The fields of engineering and medicine both fascinate Dr. Emma Kim. What’s more, the mindset of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) strongly resonates with her – acknowledging that some things are unfixable, but making the most of what you have to ensure the best quality of life. It’s a perfect career choice.

Emma Kim, M.D.

What this award means: This award means a great deal to me because it represents the amazing mentorship I received from Dr. Kowalske during my time in medical school. She is patient, kind, and a real inspiration, especially in the field of burn rehabilitation. Her guidance helped me see just how much PM&R can impact patients’ lives, and I hope to follow in her footsteps.

Mentor comment: Emma has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the field. She has served in leadership roles within the PM&R Student Interest Group and has conducted research on topics ranging from outcomes after burn injuries to clinical practice guidelines for management of low back pain. She excelled during her clinical rotations and has the potential to be a leader. – Shanti Pinto, M.D., Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Background and family: I grew up in Korea before moving to Houston for college in 2015 and then Dallas for medical school in 2020. My father is a Professor of Interventional Radiology at Yonsei University, my mother plays the cello, and my brother works as an electrical engineer. They all live in Korea, and I visit them whenever possible. I met a fellow UTSW medical student in my class who is now my fiancé. We are getting married this year!

What led to your career path: I worked with the Center for Creative Entrepreneurs, a Korean government-funded program fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. In this program, I helped develop a wheelchair-accessible escalator, robotic gloves capable of translating sign languages, and more. This experience fueled my passion for merging engineering and medicine, and I believed PM&R was the perfect field in medicine to do so.

College: I graduated from Rice University in Houston with a B.A. in statistics. For my graduation project, I utilized machine learning to identify genes associated with various neurological diseases.

UTSW activities: I served as President of the Patient Accompaniment Initiative, formerly known as “No One Dies Alone.” This organization supports palliative patients with bedside visits, games, and art projects. Additionally, I was an officer in the PM&R Student Interest Group. Through this group, I met Dr. Kowalske and began research with her. Our work centered on electrical burn injuries and comparing demographics among patients with traumatic brain, spinal cord, and burn injuries.

Surprising fact: I like to tell people that I was once a state champion softball player – but what they don’t know is that we were the only softball team in the entire Gangwon state! My hobbies include creating art, dancing, playing the guitar, and writing.

Future plans: I aspire to be an academic physician because I enjoy mentoring, teaching, and research. While PM&R is a diverse field that I’m still exploring, some of my current interests include inpatient work, traumatic brain injury, burns, and pediatric PM&R.

About the award: Started in 2011, the award is named in honor of the Department’s past Chair, Dr. Kowalske.