Ochsner Health announced that Nneka Ifejika’s, MD, chief scientific officer for Ochsner Health, has been named the Ferber Endowed Chair, a three-year role. Ifejika was selected for her leadership in clinical innovation, research, and physician education.
"Dr. Nneka Ifejika’s appointment as the Ferber Endowed Chair represents a significant milestone for Ochsner Health and our commitment to advancing groundbreaking research and excellence in patient care,” said Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, executive vice president and chief academic officer for Ochsner Health. “Her leadership and expertise will drive innovations that improve outcomes for the patients and communities we serve.”
The endowment will support Ifejika’s research and work advancing novel approaches in stroke recovery, as well as her mentorship of faculty and residents. She will help advance research at Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans by focusing on recruitment and career development of physicians committed to funded research. The endowment is funded by a gift from a trust.
Ifejika provides oversight to 625 clinical studies in 30 medical specialties, the Ochsner Biorepository, Center for Outcomes Research, and the BioDesign Lab. She provides research education and onboarding for medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty at Ochsner and mentors emerging clinicians and scientists through the Stroke Outcomes & Continuum of Care Research (SOCCR) Lab. She is known for her work in early stroke recovery and care transitions.