Ka-Ho Wong, MBA, BS

Within the division, I focus on . . . 

In my current role, I oversee administrative operations and provide strategic leadership across several focus areas, particularly within the realm of immune-mediated neurologic diseases, including neuroimmunological and autoimmune disorders. I lead our clinical research staff within the division to ensure the efficient design, implementation, and coordination of clinical trials, with an emphasis on regulatory compliance, protocol fidelity, and participant safety. In parallel, my research program is centered on investigating population-level determinants of health outcomes in immune-mediated neurologic conditions. Specifically, I examine how factors such as health economics, healthcare quality and accessibility, and socioeconomic status influence disease trajectory, treatment response, and long-term outcomes. This work aims to identify disparities and inform health policy interventions that can optimize care delivery and improve equity in neurologic health.

Current Research Projects & Funding

• The Sumaira Foundation Spark Grant- Frequency and Burdens of Misdiagnosis in NMOSD: National Population-Based Study
• The Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association- The Effects of Social Determinants of Health Factors in Transverse Myelitis: Epidemiology of the National Veterans Health Administration Population
• EMD Serono- I’M IN EMD Serono Neurodisparity Fellowship

Key Publications

1. de Havenon A, Majersik JJ, Stoddard G, Wong KH, McNally JS, Smith AG, Rost NS, Tirschwell DL. Increased Blood Pressure Variability Contributes to Worse Outcome After Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Stroke. 2018 Aug;49(8):1981-1984. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.022133. PMID: 30012822; PMCID: PMC6202185.
2. de Havenon A, Stoddard G, Saini M, Wong KH, Tirschwell D, Bath P; VISTA-Acute Collaborators. Increased blood pressure variability after acute ischemic stroke increases the risk of death: A secondary analysis of the Virtual International Stroke Trial Archive. JRSM Cardiovasc Dis. 2019 Jun 11;8:2048004019856496. doi: 10.1177/2048004019856496. PMID: 31217966; PMCID: PMC6560789.
3. de Havenon A, Wong KH, Elkhetali A, McNally JS, Majersik JJ, Rost NS. Carotid Artery Stiffness Accurately Predicts White Matter Hyperintensity Volume 20 Years Later: A Secondary Analysis of the Atherosclerosis Risk in the Community Study. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2019;40(8):1369-1373. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A6115
4. de Havenon A, Fino NF, Johnson B, Wong KH, Majersik JJ, Tirschwell D, Rost N. Blood Pressure Variability and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Prior Stroke: A Secondary Analysis of PRoFESS. Stroke. 2019 Nov;50(11):3170-3176. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.026293. Epub 2019 Sep 20. PMID: 31537194; PMCID: PMC6817411.
5. Wong KH, Hu K, Peterson C, Sheibani N, Tsivgoulis G, Majersik JJ, de Havenon AH. Diabetic Retinopathy and Risk of Stroke: A Secondary Analysis of the ACCORD Eye Study. Stroke. 2020 Dec;51(12):3733-3736. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.030350. Epub 2020 Oct 6. PMID: 33019896; PMCID: PMC7686117.
6. Peterson C, Wong KH, Stulberg EL, Taylor K, Cramer SC, de Havenon AH. Effect of Premorbid Anxiolytic Medications on Ischemic Stroke Functional Outcome. Stroke. 2021 Jan;52(2):e51-e52. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.032812. Epub 2021 Jan 7. PMID: 33406874; PMCID: PMC7855749.
7. Chan A, Rose J, Alvarez E, Bar-Or A, Butzkueven H, Fox RJ, Gold R, Gudesblatt M, Haartsen J, Spelman T, Wright K, Ferraro D, Sola P, Hodgkinson S, Kalincik T, Lechner-Scott J, McGuigan C, Spach K, Chen C, Fam S, Wu F, Miller C. Lymphocyte reconstitution after DMF discontinuation in clinical trial and real-world patients with MS. (Wong KH is listed in the Acknowledgments section for his contributions to this project) Neurol Clin Pract. 2020 Dec;10(6):510-519. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000800. PMID: 33510947; PMCID: PMC7837440.
