Resume
JOHN
OKWUCHUKWU CHIKWEM
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in
Microbiology: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. 1981. Thesis: ÒIsolation
and Characterization of the Respiratory Nitrate Reductase of
Bacillus stearothermophilus.Ó
M.Sc. in
Microbiology: St. Andrews University, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
1978. Thesis: ÒIsolation and Characterization of Antibiotic
Resistant Coliform Bacteria from St. Andrews Bay.Ó
F.I.B.M.S.
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, London, U.K. 1980.
A.I.B.M.S.
in Bacteriology: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, London, U.K.
1972.
Certificate
in Serological Diagnostic Techniques: Royal Tropical Institute,
Amsterdam, Netherlands. 1985.
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POST-DOCTORAL
STUDY
Toxicology
Department, Oregon State University; 1981 Ð 1982.
HONORS,
AWARDS AND SCIENTIFIC RECOGNITION
University
College Hospital Ibadan: Undergraduate academic scholarship.
1964 - 67 & 1970 - 72.
Federal
Government of Nigeria scholarship for the M.Sc degree. 1976-1978.
Graduate
assistantship with tuition scholarship and stipend for the Ph.D.
degree. Ohio University. 1978 - 1981.
External
examiner in Medical Microbiology, MB.BS program, 1989-1990;
1992-1995; and M.Sc. program, 1992-1995. University of Jos,
Nigeria.
Member,
Accreditation team for the Medicine program, National Universities
Commission, Nigeria. 1992.
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BACKGROUND
AND HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr. John
O. Chikwem has over twenty five years of experience in the field
of Laboratory Medicine. He received his undergraduate and professional
training at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Napier
College, Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh Medical School
Pathology department.
He worked
as a biomedical scientist at the University College Hospital,
Ibadan before proceeding for graduate studies. He was Professor
of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maiduguri
and Consultant Microbiologist and Immunologist at the University
of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
He is an
authority in the epidemiology, diagnosis and control of HIV
infection. The first documented diagnosis of HIV infection in
Nigeria was made in his laboratory at the University of Maiduguri
Teaching Hospital. He supervised the training of laboratory
personnel in laboratory diagnosis of HIV, trained nurses, doctors
and other hospital workers in safety issues in handling patients,
trained blood bank workers in assessing potential blood donors.
He also
played a major role in monitoring the spread of the infection
in Nigeria. He worked with various organizations including the
World Health Organization, Aficare and the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) in training trainers and mapping out strategies
to contain the HIV epidemic in Nigeria. He co-founded and coordinated
the activities of the Borno State Advisory Committee on AIDS
from 1987 to 1995. He helped the United Nations Children Fund
(UNICEF) in Nigeria establish sentinel centers for evaluating
the impact of the Expanded Program on Immunization.
He was part
of several teams that investigated and controlled various infections
including cholera, yellow fever, typhoid fever and schistosomiasis.
He is the author of over thirty publications.
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Regional
Training of Trainers workshop on Psychosocial counseling for
persons with HIV infection organized by the World Health Organization,
Freetown, Sierra-Leone. 1989.
Training
of Trainers workshop on HIV and Development organized by the
United Nations Development Program, Mombassa, Kenya. 1991.
Workshop
on Lymphocytes and Antibodies; Federation of American Societies
for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Saxton River, Vermont. June,
1996.
Strategies
for success in Life Sciences workshop; Addison Wesley Longman,
West Chester University. November, 1997.
Write Winning
Grants Workshop; Federation of American Society for Experimental
Biology (FASEB), Bethesda, MD. June, 1998.
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HIV/AIDS
Prevention among minorities: Training of volunteers; American
Red Cross, Raleigh, NC. August, 1998.
Career
Development workshop on HIV Prevention Research for and by Racial
and Ethnic Minorities; National Institutes of Health, Atlanta.
August, 1999.
Challenges
in Health disparity in the new millennium; Office of Research
on Minority Health; Washington DC. April, 2000.
Race and
Health Conference; African American Studies, Princeton University.
May, 2000.
Data User's
Conference; National Center of Health Statistics; Bethesda,
MD. July, 2000.
Writing
a Competitive Contract Proposal; Morgan State University and
National Cancer Institute, Baltimore, MD. September, 2000.
