Nkem Chukwueme, M.D. is an epidemiologist, public health physician, and global health researcher whose nearly two decades of work span tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and health systems strengthening across more than 25 low- and middle-income countries. Her scholarship translates rigorous epidemiologic and biostatistical analysis into policy and program improvements for national governments, multilateral agencies, and major global health funders, including the U.S. Government, the Global Fund, and the World Health Organization.
As a WHO-endorsed tuberculosis epidemiological and program evaluator, Dr. Chukwueme has led national epidemiologic reviews and surveillance assessments for ministries of health in Rwanda, Liberia, Eswatini, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, work that has strengthened how countries measure disease burden and target interventions. Her research leadership includes directing tuberculosis strategy, monitoring and evaluation for a multimillion Global Fund program in Nigeria and providing technical direction on major TB and HIV/AIDS research initiatives, shaping diagnostic strategy, surveillance systems, and service delivery models across Africa and Asia.
She has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presented original research at leading international scientific meetings, including the American Public Health Association, the Union World Conference on Lung Health and the International AIDS Society Conference. Her writing extends to major technical contributions, including sections of the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report and Nigeria's national tuberculosis program strategic plans and annual reports.
Dr. Chukwueme is an active leader in professional public health organizations. She co-led the Innovation Equity Forum Committee for Communicable Diseases, a partnership with the National Institutes of Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and has served as a scientific abstract reviewer for the American Public Health Association, where she has also been a repeatedly invited speaker at the Annual Meeting. She holds active memberships in the American Public Health Association, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, the Society for International Development, and the public health associations of Maryland and Virginia.
Beyond her research, Dr. Chukwueme is committed to mentorship and workforce development. For the past three years, she has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Health, teaching doctoral and master's level courses in health systems research and advanced epidemiology while mentoring graduate students and early-career professionals through programs such as the Johns Hopkins One-HOP alumni mentorship initiative and American Corporate Partners' veteran mentorship program. She also serves on doctoral dissertation committees, guiding the next generation of public health scholars in study design, biostatistical analysis, and knowledge translation.
Education
- M.D., Medicine & Surgery, University of Ibadan
- Dr.P.H., Public Health, New York Medical College
- M.P.H., Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
Areas of Expertise
- Public Health
- Global Health
- Health System Strengthening
- Health Services Research & Evaluation
Honors and Awards
- Delta Omega National Honorary Society in Public Health, Delta Alpha, March 2026
- Meritorious Award, USAID/ KNCV Foundation, December 2020
- President’s Country Merit Award Nigeria, for Excelling National Youth Service, December 2007
Publications
- CL Ogbudebe, V Adepoju, C Ekerete-Udofia, E Abu, G Egesemba, .... "Childhood tuberculosis in Nigeria: disease presentation and treatment outcomes." Health services insights 11, 1178632918757490, 2018
- J Obasanya, ST Abdurrahman, O Oladimeji, L Lawson, R Dacombe, .... "Tuberculosis case detection in Nigeria, the unfinished agenda." Tropical medicine & international health 20 (10), 1396-1402, 2015
- E Mitchell, H Abdur-Razzaq, V Anyebe, A Lawanson, S Onyemaechi, .... "& Ubochioma, E.(2022)." Wellness on Wheels (WoW): Iterative evaluation and refinement of mobile …, 0
- M Gidado, EMH Mitchell, AO Adejumo, J Levy, O Emperor, A Lawson, .... "Assessment of TB underreporting by level of reporting system in Lagos, Nigeria." Public health action 12 (3), 115-120, 2022
- RA Eneogu, EMH Mitchell, C Ogbudebe, D Aboki, V Anyebe, CB Dimkpa, .... "Operationalizing Mobile Computer-assisted TB Screening and Diagnosis With Wellness on Wheels (WoW)) in Nigeria: Balancing Feasibility and Iterative Efficiency."
- EMH Mitchell, OA Adejumo, H Abdur-Razzaq, C Ogbudebe, .... "Hybrid approach to estimation of underreporting of tuberculosis case notification in high-burden settings with weak surveillance infrastructure: design and implementation of an …." JMIR Public Health and Surveillance 7 (3), e22352, 2021
- O Onuka, I Okezie, J Ahukanna, C Okebaram, P Dakum, A Agbaje, .... "Effectiveness of contact tracing of index tuberculosis cases in Nigeria." Advances in Infectious Diseases 8 (4), 173-199, 2018
Memberships and Affiliations
- Delta Omega National Honorary Society in Public Health-Delta Alpha, APHA
- American Public Health Association, APHA MdPHA
- Virginia Public Health Association, VPHA
Teaching Responsibilities
- Health Services Research & Evaluation I & II
- Advanced Epidemiology; Introduction to Biostatistics
- Comprehensive Examinations