8. Taussky P, Agnoletto G, Grandhi R, Alexander MD, Wong KH, Albers GW, de Havenon A. Prediction of death after endovascular thrombectomy in the extended window: a secondary analysis of DEFUSE 3 ". J Neurointerv Surg. 2021 Sep;13(9):805-808. doi: 10.1136/neurintsurg-2020-016548. Epub 2020 Oct 19. PMID: 33077580; PMCID: PMC8093992.
9. Navarro KS, Wong KH, Ibrahim MM, de Havenon AH, Goldstein ED. The association between transthoracic echocardiogram parameters and white matter hyperintensities. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2021 Jul;206:106672. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106672. Epub 2021 May 4. PMID: 33979694.
10. Sheibani N, Wong KH, Turan TN, Yeatts SD, Gottesman RF, Prabhakaran S, Rost NS, de Havenon A. White Matter Hyperintensity and Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes in the SPRINT MIND Trial. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2021 Jun;30(6):105764. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.105764. Epub 2021 Apr 3. PMID: 33823461; PMCID: PMC8107132.
11. de Havenon A, Delic A, Yaghi S, Wong KH, Majersik JJ, Stulberg E, Tirschwell D, Anadani M. Midlife Blood Pressure Variability and Risk of All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events During Extended Follow-Up. Am J Hypertens. 2021 Jul 8:hpab106. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpab106. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34240111.
12. Abbatemarco JR, Galli JR, Sweeney ML, Carlson NG, Samara VC, Davis H, Rodenbeck S, Wong KH, Paz Soldan MM, Greenlee JE, Rose JW, Delic A, Clardy SL. Modern Look at Transverse Myelitis and Inflammatory Myelopathy: Epidemiology of the National Veterans Health Administration Population. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2021 Aug 31;8(6):e1071. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000001071. PMID: 34465615; PMCID: PMC8409131.
13. SVIN COVID-19 Global SAH Registry. Global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on subarachnoid haemorrhage hospitalisations, aneurysm treatment and in-hospital mortality: 1-year follow-up. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 28:jnnp-2022-329200. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329200. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35902229.
14. de Havenon A, Anadani M, Prabhakaran S, Wong KH, Yaghi S, Rost N. Increased Blood Pressure Variability and the Risk of Probable Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SPRINT MIND Trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Sep 21;10(18):e022206. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.022206. Epub 2021 Sep 17. PMID: 34533059.
15. Baradaran H, Delic A, Wong KH, Sheibani N, Alexander M, McNally JS, Majersik JJ, De Havenon A. Using Ultrasound and Inflammation to Improve Prediction of Ischemic Stroke: A Secondary Analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Cerebrovasc Dis Extra. 2021;11(1):37-43. doi: 10.1159/000514373. Epub 2021 Feb 18. PMID: 33601394; PMCID: PMC7989729.
16. Petersen NH, Kodali S, Meng C, Li F, Nguyen CK, Peshwe KU, Strander S, Silverman A, Kimmel A, Wang A, Anadani M, Almallouhi E, Spiotta AM, Kim JT, Giles JA, Keyrouz SG, Farooqui M, Zevallos C, Maier IL, Psychogios MN, Liman J, Riou-Comte N, Richard S, Gory B, Quintero Wolfe S, Brown PA, Fargen KM, Mistry EA, Fakhri H, Mistry AM, Wong KH, de Havenon A, Nascimento FA, Kan P, Matouk C, Ortega-Gutiérrez S, Sheth KN. Blood Pressure Trajectory Groups and Outcome After Endovascular Thrombectomy: A Multicenter Study. Stroke. 2022 Apr;53(4):1216-1225. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.034408. Epub 2021 Nov 16. PMID: 34781705; PMCID: PMC8960326.
