Hyochol 'Brian' Ahn

PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH
Employee Category
Faculty
Ahn Photo

Contact Information

Department
COLLEGE OF NURSING
Office Location
SCN 102B
Email
Phone
(850) 644-2647

RESEARCH AREAS

Pain, Dementia, Psychosocial Symptoms, Nonpharmacological Intervention, Brain Stimulation, Brain Imaging, Health Disparities

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Ahn’s program of research aims to enhance health and independence in vulnerable populations using innovative technologies to optimize pain and symptom management. His combined nursing, medicine, and computer engineering expertise uniquely positions him to address critical gaps in research on brain mechanisms underlying pain and other chronic symptoms and to deliver nonpharmacological intervention to improve pain and symptom management. He is sought after for his expertise in identifying biopsychosocial determinants that influence pain and disability and developing innovative pain management interventions and assessments. He has been continuously funded since 2011 as a principal investigator (total > $ 3.8 million) and has produced more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and presentations. He has served as a grant reviewer for several study sections in the National Institute on Health, Department of Defense, and Department of Veterans Affairs, and grant director at the Southern Nursing Research Society.

EDUCATION

  • Visiting Fellow. Harvard-MIT MGH/HST Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Charlestown, MA). 2017
  • Graduate Certificate, Aging and Geriatric Practice. University of Florida, College of Medicine (Gainesville, FL). 2016
  • MS, Medical Sciences/Clinical and Translational Science. University of Florida, College of Medicine (Gainesville, FL). 2015
  • Postgraduate Training. University of Florida, Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Gainesville, FL). 2013-2015
  • PhD, Nursing. University of Florida, College of Nursing (Gainesville, FL), 2012
  • Graduate Certificate, Nursing Education. University of Florida, College of Nursing (Gainesville, FL). 2011
  • MSN, Adult and Elderly Nursing. University of Florida, College of Nursing (Gainesville, FL). 2009
  • BSN. University of Florida, College of Nursing (Gainesville, FL). 2007
  • PhD program University of Florida, College of Engineering (Gainesville, FL). 2005-2006
  • MS, Electrical and Computer Engineering. University of Florida, College of Engineering (Gainesville, FL). 2004
  • BE, Electrical Engineering. University of Seoul, College of Engineering (Seoul, S. Korea). 1997

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION

  • Adult Nurse Practitioner. American Nurses Credentialing Center. 2010 – Present

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Excellence in Scholarship Award. Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Theta Chapter. 2012
  • Interdisciplinary Primer Scholarship Award. American Pain Society. 2014
  • Rising Investigator Award. Southern Nursing Research Society Aging/Gerontology Research Interest Group. 2015
  • Excellence Award for Assistant Professor. University of Florida. 2015
  • Faculty Scholar Award. Health Equity Research Institute. 2015
  • Minority Issues in Gerontology Committee Scholarship Award. Gerontological Society of America. 2015
  • Research Leadership Scholar Award. Health Equity Research Institute. 2016
  • Research in Nursing & Health Journal Authorship Award. Southern Nursing Research Society. 2016
  • Early Science Investigator Award. Southern Nursing Research Society. 2016
  • Fellow. American Academy of Nursing. 2020

