Born and raised in Korea, Dr. Je Deuk Ko came to the United States at age 10. He is one of the few Korean psychiatrists in Los Angeles who can speak fluent Korean. Dr. Ko is passionate about integrating cultural context into the practice of psychiatry.
After serving Honorably in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, Dr. Ko received Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, as well as M.D. from Saint Louis University. He went on to finish his training in General Psychiatry at Saint Louis University Hospital serving as a Chief in Research and Education, then finished Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital, and Forensic Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women's Hospital/Bridgewater State Hospital, both at Harvard University.
Dr. Ko's goal has always been effective clinical care, while never forgetting to align with his patients to help meet their goals. His research career involved developing new methods to answer biochemical processes in enzymes. Dr. Ko has also published in reviews involving Laws in the U.S. pertaining to Forensic Psychiatry, as well in reviewing how early treatments of psychiatric conditions can impact long-term substance use disorder in young adults. With regard to his expertise in developmental disorders, Dr. Ko also authored a book chapter on Enuresis and Encopresis.
Dr. Ko has been involved in educating of medical students and resident doctors in training, teaching evidence-based clinical management and psychopharmacology. For this, he was reviewed as "the favorite mentor" for many students, "the doctor who persuaded me into the field of Psychiatry," and as "having great tenacity and audacity in advocating for his patients."