So Yang Cho

DNP-prepared Registered Nurse, clinical research leader, and nursing faculty member with more than 15 years of Mayo Clinic experience, including direct supervisory leadership and extensive cardiovascular research coordination, as well as experience serving as a university nursing professor.

Former

Supervisor, Clinical Research Nurse in Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Research, with experience planning and supporting daily research operations, developing and mentoring staff, maintaining a professional work environment, and coordinating complex interventional and therapeutic clinical trials in collaboration with investigators and multidisciplinary research teams. Experienced in nursing education, including teaching undergraduate nursing students, developing and delivering nursing courses, mentoring students, and integrating evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, case-based learning, and simulation into nursing education. Academic experience strengthens the ability to educate, coach, mentor, and develop clinical research staff while promoting professional growth and evidence-based practice.

Demonstrated expertise in staff coaching and development, workflow and personnel coordination, protocol feasibility review, research financial and budget review, regulatory compliance, participant safety, and quality improvement. Experienced in balancing operational leadership with hands-on RN research responsibilities, including nursing assessment, patient education, medication administration, recruitment, protocol documentation, adverse event reporting, study follow-up, and oversight of protocol requirements across multiple cardiovascular studies. Strong knowledge of clinical research operations, IRB/FDA/ICH-GCP requirements, EPIC documentation, case report forms, data quality, protocol deviations, and study participant monitoring.

Recognized for organization, communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, problem solving, teaching and mentoring, and the ability to manage competing priorities in complex academic healthcare and research environments. Bilingual in English and Korean.

Assistant Professor, College of Nursing Science - Kyungdong University - Wonju, Republic of Korea

(2024-03 - 2026-08)

• Supervise and mentor nursing students during clinical rotations, with emphasis on patient assessment, clinical decision-making, professional practice, quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Provide structured formative feedback to strengthen critical thinking, documentation accuracy, ethical practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Teach anatomy and physiology, global health systems, healthcare policy, and case management using case-based learning and clinically relevant scenarios.

RN Study Coordinator, MSN/DNP | Cardiovascular Research Unit - Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN

(2021-09 - 2025-06)

• Independently coordinated cardiovascular clinical research across circulatory failure, amyloidosis, and structural heart disease, integrating protocol requirements with professional nursing care.
• Performed participant assessment, symptom evaluation, education, study procedures, medication-related activities, and longitudinal follow-up through in-person and telephone encounters with EPIC documentation.
• Screened and recruited eligible participants; coordinated schedules; prepared case report forms and protocol documentation; maintained drug accountability and study records.
• Monitored participant safety, clinical status, abnormal findings, and adverse events; reported serious adverse events and research issues to IRB and sponsors as required.
• Managed and monitored research data to support quality, accuracy, protocol adherence, and regulatory compliance while collaborating closely with investigators and multidisciplinary teams.

Supervisor, RN Clinical Research Nurse | Cardiovascular Research Unit - Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN

(2018-12 - 2021-09)

• Planned, coordinated, and supported day-to-day personnel and operational activities in cardiovascular research while maintaining a professional, high-quality research environment.
• Promoted staff development and engagement through coaching, clear direction, performance improvement, recognition, problem-solving, and team building.
• Managed workforce and administrative processes including effort certification, PTO, LDT, and timecards.
• Reviewed study feasibility, financial considerations, and research budgets; collaborated with research teams on protocol feasibility and operational management.
• Maintained active RN research coordinator responsibilities, including nursing assessments, participant education, medication administration, recruitment, documentation, follow-up, and regulatory activities.

RN Study Coordinator, BSN | Cardiovascular Research Unit - Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN

(2014-06 - 2019-12)

• Coordinated clinical trials in ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension, including participant screening, recruitment, education, follow-up, scheduling, and protocol implementation.
• Prepared case report forms, maintained protocol accuracy and study documentation, monitored participation, and supported data quality and compliance.
• Provided research-related nursing care and participant education in collaboration with multidisciplinary cardiovascular teams.

Registered Staff Nurse - Golden Living Center, Rochester East - Rochester, MN

(2013-10 - 2014-05)

• Provided long-term, Alzheimer's, hospice, and post-acute nursing care for patients with cardiac, dialysis, pain, diabetes, and stroke-related needs.
• Participated in interdisciplinary care coordination and resident/family education.

Research Trainee | Gastroenterology & Hepatology - Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN

(2013-02 - 2013-08)

• Conducted clinical and population-based research and contributed to peer-reviewed publication on dysphagia.
• Cho SY, Choung RS, Saito YA, Schleck CD, Zinsmeister AR, Locke GR 3rd, Talley NJ. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Dysphagia: A USA Community Study. Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 2015.

Senior Researcher - Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) - Wonju, Republic of Korea

(2011-04 - 2012-11)

• Conducted research on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) and international healthcare systems.
• Evaluated healthcare quality and cost-effectiveness and contributed to health policy and program evaluation.

Registered Staff Nurse | Charter House - Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN

(2010-11 - 2011-02)

• Provided direct resident care and education and coordinated care with residents, families, significant others, and the interdisciplinary healthcare team.

Registered Nurse and Supervisor - Comfort Home Health Care Group, Inc. - Rochester, MN

(2007-11 - 2013-10)

• Delivered nursing care in assisted living, home health, and community settings.
• Managed admission, assessment, care planning, documentation, education, public health nursing services, and interdisciplinary coordination.

Instructor / Assistant Professor - Yonsei University, College of Nursing - Seoul, Republic of Korea

(1999-10 - 2001-02)

• Taught nursing students and conducted research in home nursing, long-term care, aged care, and hospice care.

Registered Nurse – Endoscopy Unit - Asan Medical Center - Seoul, Republic of Korea

(1999-03 - 1999-09)

• Assessed, planned, implemented, supervised, and evaluated nursing care and assisted physicians during endoscopic procedures.

Registered Nurse – Internal Medicine - Korea University Anam Hospital - Seoul, Republic of Korea

(1996-04 - 1999-03)

• Managed admission, care planning, patient education, discharge, and quality/supervisory functions in an internal medicine setting.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (Leadership) - Nursing - Bradley University (2023-08)

Master of Public Health - International Health Science - Yonsei University (2008-08)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Yonsei University (2001-02)

Associate in Nursing - Nursing - Gachon Gill College of Nursing (1996-02)