Dr. Chinelo Okafor-Animalu is a distinguished board-certified Infectious Disease and HIV specialist and a Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s (UTHSC) College of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases.

She oversees the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at Methodist University Hospital Memphis, where she leads innovative research, treatment, and prevention initiatives, including transplant infectious disease programs.

Born into an academic family – her father an Emeritus professor of quantum chemistry at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and her mother an educator and high school principal – Dr. Animalu’s passion for medicine was ignited by early exposure to the impact of infectious diseases on communities.

Her commitment to addressing healthcare disparities and reducing disease-related stigma has been a driving force throughout her career.

Professional Impact and Community Engagement

Dr. Animalu has established herself as a prominent academic medicine and community healthcare figure. She regularly contributes medical expertise to Memphis television stations and leads community health initiatives. Through Vicada Healthcare Services, she provides consultation in infection prevention, control, and patient care management across the United States and Africa.

Committed to medical education and healthcare improvement in Nigeria, Dr. Animalu actively collaborates with Nigerian hospitals to provide free training to physicians, nurses, and pharmacists in Infectious Diseases. She is an active Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) member, leading the Memphis chapter in numerous charitable initiatives.

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