Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 2/1/2026 12:00:00 AM
Youngwoo Cho, PharmD, Postdoctoral Fellow Student, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL
What does being a 2025 Presidential Trainee mean to you?
Being named a 2025 Presidential Trainee is both an honor and a meaningful milestone. I entered the field of pharmacogenomics 2 years ago through my fellowship, and this recognition affirms how far I have come in building both scientific and translational skills. It is a recognition of the hard work, mentorship, and learning I have experienced, and it motivates me to continue contributing to the field with even greater purpose.
How do you keep focused and motivated?
I am a very future-oriented person. I often visualize the life I hope to build and view each step as part of the journey toward that vision. In trying to make this journey a fulfilling one, I hold onto the perspective of always broadening my horizons, which helps me stay focused on a larger purpose and motivates me to find value and learning in every experience that comes my way.
When you are not working, how do you spend your free time?
I believe life has many dimensions, and each offers a different perspective. Medicine is one realm that teaches me the value of dedication, sacrifice, and structure. But in other realms, there are equally important lessons to be learned. That is why, outside of work, I make a conscious effort to diversify my experiences and learn from others. I enjoy playing soccer and boxing, but lately I have devoted most of my time outside of work to dance. I even had the opportunity to compete at a global event as a pro-am bachata dancer, where I came to appreciate new forms of communication and connection. I also often go international solo backpacking, which allows me to meet people from completely different walks of life and helps me see beyond my usual routine, expanding my perspective on how others live and think.
What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
Coming to the United States alone at the age of 17, balancing the rigorous pharmacy school curriculum while building extracurricular experience, and designing a new pharmacogenomics trial during my fellowship have all been meaningful and worthwhile challenges. However, if I had to choose the greatest, it would be my time serving mandatory duty in the Korean Army’s Special Operations Forces.
It was a period in my career when I was largely cut off from the outside world—no laptop or cell phone during the weekdays, only mentally demanding military training. Living in a 12-person bunk room and given just 3 hours a week for personal pursuits, I made a deliberate choice to stay focused on my long-term goals. With earplugs in and only two desks in the corner, I used the limited weekday hours to study for the California Pharmacist Licensure Exam. On weekends, when computers and phones were allowed, I formed a team for a military-sponsored startup pitch competition and worked on developing a personalized supplement recommendation app. Over my 1.5 years of service, this focus and grit turned constraints into accomplishments: I passed the licensure examination during military leave, earned a prestigious award from the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, and filed my first technology patent. While these achievements may seem modest in a typical setting, they were deeply meaningful to me because they required extraordinary dedication and initiative in an environment where virtually none of the usual resources or support were available.
Dr Cho has been a member of ASCPT since 2023.
