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Sugy Choi

Assistant Professor of Population Health, New York University
Chapter Member: New York City SSN

About Sugy

Choi’s research experiences include evaluating state-level policies and treatment programs and studying socioeconomic determinants across multiple health care settings at domestic and international levels. Much of her work uses administrative data, such as Medicaid claims, HIV/AIDS registries, national surveys, and state treatment registries, to examine treatment and other healthcare utilization patterns among individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), HIV/AIDS, and severe mental illnesses.

In the News

Opinion: "Internet Access is a Human Right," Sugy Choi (with Jerel M. Ezell), The LA Times, December 28, 2025.

Publications

"Organizational Access Points and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Utilization among Black Women: A Longitudinal Cohort Study" (with Amanda Bunting, Talia Nadel, Charles J. Neighbors, and Carrie B. Oser). Health Justice 11, no. 31 (2023).

Examines how different access points, like emergency departments and public assistance programs, influence Black women's utilization of substance use treatment, especially when they are involved in the criminal justice system.

"Motherhood, Pregnancy and Gateways to Intervene in Substance Use Disorder" (with Michael D. Stein, Julia Raifman, David Rosenbloom, and Jack A. Clark). Health & Social Care in the Community 30, no. 4 (2022).

Investigates the impact of motherhood on women's utilization of health and social services, particularly in identifying and referring those with substance use disorders (SUD) for treatment.

"Differential Gateways, Facilitators, and Barriers to Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Pregnant Women and Mothers: A Scoping Systematic Review" (with David Rosenbloom, Michael D. Stein, Julia Raifman, and Jack A. Clark). Journal of Addiction Medicine 16, no. 3 (2022): 185-196.

Identifies various gateways, facilitators, and barriers to substance use disorders (SUD) treatment for this specific population. Multiple gateway institutions, including healthcare, social services, criminal justice, community organizations, and employers, were recognized as entry points to treatment. Unique facilitators and barriers, such as concerns about child abuse charges, were highlighted for pregnant women and mothers.

"Estimating the Impact on Initiating Medications for Opioid Use Disorder of State Policies Expanding Medicaid and Prohibiting Substance Use During Pregnancy" (with Michael D. Stein, Julia Raifman, David Rosenbloom, and Jack A. Clark). Drug and Alcohol Dependence 229 (2021).

Examines the impact of Medicaid expansion on pregnant women's access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Finds that in states that expanded Medicaid, there was a significant increase in the use of MOUD for pregnant women. However, this increase was less pronounced in states that had policies prohibiting substance use during pregnancy.