Treatment
and Adherence Research in Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities:
Opportunities for investigation; National Institutes of Health;
Arlington Virginia. October, 2000.
HRSA Technical
Assistance Workshop for HBCUs. Institute for College Research
Development and Support. Washington DC. 1/31 Ð 2/2/01.
HRSA Ryan
White Title III HIV Planning and Capacity Building Grant Program
Pre-Application Technical Assistance Workshop. Philadelphia,
PA. 3/9/01.
Middle
States Commission on Higher Education PRR Preparation Workshop.
Philadelphia, PA. 3/21/01
POSITIONS
HELD AND EXPERIENCE
Professor
of Biology, Lincoln University. August 1999 to present.
Associate
Professor of Biology, Lincoln University. Sept. 1995 to Aug.
1999.
Professor
of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
1991 - 1995.
Reader
in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
1989 - 1991.
Senior
Lecturer in Microbiology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
1986 - 1989.
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Lecturer
1 in Microbiology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. 1982 -
1986.
Post-doctoral
research associate in Food Toxicology, Oregon State University,
Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A.. 1981 - 1982.
Teaching
Associate in Zoology and Microbiology, Ohio University, Athens,
Ohio. 1978 - 1981.
Biomedical
scientist in Bacteriology, University College Hospital, Ibadan,
Nigeria. 1972 - 1976.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER EXPERIENCE
Dean, School
of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.
July, 2000 to present. Duties and responsibilities:
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Chairman,
College of Medical Sciences Research Committee, University of
Maiduguri, Nigeria. 1991 - 1995. Duties and responsibilities:
Convene meetings of the college research committee.
Review and approve grant proposals.
Attend and represent College of Medical Sciences at Senate Research
Committee meetings.
Head, Departments
of Medical Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Maiduguri
Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. 1986 - 1995. Duties and responsibilities:
Review, approve
and update clinical procedures in the laboratories.
Review and approve all diagnosis from clinical specimens.
Review diagnosis and treatment choices with physicians.
Maintain quality assurance for all procedures in the departments.
Training of medical, graduate and laboratory science students.
Supervise, hire and retrench staff.
Chairman,
Infection Control Committee, University of Maiduguri Teaching
Hospital, Nigeria. 1992 - 1995. Duties and responsibilities:
Hold regular meetings of Infection Control Committee.
Document all cases of nosocomial infections in the hospital.
Investigate all cases of nosocomial infections in the hospital.
Review and hold regular seminars and workshops on the prevention
of hospital-acquired infections for nurses, doctors, kitchen staff
and others.
Member of
Senate, University of Maiduguri. 1988 - 1995. Duties and responsibilities
include:
Represent
the College of Medical Sciences, and the department of Microbiology
at senate meetings.
Attend meetings of committees when appropriate.
Assistant
Coordinator, Nigerian Health Network, University of Maiduguri
chapter. 1989 - 1995. Duties and responsibilities:
Monitor current state of health in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.
Relay current knowledge on changes in health status to the Ministries
of Health in Maiduguri as well as Lagos.
Member, Publications
Committee, University of Maiduguri. 1990 - 1995. Duties and responsibilities:
Review of materials submitted for publication in the Annals of
Borno.
Help review operational budgets for work of committee.
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Chairman,
Laboratory Revolving Fund, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
1993 - 1995. Duties and responsibilities:
Review and approve requests for reagents, equipment and procedures
used for processing clinical specimens at the hospital.
Approve contracts to reputable suppliers for reagents and equipment.
Manage and operate initial funds, equipment and reagents amounting
to over 200 million Naira ($20 m) in revolving manner.
Coordinator
for graduate studies, Department of Microbiology, University of
Maiduguri. 1986 Ð 1992. Duties and responsibilities:
General advisor to graduate students.
Assist students in registration, progress reports and research
proposals.
Attend meetings of faculty board of Post-graduate studies.
Review and approve thesis and dissertations.
Member, Academic
Standing Committee, Lincoln University. 1997 to 2000. Duties and
responsibilities:
Review Satisfactory Academic Progress for each student.
Meet with students to discuss problems.
Review and recommend standards for admissions, retention and graduation.
