Dr. Ikechukwu (Ike) Ogbuanu

Site Director, CHAMPS Sierra Leone

Dr. Ike Ogbuanu is a medical doctor and epidemiologist with more than 25 years of progressive experience in clinical medicine, academic research, global public health, vaccinology, leadership, and management. In addition to peer-reviewed publications in HIV/AIDS, infectious disease epidemiology, vaccine-preventable diseases, and genetic epidemiology, he has substantial clinical and programmatic experience in the control of tropical and infectious diseases at the global, national, subnational, and health facility levels.

Dr. Ogbuanu joined the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2009 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer with the Global Immunization Division. Over the subsequent 10 years (2009–2020), he worked for CDC at the Atlanta Headquarters and as a detailee to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. During this period, Dr. Ogbuanu advanced implementation research and policy at the global level through quantitative and qualitative health research, program design and implementation, technical policy development, and international health diplomacy. He has led or participated in multiple global multilateral working groups and sub-teams and has managed successful collaborations and direct technical support in Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, and the Americas.

Dr. Ogbuanu is adept at managing cross-functional teams and complex relationships with key global development partners, including USAID, the Gavi Alliance, the Gates Foundation, the US-CDC, vaccine manufacturers, UNICEF, and ministries of health, with a focus on reducing preventable childhood mortality and promoting the equitable use of evidence-based health interventions. His greatest passion is in applying public health science and strategies to reduce disease morbidity and mortality in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Dr. Ogbuanu is a recipient of multiple awards, including the USC Gerry Sue Arnold Alumni Award (2019); the CDC Excellence in Public Health Service Award, (2014); CDC Award for Excellence in Public Health Protection (2010); USC Doctoral Achievement Award (2009); USC Outstanding Epidemiology Student (2008-2009 session); Michael D. Jarrett Scholarship Award in Recognition of Leadership Potential in Public Health Administration (2005-2006); World Bank Scholar (2004-2006); among others. He completed his medical training at the University of Nigeria in 1998. Following six years of clinical practice in Nigeria, he relocated to the United States to pursue a postgraduate education in Public Health, obtaining his Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in 2006, and his PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics in 2009, both from the University of South Carolina (USC), Columbia.

Dr. Ogbuanu currently serves as the Principal Investigator for the CHAMPS site in Sierra Leone, as well as the CEO of the ARC for Health and an Adjunct Professor of Global Health at the Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.