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

  • Ahn, H., Rowe, M. A., Pe Benito, A., Wilson, A., & Stone, H. (2008). Injuries and unattended home exits in persons with dementia: A 12-month prospective incidence study in the home setting. Gerontologist, 48, 37.
  • Rowe, M. A., Ahn, H., Pe Benito, A., Stone, H., Wilson, A., & Kaillar, J. (2010). Injuries and unattended home exits in persons with dementia: A 12-month prospective study. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias, 25(1), 27-31. doi: 10.1177/1533317508323138. PMID: 19001350. PMCID: PMC2821464.
  • Rowe, M. A., Vandeveer, S., Greenblum, C., List, C., Fernandez, R., Mixson, N., & Ahn, H. (2011). Persons with dementia missing in the community: Is it wandering or something unique? BMC Geriatrics, 11(1), 28. doi:10.1186/1471-2318-11-28. PMID: 21639942. PMCID: PMC3141319.
  • Ali, A., Guo, J., Ahn, H., & Shuster, J. (2011). Outcomes of late corticosteroid withdrawal after renal transplantation in patients exposed to tacrolimus and/or mycophenolate mofetil: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Organ Transplantation Medicine, 2(4), 149-159. PMID: 25013608. PMCID: PMC4089266.
  • Ahn, H.* & Horgas, A. (2012). Pain and disruptive behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia: MDS 2.0. Gerontologist, 52, 391.
  • Ahn, H.,* Stechmiller, J., & Horgas, A. (2013). Pressure ulcer stage and pain in nursing home residents with dementia. Gerontologist, 53, 162-163.
  • Ahn, H.* & Horgas, A. (2013). Disruptive behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia: Management approaches. Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management, 20(12), 566-576.
  • Ahn, H.,* Stechmiller, J., & Horgas, A. (2013). Pressure ulcer-related pain in nursing home residents with cognitive impairment. Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 26(8), 375-380. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000432050.51725.51. PMID: 23860222.
  • Ahn, H.* & Horgas, A. (2013). The relationship between pain and disruptive behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia. BMC Geriatrics, 13, 14. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-13-14. PMID: 23399452. PMCID: PMC3573898.
  • Ahn, H.* & Garvan, C., Rice, R., & Stechmiller, J. (2014). Factors associated with suspected deep tissue injury in nursing homes: Analysis of national MDS 3.0 dataset. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 22(2), A27.
  • Ahn, H.* (2014). Pain and disruptive behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia: Analysis of national MDS 3.0. Journal of Pain, 15(4), S31. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2014.01.129.
  • Ahn, H.* & Horgas, A. (2014). Does pain mediate or moderate the effect of cognitive impairment on aggression in nursing home residents? Asian Nursing Research, 8(2), 105-109. doi: 10.1016/j.anr.2014.03.003. PMID: 25030642
  • Ahn, H.,* Fillingim, R., Lyon, D., Garvan, C., & Choi, E. (2015). Experimental pain sensitivity and clinical pain severity in Asian Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites with knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Pain, 16(4), S31. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2015.01.137.
  • Oliveira, M., Parker, L., Ahn, H., Catunda, H., Bernardo, E., Oliverira, M., Ribeiro, S., Calou, C., Antezana, F., Almeida, P., Castro, R., Aquino, P., & Pinheiro, A. (2015). Maternal predictors for quality of life during the postpartum in Brazilian mothers. Health, 7(3), 371-380. doi: 10.4236/health.2015.73042.
  • Ahn, H.,* Lyon, D., & Fillingim, R. (2015). Pain and depression among Asian and Non-Hispanic White Americans with knee osteoarthritis. Gerontologist, 55(Suppl 2),87. doi:10.1093/geront/gnv482.02.
  • Ahn, H.,* Stechmiller, J., Fillingim, R., Lyon, D., & Garvan, C. (2015). Bodily pain intensity in nursing home residents with pressure ulcers: Analysis of national Minimum Data Set 3.0. Research in Nursing & Health, 38(3), 207-212. doi: 10.1002/nur.21654. PMID: 25851826.
  • Ahn, H.,* Garvan, C., & Lyon, D. (2015). Pain and aggression in nursing home residents with dementia: Minimum Data Set 3.0 analysis. Nursing Research, 64(4), 256-263. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000099. PMID: 26126060.
  • Ahn, H.,* Lyon, D., Choi, E., & Fillingim, R. (2016). Anxiety and clinical pain and disability in Asian Americans with knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Pain, 17(4), S36. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2016.01.147.
  • Ahn, H.,* Weaver, M.T., Choi, E., & Fillingim, R. (2016). Depression and clinical and experimental pain in Asian Americans with knee osteoarthritis. Gerontologist, 56 (Suppl 3), 663. doi:10.1093/geront/gnw162.2697.
  • Ahn, H.,* Cowan, L., Garvan, C., Lyon, D., & Stechmiller, J. (2016). Risk factors for pressure ulcers including suspected deep tissue injury in nursing home facility residents: Analysis of national Minimum Data Set 3.0. Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 29(4):178-190. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000481115.78879.63. PMID: 26978802.
  • Kim, J., Ahn, H.,* Lyon, D., & Stechmiller, J. (2016). Building a biopsychosocial conceptual framework to explore pressure ulcer pain for hospitalized patients. Healthcare, 4(1), E7. doi: 10.3390/healthcare4010007. PMID: 27417595. PMCID: PMC4934541.