17. Goldstein ED, Wolcott Z, Garg G, Navarro K, Delic A, Yaghi S, Sederholm B, Prabhakaran S, Wong KH, McLean K, de Havenon AH. Effect of Antihypertensives by Class on Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Post Hoc Analysis of SPRINT-MIND. Stroke. 2022 Aug;53(8):2435-2440. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.037997. Epub 2022 May 4. PMID: 35506388.
18. Prasad A, Kobsa J, Kodali S, Bartolome D, Begunova L, Quispe-Orozco D, Farooqui M, Zevallos C, Ortega-Gutiérrez S, Anadani M, Almallouhi E, Spiotta AM, Giles JA, Keyrouz SG, Kim JT, Maier IL, Liman J, Psychogios MN, Riou-Comte N, Richard S, Gory B, Quintero Wolfe S, Brown PA, Fargen KM, Mistry EA, Fakhri H, Mistry A, Wong KH, Nascimento FA, Kan P, de Havenon A, Sheth KN, Petersen NH. Temporal profiles of systolic blood pressure variability and neurologic outcomes after endovascular thrombectomy. Eur Stroke J. 2022 Dec;7(4):365-375. doi: 10.1177/23969873221106907. Epub 2022 Jun 24. PMID: 36478756; PMCID: PMC9720854.
19. Hoshina Y, Galli J, Wong KH, Kovacsovics T, Steinbach M, Salzman KL, McNally JS, Lancaster E, Paz Soldán MM, Clardy SL. GABA-A Receptor Encephalitis After Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant forMultiple Myeloma: Three Cases and Literature Review. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2022 Aug 26;9(6):e200024. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200024. PMID: 36028311; PMCID: PMC9417160.
20. De Almeida BI, Smith TL, Delic A, Esquibel L, Galli J, Millsap L, Paz Soldán MM, Cortez MM, Rose J, Greenlee JE, Gundlapalli AV, Hill HR, Wong KH, Clardy SL. Neurologic Manifestations of Common Variable Immunodeficiency: Impact on Quality of Life. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2023 Feb 16;10(3):e200088. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200088. PMID: 36797058; PMCID: PMC9936420.
21. Pope B, Wolcott Z, Castillo M, Jin J, Wong KH, Havenon A, Yaghi S, Goldstein ED. Mutation of breast cancer susceptibility genes increases cerebral microbleeds: A pilot study. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2022 Nov;31(11):106729. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106729. Epub 2022 Sep 16. PMID: 36116220.
22. Wong KH, Muddasani V, Peterson C, Sheibani N, Arkin C, Cheong I, Majersik JJ, Biffi A, Petersen N, Falcone GJ, Sansing LH, de Havenon AH. Baseline Serum Biomarkers of Inflammation and Subsequent Visit-to-Visit Blood Pressure Variability: A Post Hoc Analysis of MESA. Am J Hypertens. 2023 Feb 24;36(3):144-147. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpac122. PMID: 36315490; PMCID: PMC11484580.
23. Hoshina Y, Wong KH, Galli J, Bacharach R, Klein J, Lebiedz-Odrobina D, Rose JW, Trump B, Hull C, Greenlee JE, Clardy SL. Neurologic involvement in seronegative primary Sjögren's syndrome with positive minor salivary gland biopsy: a single-center experience. Front Neurol. 2023 Jun 9;14:1174116. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1174116. PMID: 37360347; PMCID: PMC10289021.
24. Nguyen TN, Qureshi MM, Klein P, Yamagami H, Mikulik R, Czlonkowska A, Abdalkader M, Sedova P, Sathya A, Lo HC, Mansour OY, Vanguru HR, Lesaine E, Tsivgoulis G, Loochtan AI, Demeestere J, Uchino K, Inoa V, Goyal N, Charidimou A, Siegler JE, Yaghi S, Aguiar de Sousa D, Mohammaden MH, Haussen DC, Kristoffersen ES, Lereis VP, Scollo SD, Campbell BCV, Ma A, Thomas JO, Parsons MW, Singhal S, Slater LA, Tomazini Martins R, Enzinger C, Gattringer T, Rahman A, Bonnet T, Ligot N, De Raedt S, Lemmens R, Vanacker P, Vandervorst F, Conforto AB, Hidalgo RCT, de Oliveira Neves L, Martins RT, Mora Cuervo DL, Rebello LC, Santiago IB, Lameirinhas da Silva I, Sakelarova T, Kalpachki R, Alexiev F, Catanese L, Cora EA, Goyal M, Hill MD, Kelly ME, Khosravani H, Lavoie P, Peeling