Recommend conditions for dismissal, suspension and probation based
on academic performance.
CONSULTING
ACTIVITIES
Consultant
epidemiologist, UNICEF, Kaduna, Nigeria. 1989 - 1990. Activities:
Conduct and review retrospective data on incidence of EPI diseases
in Health Zone C (Abuja, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Niger
states) and Health Zone B (Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Oshun states).
Assess completeness of data.
Assess quality of record keeping.
Discuss usefulness of data in strengthening sentinel surveillance
activities.
Assess the status of sentinel sites for monitoring the incidence
of EPI diseases and assist in establishing them.
Prepare and conduct training workshops on sentinel surveillance
for record officers, record keepers and other staff of potential
sentinel sites.
Consultant
Microbiologist and Immunologist, University of Maiduguri Teaching
Hospital. 1986 - 1995. Activities:
Supervise collection, storage and processing of clinical specimens.
Review and approve results of diagnosis.
Train laboratory staff, and students.
Procure reagents and equipment.
Prepare and supervise roster for routine work and call duties.
Consultant,
National Consortium for Health and Manpower Development and Research,
Nigeria. 1991 - 1995. Activities:
Review training programs and curricula for personnel in areas
of health.
Monitor number of different health workers nationally and regionally.
Recommend appropriate compensation and other working conditions
for reduction of turn-over.
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Consultant
for Africare on HIV prevention and control, Nigeria. 1990 - 1995.
Activities:
Organize and facilitate workshop for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control
for Health Zone D (Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Plateau
states).
Facilitate in workshop for training health workers in HIV prevention
in the work place.
Facilitate in workshop for HIV/AIDS information and education
in Enugu. May, 1994.
Facilitate in a workshop in HIV/AIDS Prevention Education, Program
Planning, Proposal writing and NGO Management Training of Trainers
in Yola, Adamawa State. July, 1995.
Facilitate in a workshop on HIV Prevention Information for health
workers in Damaturu, Yobe State. February, 1995.
Facilitate workshop on Prevention of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria
at the Federal Training Center, Maiduguri, Borno State. February,
1995.
Assist in writing proposals for grants.
Disburse grant money to states and monitor progress of projects.
RESEARCH
GRANTS
Epidemiology of Schistosomiasis in Konduga local government of
Borno State. Grant awarded by the Senate Research Committee of
the University of Maiduguri. 1984. (20,000 Naira; $28,000)
Prevalence of HIV infection in Borno State and selected cities
of Nigeria. Grant awarded by the Ministry of Health, Borno State
and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Research Committee.
1986. (180,000 Naira; $120,000).
Prevalence of HIV infection in Borno State by sentinel surveillance.
Grant awarded by the National Expert Committee on AIDS. 1992 (75,000
Naira; $15,000).
Determination of antibiotic susceptibility, zone size and minimum
inhibitory concentration and corresponding breakpoints by standardized
procedures. Grant awarded by the Senate Research Committee of
the University of Maiduguri and Smith Kline Beecham. 1995. (108,128
Naira; $4,915).
CURRENT
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Effects of feeding patterns on morbidity, mortality and HIV transmission
among infants of HIV-positive women in Nigeria.
Needs assessment of HIV/AIDS orphans and their caregivers in Nigeria.
Outcome performance measure among HIV/AIDS service providers.
COMMUNITY
SERVICE
Executive Secretary and Co-founder, Borno State Advisory Committee
on AIDS, Maiduguri, Nigeria. 1987 - 1995.
Member, Advisory Committee on matters relating to HIV-positive
patients and their families. University of Maiduguri Teaching
Hospital. 1992 - 1995.
Member, Task Force on Cholera Epidemic, Borno State. 1990 Ð 1991.
Member, Task Force on Yellow Fever Epidemic, Borno State. 1990.
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MEMBERSHIP
OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Nigerian Microbiological Society.
Nigerian Society for Immunology.
Nigerian Association of Medical Scientists.
American Society for Microbiology.
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, United Kingdom. American Association
of University Professors.
MANUSCRIPTS/REPORTS
Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium in Konduga, Borno State,
Nigeria. Submitted to University of Maiduguiri Senate Research
Committee. June, 1985.