  • Lyon, D., Cohen, R., Chen, H., Kelly, D. L., Starkweather, A., Ahn, H., & Jackson-Cook, C. K. (2016). The relationship of cognitive performance to concurrent symptoms, cancer- and cancer-treatment-related variables in women with early-stage breast cancer: A 2-year longitudinal study. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 142(7), 1461-1474. doi: 10.1007/s00432-016-2163-y. PMID: 27102492. PMCID: PMC4900943.
  • Lyon, D., Cohen, R., Chen, H., Kelly, D. L., McCaine, N. L., Starkweather, A., Ahn, H., Sturgill, J., & Jackson-Cook, C. K. (2016). Relationship of systemic cytokine concentrations to cognitive function over two years in women with early stage breast cancer. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 301, 74-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2016.11.002. PMID: 27890459. PMCID: PMC5181109.
  • Ahn, H.,* Woods, A. J., Choi, E., Padhye, N., & Fillingim, R.B. (2017). Transcranial direct current stimulation and mobility functioning in older adults with knee osteoarthritis pain: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled pilot clinical study. Brain Stimulation. 10(4), e21. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.04.007.
  • Ahn, H.,* Woods, A., Choi, E., Padhye N., & Fillingim, R. (2017). Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation on clinical pain severity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis pain: a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled pilot clinical study. Journal of Pain, 18(4), S87-S88. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.02.306.
  • Ahn, H.,* Weaver, M., Lyon, D., Kim, J., Choi, E., Staud, R., & Fillingim, R. (2017). Differences in clinical pain and experimental pain sensitivity between Asian Americans and whites with knee osteoarthritis. Clinical Journal of Pain, 33(2), 174-180. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000378. PMID: 28060784. PMCID: PMC5218521.
  • Ahn, H.,* Weaver, M., Lyon, D., Choi, E., & Fillingim, R.B. (2017). Depression and pain in Asian Americans and Whites with knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Pain, 18(10), 1229-1236. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.05.007. PMID: 28619697. PMCID: PMC5661986.
  • Ahn, H.,* Woods, A. J., Kunik, M.E., Bhattacharjee, A., Chen, Z., Choi, E., & Fillingim, R.B. (2017). Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation over primary motor cortex (anode) and contralateral supraorbital area (cathode) on clinical pain severity and mobility performance in persons with knee osteoarthritis: An experimenter- and participant-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled pilot clinical study. Brain Stimulation, 10(5), 902-909. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.05.007. NIHMSID: 878900. PMID: 28566193. PMCID: PMC5568498.
  • Pickens, S., Boss, L., Ahn, H., & Jefferson, F. (2018). Identifying cognitive impairment in hospitalized older adults to prevent readmission: Two case studies. Clinical Gerontologist, 41(1), 101-107. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2017.1333971. PMID: 28686529.
  • Strahan, B., Ahn, H., & Shuster, J. (2018). Meta-analysis of the effects of exercise interventions on obese adolescents. Journal of Nursing & Interprofessional Leadership in Quality & Safety, 2(1), 1-9.
  • Yao, Y., Ahn, H., Stifter, J., Wilkie, D.J., & Keenan, G. (2018). Continuity index measures in the acute care hospital setting: An analytic review and tests using electronic health record data and computer simulation. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 26(1), 20-35. doi: 10.1891/1061-3749.26.1.20. PMID: 29724276.
  • Ahn, H.,* Suchting, R., Woods, A.J., Miao, H., Green, C., Cho, R., Choi, E., & Fillingim, R. (2018). Bayesian analysis of the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on experimental pain sensitivity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: Randomized sham-controlled pilot clinical study. Journal of Pain Research, 11, 2071-2082. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S173080. PMID: 30310309. PMCID: PMC6166765.
  • Ahn, H.,* Sorkpor, S., Kim, M., Miao, H., Zhong, C., Wang, J., Debra, L., & Fillingim, R. (2018). The Relationship between acculturation and experimental pain sensitivity in Asian Americans with knee osteoarthritis. Pain Research and Management, 9128015. doi: 10.1155/2018/9128015. PMID: 30607217. PMCID: PMC6304828.
  • Ahn, H.,* La, J., Chung, J., Choi, E., & Fillingim, R. (2019). The Relationship between beta-endorphin and experimental pain sensitivity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis pain. Journal of Pain, 20(4), S37. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.01.172.
  • Sorkpor, S., Ahn, H., Pollonini, L., Do, J. (2019). Cortical hemodynamic response to contact thermal stimuli in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A functional near infrared spectroscopy pilot study. Journal of Pain, 20(4), S33. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.01.155.
  • Powell-Roach, K.L., Yao, Y., Chamala, S., Black, V., Ahn, H., Fillingim, R., Ezenwa, M.O., Jhun, E., Schlaeger, J.M., Suarez, M.L., Molokie, R.E., Wang, Z.J., & Wilkie, D.J. (2019). Haplotype analysis of COMT SNPS associated with pain intensity and acute care utilization in adults with sickle cell disease. Journal of Pain, 20(4), S8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.01.047.
