Meet the Expert: Doctor Bio Video Series
Introducing Catherine Choi, M.D., a non-operative spine specialist at Summit Orthopedics in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. Her areas of expertise include physical medicine & rehabilitation, as well as interventional pain management procedures including spinal injections.
Meet Dr. Catherine Choi
Dr. Choi’s approach: “My philosophy in treating my patient is to provide personalized spine education, review comprehensive treatment options and work together in determining the best path for you.”
Dr. Choi’s education: After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, IL, she graduated with her medical degree from the Chicago, IL branch of the University of Illinois. She remained in Chicago for advanced medical training, completing an Internal Medicine Internship at West Suburban Hospital as well as Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation training at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Choi also participated in the University of Chicago’s Interventional Pain Management Fellowship in the Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care.
Summit Orthopedics offers comprehensive spine expertise
Our back specialists diagnose spine problems and design custom treatment plans built on a conservative, nonsurgical approach. Most patients find relief through treatments including guided injections, specialized physical therapy, biofeedback, exercise, activity modification, and medication. When conservative care does not relieve symptoms, our highly skilled surgeons offer proven, evidence-based surgical options. Together with you, we will determine the right course of action.
Start your journey to a healthy spine. Find your spine expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a spine consultation.
Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.
Additional resources for you
- Discover Summit’s comprehensive spine care
Video Transcription
My name is Catherine Choi, and I’ve been hired by Summit to be part of the interventional spine team. So my background is in physical medicine in rehab. So, I’m a physiatrist by trade, and I did an extra year of training to be trained in interventional spine techniques. So, I offer injections for the spine. In my free time, I have two young toddler boys that are three and five, and so they keep me very, very busy. So, you probably won’t see me sitting down much of the day because I’m chasing after them. I do still like to bake though and so, oftentimes, I’m trying to incorporate them in quiet baking, if possible, or some sort of creative art. When I was younger, I actually was always drawn towards the basic sciences in school. I was always fascinated by biology, and I loved doing experiments. And so that kind of headed me towards a path in some sort of sciences. And as I was traveling through the course of medical school and residency, trying to figure out what I wanted to be and do – my sisters and I, we always grew up doing crafts and arts and we were always doing little meticulous things with our hands. And I really like using my hands to have some sort of an outcome. And that’s kind of what led me into pain management. Because in pain management, I get the chance to do procedures that offer patients immediate relief. And that was somewhat gratifying for me. And so that’s how I chose pain management. So, what’s gets me up in the morning is just opportunities. I look at every day as having an opportunity to meet new people and understand different aspects of others’ lives and just try and take those opportunities to help people on journeys. Most of my patients come to me in some sort of a painful condition, and it’s part of my role to help them to understand that condition, understand the treatment options available, and then guide them in the best path for them. I view myself as more of a teacher on that journey and to provide gentle guidance.
