Dr. Igho Ofotokun serves as the Steris Chair of Excellence in Medicine and Chair of the Department of Medicine at University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University (UH/CWRU), and as Physician-in-Chief for the University Hospitals Health System. In these roles, he leads the department’s clinical and academic vision, advancing excellence in patient care, research, and training. His leadership priorities include strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, expanding educational pathways, and driving strategic initiatives that improve health outcomes and accelerate scientific discovery. 

Prior to joining UH/CWRU, Dr. Ofotokun spent 22 years on the faculty of Emory University, where he served as the Grady Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the Emory University School of Medicine and Professor of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences in the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. He also served as a Staff Physician at Grady Memorial Health System, Associate Dean for Research Development in the Emory School of Medicine, and Co-Director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research Clinical Core. 

A clinician-scientist, Dr. Ofotokun’s work is devoted to addressing the long-term sequelae of HIV, particularly among underrepresented populations, and to mentoring the next generation of HIV clinical and translational investigators. His research focuses on age-related comorbidities and their impact on healthy aging in people with HIV. He leads global research collaborations investigating the pathobiology of these conditions and has demonstrated that disruption at the organ–immune interface may represent a key, modifiable driver. 

Dr. Ofotokun has held leadership roles in major multicenter research and training initiatives, including Administrative Principal Investigator of the Atlanta MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study; Co-Director of the Emory–CDC Clinical Trials Unit; Director of the Emory Specialized Center of Research Excellence in Sex Differences; Co-Director of the Georgia CTSA KL2 Program; Administrative PI and Co-Director of Emory BIRCWH; and Co-Director of Emory’s Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Program. 

Building on his HIV research experience, he led the Atlanta hub of the NIH RECOVER Initiative, focused on understanding the long-term post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. He currently serves as National Chair of the RECOVER Adult Cohort Coordinating Committee, overseeing one of the largest adult longitudinal cohorts worldwide. 

Throughout his career, Dr. Ofotokun has been committed to expanding the representation of women and underrepresented minorities in biomedical research. He has advanced research education and workforce development locally, nationally, and globally, including sustained engagement in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Georgia, and Vietnam, and has advised congressional staff, NIH leadership, the Africa CDC, and multiple African governments. He is a member of the NIH Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health. 

His scholarly work has been supported by close to a $100 million in NIH funding, and he has authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications. His honors include election to the National Academy of Medicine, fellowship in the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the 2023 John F. Enders Named Lecture at IDWeek, the 2024 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement, the 2025 American Academy of Microbiology ASM Honorary Diversity Lecture and election as fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.