  • Ahn, H.,* Zhong, C., Sorkpor, S., & Miao, H. (2019). Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation and experimental pain sensitivity. Innovation in Aging, 3(Supple 1), S338. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igz038.1227.<
  • Cowan, L.J., Ahn, H., Flores, M., Yarrow, J., Barks, L., Garvan, C., Weaver, M., & Stechmiller, J. (2019). Pressure ulcer prevalence by level of paralysis in SCI patients in long term care. Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 32(3), 122-130. PMID: 30801350.
  • Ahn, H.,* La, J., Chung, M. Maio, H. Zhong, C., Kim, M., An, K., Lyon, D., Choi, E., & Fillingim R. (2019). The relationship between β-endorphin and experimental pain sensitivity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Biological Research for Nursing, 21(4), 400-406. doi: 10.1177/1099800419853633. PMID: 31146541. PMCID: PMC6794665.
  • Ahn, H.,* Sorkpor, S., Miao, H., Zhong, C., Jorge, R., Park, L., Abdi, S., & Cho, R. (2019). Home-based self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults with knee osteoarthritis pain: An open-label study. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 66, 61-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.05.023. PMID: 31153751.
  • Shi, D.,…Ahn, H., …, Jiang, Q. (2019). Society for translational medicine-expert consensus on the treatment of osteoarthritis. Annals of Joint, 4, 1-12. doi: 10.21037/aoj.2019.12.13
  • Ahn, H.,* Zhong, C., Miao, H., Chaoul, A., Park, L., Yen, I.H., Vila, M.A., Sorkpor, S., & Abdi, S. (2019). Efficacy of combining home-based transcranial direct current stimulation with mindfulness-based meditation for pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 70, 140-145. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.08.047. PMID: 31421990
  • Suchting, R., Colpo, G.D., Rocha, N.P., & Ahn, H. (2020). The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on inflammation in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A Bayesian residual change analysis. Biological Research for Nursing, 22(1), 57-63. doi: 10.1177/1099800419869845. PMID: 31416344. PMCID: PMC7068751.
  • Pollonini, L., Miao, H., & Ahn, H. (2020). Longitudinal effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on knee osteoarthritis patients measured by functional infrared spectroscopy: A pilot study. Neurophotonics, 7(2), 025004. doi: 10.1117/1.NPh.7.2.025004. PMID: 32411812. PMCID: PMC7203445
  • Ahn, H.,* Galle, K., Mathis, K., Miao, H., Montero-Hernandez, S., Jackson, N., Ju, H., McCrackin, H., Goodwin C., Hargraves, A., Jain, B., Dinh, H., Abdul-Mooti, S., Park, L., & Pollonini, L. (2020). Feasibility and efficacy of remotely supervised cranial electrical stimulation for pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 77, 128-133. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.05.003. PMID: 32402609. PMCID: PMC7308202.
  • Ahn, H.,* Park, L., Sorkpor, S., Zhong, C., & Miao, H. (2020). Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation for symptom management in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Neuromodulation, 23, e326-e368. doi: 10.1111/ner.13152.
  • Ahn, H.,* Park, L., Sorkpor, S., & Miao, H. (2020). Meditation combined with brain stimulation for clinical pain severity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 54, S628.
  • Pollonini, L., Hernandez, S.A., Park, L., Miao, H., Mathis, K., & Ahn, H. (2020). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy to assess central pain responses in a non-pharmacologic treatment trial of osteoarthritis. Journal of Neuroimaging, 30(6), 808-814. doi: 10.1111/jon.12782. PMID: 32896933. PMCID: PMC7719610
  • Ahn, H.,* Park, L., & Miao, H., (2020). Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with meditation for older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Innovation in Aging, 4(Suppl 1), 205. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.663
  • Fillingim, R.B., Woods, A.J., Ahn, H., Wu, S.S., Redden, D.T., Lai, S., Deshpande, H., Deutsch, G., Sibille, K.T., Staud, R, Zeidan, F. & Goodin, B.R. (2020). Pain Relief for OsteoArthritis through Combined Treatment (PROACT): Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation combined with transcranial direct current stimulation in non-Hispanic black and white adults with knee osteoarthritis. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 98, 106159. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106159. PMID: 32992020. PMCID: PMC7686081
  • Suchting, R., Kapoor, S., Mathis, K. B. & Ahn, H. (2020). Changes in experimental pain sensitivity from using home-based self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Pain Medicine, 21(11), 2676-2683. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa268. PMID: 32869092.
  • Sorkpor, S., Johnson, C.M., Santa Maria, D.M., Miao, H., Moore, C., & Ahn, H. (2021). The effect of music listening on pain in adults undergoing colonoscopy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2020.12.012. PMID: 33994100
  • Sorkpor, S., Galle, K., Teixeira, A.L., Colpo, G.D., Ahn, B., Jackson, N., Miao, H., & Ahn, H.* (2021). The relationship between plasma BDNF and pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Biological Research for Nursing. doi: 10.1177/10998004211012479. PMID: 33910384
  • Ahn, H.,* & Reifsnider, E. (2021). A guide to writing grant proposals for nursing research. Research in Nursing & Health. doi: 10.1002/nur.22137. PMID: 33974286

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