Obinna Ekwunife Ph.D.

Obinna Ekwunife

Obinna Ekwunife
Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Medicine

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Adolescent Medicine; Community Based Participatory Research; Community Health Research; Community Pharmacy; Global Health; Health Disparities Research; Health Outcomes Research; Health Services Research; Implementation Science; Program Evaluation; Public Health; Qualitative Methods

Contact Information
UB Downtown Gateway
77 Goodell St
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 7168295729
ekwunife@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

Dr. Obinna Ekwunife is a health economist and implementation scientist, currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Population Health, at the University at Buffalo. His research focuses on developing, testing, and implementing cost-effective strategies to address health inequalities in adults with chronic diseases. He works on establishing cost-effective interventions to inform decision-making, particularly in low-income and marginalized settings. He also focuses on implementing strategies to enhance access to health interventions for underserved populations. As the health economist in a multidisciplinary research team focused on improving health equity, he employs econometric methodologies to identify cost-effective interventions that improve health outcomes and population health.

His ongoing project in Nigeria explores the potential of private community pharmacies as a novel avenue for PrEP delivery, specifically targeting young individuals at high risk of HIV acquisition to improve accessibility. Obinna also serves as a co-investigator on two research projects, contributing to the health economics evaluation components. The first is an NIH R01 grant focused on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction for Adults with Food Insecurity Using Structured Incentives (CVD-FIT). The second is a project funded by the American Diabetes Association that examines a novel, continuous glucose monitoring–enhanced Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) intervention aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes.

Education and Training:

  • Fellowship, Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (2024)
  • Certificate, Certificate in Health Economics & Outcomes Research, University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education (2023)
  • Certificate, Professional Certificate Program in Data Science, Purdue University/Simplilearn (2023)
  • Fellowship, Takemi Fellowship, Harvard School of Public Health (2022)
  • Fellowship, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Leibniz Institute of Preventive Research and Epidemiology (BIPS)/University of Bremen (2016)
  • PhD, Health Economics, University of Nigeria (2012)
  • MS, Clinical Pharmacy, University of Nigeria (2008)
  • BPharm, Pharmacy, University of Nigeria (2004)

Employment:

  • Assistant Program Director, Health Services Research, Division of Population Health, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2024-present)

Awards and Honors:

  • IDM Annual Symposium Travel Grant (2024)

UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:

  • Civic Engagement and Public Policy
  • Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • September 2024–March 2029
    Cardiovascular Risk Reduction for Adults with Food Insecurity Using Structured Incentives (CVD-FIT)
    NIH NIMHD
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • July 2025–June 2028
    A novel continuous glucose monitoring enhanced DPP intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes
    American Diabetes Association
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • Enhancing PrEP Access for At-Risk Young People through Pharmacy-delivered Oral PrEP in Nigeria
    University of Washington/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)
    Role: Principal Investigator

Journal Articles:

See all (38 more)

Presentations:

  • "Understanding the cost of pharmacy-delivered HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis services in Kenya: findings from a pilot study" Institute of Disease Modeling Symposium (2024)

Service Activities:

  • As an Academic Editor for Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation, I oversee the peer review process, ensuring the quality and relevance of submitted manuscripts in health economics, cost-effectiveness analysis, and resource allocation.; Academic Editor (2024–present)

School News:

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Contact Information

UB Downtown Gateway
77 Goodell St
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 7168295729
ekwunife@buffalo.edu