Expanded Program on Immunization Sentinel Surveillance, Zone C,
Nigeria. Submitted to UNICEF, Nigeria. November, 1989.
Manual of Clinical Microbiology Procedures. Submitted to the University
of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. August, 1995.
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS:
Igene,
J.O., Chikwem, J.O., Omotara, B.A. and Oyegbile, S.A. 1986. Primary
Health Care: A guide for research in the human sciences. Ibadan
University Press. 198pp.
Chikwem, J.O.,
Ekenna, O., Ola, T.O. and Omotara, B.A. 1990. AIDS Prevention
and Control. Gbabeks Publishers Ltd., Nigeria. 136pp.
CHAPTERS
IN BOOKS:
Chikwem, J.O.
1986. The first hurdle in primary health care. In: Primary Health
Care. Igene, J.O. et al. eds. Ibadan University Press. Pp 103
- 110.
Chikwem, J.O.
and Omotara B.A. 1986. Environment and health. In: Primary Health
care. Igene, J. O. et al. eds. Ibadan University Press. Pp 123
- 133.
Chikwem, J.O.
1990. Preventive counseling in relation to HIV infection. In:
AIDS Prevention and Control. Chikwem, J.O. et al eds. Gbabeks
Publishers Ltd. Pp 60 - 71.
Chikwem, J.O.
1990. Laboratory diagnosis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
In: AIDS Prevention and Control. Chikwem, J.O. et al eds. Gbabeks
Publishers Ltd. Pp 45 - 56.
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ARTICLES:
Mohammed,
I., Chikwem, J.O. and Harry, T.O. 1987. AIDS: A faltering step.
Brit. Med. J., 295: 392.
Mohammed,
I., Nasidi, A., Chikwem, J.O. et al. 1988. HIV infection in Nigeria.
AIDS, 2: 61 - 62.
Chikwem, J.O.
1988. Strategies for combating HIV infection in Nigeria. Dee Dok,
2: 12 - 14.
Chikwem,
J.O.. Ola, T.O., Gashau, W., Chikwem, S.D., Bajani, M. and Mamabula,
S. 1988. Impact of health education on prostitutesÕ awareness
and attitudes to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Public
Health, 102: 439 - 445.
Chikwem, J.O.,
Chikwem, S.D. and Ola, T.O. 1988. Evaluation of public awareness
and attitudes to AIDS in Borno State of Nigeria. Nig. Med Pract.
16: 159 - 162.
Chikwem, J.O.,
Mohammed, I., Bwala, H.G. and Ola, T.O. 1990. HIV infection in
patients attending sexually transmitted diseases clinics in Borno
State of Nigeria. Trop. and Geogr. Med., 42: 17 - 21.
Chikwem, J.O.,
Mohammed, I. and Ola, T.O. 1990. Comparison of commercial kits
for the detection of antibody to HIV-1 in Nigeria. East Afr. Med.
J., 67: 309 - 312.
Chikwem, J.
O. 1989. Laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection. The Student Doctor,
4: 26 - 30.
Chikwem, J.O.,
Mohammed, I. and Ola, T.O. 1989. HIV-1 infection among female
prostitutes in Borno State of Nigeria - one year follow-up. East
Afr. Med. J., 66: 752 - 756.
Chikwem,
J.O., Mohammed, I and Ola, T.O. 1989. Evaluation of the Serodia
Particle Agglutination test for HIV screening in Nigeria. Microbios
Letters, 42: 31 - 33.
Williams,
E.E., Mohammed, I., Chikwem, J.O., et al. 1987. HIV-1 and HIV-2
antibodies in Nigerian populations with high and low risk behavior
patterns. AIDS, 4: 1041 - 1042.
Chikwem, J.O.,
Mohammed, I, Ola, T.O. and Chikwem, S.D. 1989. Factors affecting
the seroprevalence of HIV infection in female prostitutes in Borno
State of Nigeria. Annals of Borno, 6/7: 273 - 278.
Harry, T.O.,
Ekenna, O., Chikwem, J.O., et al. 1993. Seroepidemiology of HIV
infection in Borno State of Nigeria by sentinel surveillance.
J. AIDS, 6: 99 - 103.
Ekenna, O.,
Onwuchekwa, A.C., Ibeme, I.U., Chikwem, J.O. and Mohammed, I.
