Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 3/1/2026 12:00:00 AM
Michael Yoon, PharmD, PhD, Clinical Pharmacology Fellow, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
What does being a 2025 Presidential Trainee mean to you?
I was incredibly honored to receive a 2025 Presidential Trainee Award. As a new trainee in clinical pharmacology, it meant a great deal to me that my research project was recognized and appreciated by external reviewers. I feel fortunate to be working on my current project, which would not be possible without the support of the Savic Lab at the University of California San Francisco, where I am surrounded by outstanding pharmacometricians and guided by my mentor, Dr Rada Savic, who provides invaluable mentorship. Receiving this award has further motivated me to think more deeply about my work, expand its scope, and pursue funding opportunities through grant applications.
What was your favorite part of attending the Annual Meeting?
The ASCPT 2025 Annual Meeting, held in Washington, DC, was the first clinical pharmacology conference I attended. My favorite part was connecting with others who are passionate about the field, especially during the poster session, where I received valuable feedback on my project and was inspired by the work of others. I also enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates from UC San Diego who recently entered the field. I look forward to attending this event annually.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
Defending my PhD thesis at UC San Diego in front of family and friends and celebrating afterward is the accomplishment I am most proud of. My research journey came with many challenges, and I almost gave up at certain points, but reaching the finish line was incredibly rewarding. Publishing my thesis work as a manuscript to wrap everything up made the experience even more fulfilling.
When you are not working, how do you spend your free time?
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time together with my wife and my toddler son, who is almost 2 years old. He is growing so fast and seems to be doing something new every week. It is a joy to watch him grow and develop.
What was your childhood dream job?
My childhood dream job was to become a train driver. I was fascinated by trains growing up, and my favorite part of living in New York City as a child was riding them. As I got older, I really enjoyed learning about stars, planets, and galaxies, and I dreamed of becoming an astronaut exploring another planet. Eventually, I realized that what I truly loved was the process of discovery, so I am very grateful to be doing what I love today as a researcher.
Dr. Yoon has been a member of ASCPT since 2024.