L, Pikula A, Rivera R, Chen HS, Chen Y, Huo X, Miao Z, Yang S, Bedekovic MR, Bralic M, Budincevic H, Corredor-Quintero AB, Lara-Sarabia OE, Cabal M, Tenora D, Fibrich P, Herzig R, Hlaváčová H, Hrabanovska E, Hlinovsky D, Jurak L, Kadlcikova J, Karpowicz I, Klecka L, Kovar M, Lauer D, Neumann J, Palouskova H, Reiser M, Rekova P, Rohan V, Skoda O, Škorňa M, Sobotková L, Sramek M, Zakova L, Christensen H, Drenck N, Iversen HK, Truelsen TC, Wienecke T, Sobh K, Ylikotila P, Alpay K, Strbian D, Bernady P, Casenave P, Dan M, Faucheux JM, Gentric JC, Magro E, Sabben C, Reiner P, Rouanet F, Bohmann FO, Boskamp S, Mbroh J, Nagel S, Nolte CH, Ringleb PA, Rosenkranz M, Poli S, Thomalla G, Karapanayiotides T, Koutroulou I, Kargiotis O, Palaiodimou L, Barrientos Guerra JD, Huded V, Menon B, Nagendra S, Prajapati C, Sylaja PN, Krishna Pramana NA, Sani AF, Ghoreishi A, Farhoudi M, Hokmabadi ES, Raya TA, Kalmanovich SA, Ronen L, Sabetay SI, Acampa M, Adami A, Castellan L, Longoni M, Ornello R, Renieri L, Bigliani CR, Romoli M, Sacco S, Salmaggi A, Sangalli D, Zini A, Doijiri R, Fukuda H, Fujinaka T, Fujita K, Imamura H, Sakai N, Kanamaru T, Kimura N, Kono R, Miyake K, Sakaguchi M, Sakai K, Sonoda K, Todo K, Miyashita F, Tokuda N, Matsumaru Y, Matsumoto S, Ohara N, Shindo S, Takenobu Y, Yoshimoto T, Toyoda K, Uwatoko T, Yagita Y, Yamada T, Yamamoto N, Yamamoto R, Yazawa Y, Sugiura Y, Waweru PK, Baek JH, Lee SB, Seo KD, Sohn SI, Arsovska AA, Chan YC, Wan Zaidi WA, Jaafar AS, Gongora-Rivera F, Martinez-Marino M, Infante-Valenzuela A, Groppa S, Leahu P, Coutinho JM, Rinkel LA, Dippel DWJ, van Dam-Nolen DHK, Ranta A, Wu TY, Adebayo TT, Bello AH, Nwazor EO, Sunmonu TA, Wahab KW, Ronning OM, Sandset EC, Al Hashmi AM, Ahmad S, Rashid U, Rodriguez-Kadota L, Vences MÁ, Yalung PM, Hao Dy JS, Pineda-Franks MC, Co CO, Brola W, Debiec A, Dorobek M, Karlinski MA, Labuz-Roszak BM, Lasek-Bal A, Sienkiewicz-Jarosz H, Staszewski J, Sobolewski P, Wiacek M, Zielinska-Turek J, Araujo AP, Rocha M, Castro P, Cruz VT, Ferreira PV, Ferreira P, Nunes AP, Fonseca L, Marto JP, Pinho E Melo T, Rodrigues M, Silva ML, Dimitriade A, Falup-Pecurariu C, Hamid MA, Venketasubramanian N, Krastev G, Mako M, Ayo-Martin O, Hernández-Fernández F, Blasco J, Rodríguez-Vázquez A, Cruz-Culebras A, Moniche F, Montaner J, Perez-Sanchez S, García Sánchez MJ, Guillán Rodríguez M, Jood K, Nordanstig A, Mazya MV, Moreira TTP, Bernava G, Beyeler M, Bolognese M, Carrera E, Dobrocky T, Karwacki GM, Keller E, Hsieh CY, Boonyakarnkul S, Churojana A, Aykac O, Ozdemir AÃ, Bajrami A, Senadim S, Hussain SI, John S, Banerjee S, Kwan J, Krishnan K, Lenthall R, Matthews A, Wong K, Zhang L, Altschul D, Asif KS, Bahiru Z, Below K, Biller J, Ruland S, Chaudry SA, Chen M, Chebl A, Cibulka J, Cistrunk L, Clark J, Colasurdo M, Czap A, de Havenon A, D'Amato S, Dharmadhikari S, Grimmett KB, Dmytriw AA, Etherton MR, Ezepue C, Farooqui M, Feske SK, Fink L, Gasimova U, Guzik AK, Hakemi M, Hovingh M, Khan M, Jillela D, Kan PT, Khatri R, Khawaja AM, Khoury NN, Kiley NL, Kim BS, Kolikonda MK, Kuhn AL, Lara S, Linares G, Linfante I, Lukovits TG, Lycan S, Male SS, Maali L, Mancin J, Masoud H, Mohamed GA, Monteiro A, Nahab F, Nalleballe K, Ortega-Gutierrez S, Puri AS, Radaideh Y, Rahangdale RH, Rai A, Ramakrishnan P, Reddy AB, Rojas-Soto DM, Romero JR, Rost NS, Rothstein A, Omran SS, Sheth SA, Siddiqui AH, Starosciak AK, Tarlov NE, Taylor RA, Wang MJ, Wolfe J, Wong KH, Le HV, Nguyen QV, Pham TN, Nguyen TT, Phan HT, Ton MD, Fischer U, Michel P, Strambo D, Martins SO, Zaidat OO, Nogueira RG; and the SVIN COVID-19 Global Stroke Registry. Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stroke Volumes and Cerebrovascular Events: A 1-Year Follow-up. Neurology. 2023 Jan 24;100(4):e408-e421. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000201426. Epub 2022 Oct 18. Erratum in: Neurology. 2024 Mar 12;102(5):e209159. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000209159. PMID: 36257718; PMCID: PMC9897052.
