Josephine S. Hwang Koo, PhD

Josephine (“Josi”) S. Hwang Koo, PhD, is a clinical psychologist at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and the Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights who provides care through the Integrated Behavioral Health Service of the Department of Adult Primary Care as well as the Lupus Clinic in the Department of Rheumatology. She also serves as Director of Behavioral Health at BMC’s Immigrant & Refugee Health Center and is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Dr. Hwang Koo holds an undergraduate degree from Biola University in La Mirada, California. She earned her doctoral degree (PhD) in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Before joining BMC, she taught in the Department of Psychology at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú in Lima, Perú. She subsequently completed a psychology fellowship at BMC.

Dr. Hwang Koo’s clinical interests lie in increasing access to behavioral health services in outpatient settings to individuals who are suffering from chronic illnesses and are a part of minoritized groups. Her research has focused on migration-related trauma and faith/spirituality, with a focus on Spanish-speaking communities in precarious migratory situations.

In addition to English, Dr. Hwang is fluent in Spanish.