiles interview. “They are walking alongside me always. All these teachings have made me who I am today.”

Choi received her DVM from the University of Seoul and a master of science degree in veterinary microbiology from Seoul National University. In addition to serving CVM as a faculty member, Choi was an alumna. In 1990, she received a PhD in veterinary pathobiology from CVM. She also earned a post-doctorate degree in molecular biology/immunology from the University of Minnesota.

Before her career at CVM, Choi worked as a scientist at the National Veterinary Research Institute in South Korea for eight years. She also was a visiting scientist at the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the Institute of National Research Agronomy in Thiverval Grinion, France.