25. Majersik JJ, Wong KH, O'Donnell SM, Johnson J, Garcia-Esperon C, Hamilton BJ, Tekiela P, Ledyard HK, Taillac P. Telestroke value through the eyes of emergency medicine providers: A counterfactual analysis. Heliyon. 2023 Mar 24;9(4):e14767. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14767. PMID: 37089373; PMCID: PMC10119505.
26. Goldstein ED, Garg G, Navarro K, Wolcott Z, Yaghi S, Wong KH, McLean K, de Havenon AH. Statin Usage Increases White Matter Hyperintensities: A Post Hoc Analysis of SPRINT-MIND. Neurologist. 2023 Mar 1;28(2):94-98. doi: 10.1097/NRL.0000000000000448. PMID: 35680399.
27. Noroozi Gilandehi S, Wong KH, Francis T, Wright MA, Lord J, Stehlik J, Kemeyou L, Smith T, Clardy SL. Cardiac Involvement in Neurosarcoidosis: A Single-Center Investigation. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2024 Mar;11(2):e200196. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200196. Epub 2024 Jan 5. PMID: 38181319; PMCID: PMC11073871.
28. Hoshina Y, Delic A, Wong KH, Lyden S, Kadish R, Smith TL, Wright MA, Shimura D, Clardy SL. Vasculitis in the Central Nervous System: Etiology, Characteristics, and Outcomes in a Large Single-Center Cohort. Neurohospitalist. 2024 Apr;14(2):129-139. doi: 10.1177/19418744231223283. Epub 2023 Dec 18. PMID: 38666288; PMCID: PMC11040621.
29. Hoshina Y, Seay M, Vegunta S, Stulberg EL, Wright MA, Wong KH, Smith TL, Shimura D, Clardy SL. Isolated Optic Neuritis: Etiology, Characteristics, and Outcomes in a US Mountain West Cohort. J Neuroophthalmol. 2024 Apr 22. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000002157. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38644536.
30. Heath T, Shrishail N, Wong KH, Johnston KC, Sharma R, Ney JP, Sheth KN, de Havenon AH. Trends in American Indian/Alaskan native self-reported stroke prevalence and associated modifiable risk factors in the United States from 2011-2021. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2024 Jun;33(6):107650. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.107650. Epub 2024 Mar 8. PMID: 38460776; PMCID: PMC11253029.
31. Stulberg EL, Lisabeth L, Schneider ALC, Skolarus L, Kershaw KN, Zheutlin AR, Harris BRE, Sarpong D, Wong KH, Sheth KN, de Havenon A. Correlations of Socioeconomic and Clinical Determinants with United States County-Level Stroke Prevalence. Ann Neurol. 2024 Oct;96(4):739-744. doi: 10.1002/ana.27039. Epub 2024 Jul 26. PMID: 39056317.
32. de Havenon A, Stulberg EL, Littig L, Wong KH, Sarpong D, Li V, Sharma R, Falcone GJ, Williamson JD, Pajewski NM, Gottesman RF, Brickman AM, Sheth KN. Socioeconomic and medical determinants of state-level subjective cognitive decline in the United States. Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Nov;20(11):7567-7579. doi: 10.1002/alz.14220. Epub 2024 Oct 1. PMID: 39351858; PMCID: PMC11567845.

Awards, Honors, & Recognitions

2019    2019 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual Conference Scholar.

2020    2020 American Heart Association (AHA) International Stroke Conference Junior Investigator Travel Award

2023    ECTRIMS Early Investigator Travel Grant

2024    2024 Neurocritical Care Society Travel Grant Award

Professional Affiliations & Leadership Roles

2016–Present: Student member of American Academy of Neurology (Member ID: 254127)

2017–Present: Student member of American Heart Association (Member ID: AHA-1456041)

2020–Present: Community Health Worker member of Utah Public Health Association

Why choose Autoimmune Neurology at Utah?

Our team offers a multidisciplinary research and training program that spans from bench science—such as antibody discovery and biomarker development—to investigations of population-level factors influencing outcomes in immune-mediated neurologic diseases.