Announcing Ighovwerha Ofotokun as chair of the Department of Medicine

I am delighted to announce the CWRU Board of Trustees appointment of Igho Ofotokun, MD, as the John H. Hord Professorship in Medicine and Chair of the Department of Medicine, University Hospitals, at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

At University Hospitals, Dr. Ofotokun holds the Steris Chair of Excellence in Medicine.  
Dr. Ofotokun is an internationally recognized leader in infectious diseases, with a distinguished record of contributions to HIV/AIDS research and the long-term complications of viral illnesses, including Long COVID, particularly in underserved populations. He joins us from Emory University, where he served as a Distinguished Professor of Medicine and led major initiatives across clinical care, research and education. His leadership has advanced opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in biomedical research and has influenced national research education and training programs.

A highly accomplished investigator and mentor, Dr. Ofotokun has maintained continuous NIH funding throughout his career and has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles. He is widely regarded for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and for his commitment to advancing both scientific discovery and patient care.

Dr. Ofotokun is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and serves on the NIH Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health. His honors include the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, the American Academy of Microbiology Honorary Diversity Lecture and election as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

In reflecting on his appointment, Dr. Ofotokun noted, “I am honored to join the Department of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. I look forward to building on its strong legacy of excellence, working closely with our talented faculty and staff and fostering an environment where innovation and compassionate care thrive.”

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Ofotokun and in supporting him as he assumes this important leadership role.

Sincerely, 

Stan Gerson, MD
Dean, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Director, National Center for Regenerative Medicine