1992. A two year retrospective analysis of the patient population
attending the sexually transmitted diseases clinic of a university
teaching hospital. The Nig. J. Med. Sci., 2: 20 - 25.
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Chikwem, J.O
and Downey, R.J. 1980. Reassessment of the peptide requirement
for the biosynthesis of nitrate reductase in Bacillus stearothermophilus.
FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 7: 303 - 305.
Chikwem, J.O
and Downey, R.J. 1982. Purification and characterization of the
respiratory nitrate reductase of B. stearothermophilus. Analytical
Biochemistry, 126: 74 - 82.
Chikwem,
J.O. and Downey, R.J. 1986. Detergent solubilization of the respiratory
nitrate reductase of B. stearothermophilus. Microbios, 47: 159
- 163.
Chikwem, J.O.
and Alaku, S.A. 1987. A retrospective study of nine years hospital
records of schistosomiasis in Borno State. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop.
Med. Hyg., 81: 383 - 384.
Chikwem,
J.O. and Erb, J. 1992. Impact of the Expanded Program on Immunization
on measles from sentinel sites in north-western Nigeria. Public
Health, 106: 53 - 61.
Mohammed,
I., Chikwem, J.O. and Gashau, W. 1992. Determination by Widal
agglutination of the base line titer for the diagnosis of typhoid
fever in two Nigerian states. Scand. J. Immunol., 36: 153 - 156.
Ubosi, C.O.
and Chikwem, J.O. 1988. Evaluation of three poultry anti-stress
supplements in combating heat stress in the sahelian zone of Nigeria.
J. Arid. Agric., 1: 37 - 45.
Chikwem,
J.O. 1989. The immunology of some diseases affecting children
in the tropics. Proc. of O.B.A.B. Symposium, 2: 49 - 65.
Igene, J.O.,
Chikwem, J.O and Omotara, B.A. 1992. Impact of the new feeding
arrangements on the eating habits of University of Maiduguri students.
Annals of Borno, 8/9: 125 - 130.
Moses, A.E.
and Chikwem, J.O. 1996. Comparison of three laboratory procedures
for detecting Mycobacterial infections in the sputum of patients.
W. Afr. J. Biol. Sci., 5: 59 - 64.
Chikwem, J.O.,
Mohammed, I., Okara, G.C., Ukwandu, N.C. and Ola, T.O. Prevalence
of transmissible blood infections among blood donors at the University
of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria. E. Afr. Med.
J. 1997. 74 (4): 213 - 216.
Chikwem, J.O,
Ukwandu, N.C.D., Ayuba, K. and Edike, A. Evaluation of Gram-stained
smears of urine for predicting significant bacteriuria. J. Med.
Lab. Sci. In Press. Ekenna, O, Chikwem, J.O., Mohammed, I. et
al. Epidemic Yellow fever in Borno State of Nigeria, 1990: Characterization
of hospitalized patients. Nig. Med. J. In Press.
ABSTRACTS
OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES
Chikwem, J.O.,
Mohammed, I. and Williams, E.E. 1988. HIV-1 infection among prisoners
in Nigeria. Abstract # 5019. IV International Conference on AIDS,
Stockholm.
Mohammed,
I., Chikwem, J.O. and Williams, E.E. 1988. Prevalence of HIV-1
among female prostitutes in two Nigerian states. Abstract # 5143.
IV International Conference on AIDS, Stockholm.
Nasidi, A.,
Harry, T.O., Mohammed, I., Chikwem, J.O., et al. 1987. Seroepidemiology
of HIV infection in rural areas of Nigeria and an evidence of
a new HIV-related virus. Abstract # TH-20. 2nd International Symposium
of AIDS and associated cancers in Africa. Naples, Italy.
Louden, D
and Chikwem, J.O. 2000. Outcome Performance Measure among HIV
service providers. Abstract # 15517. APHA, Boston. Nov., 2000.
Ekenna, O,
Auwalu, U, Chikwem, J.O. et al. 2001. The relevance of moldy fungi
as agents of chronic lower respiratory tract infection in patients
seen in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Abstract # 1020, American Society
of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Chicago. Nov., 2001.
