Celebrating Women Leaders in the Lab: Kenechukwu N. Ojukwu, MD, MS, MPP

A self-described ‘surgeon turned pathologist,’ Kenechukwu N. Ojukwu, MD, MS, MPP, has been building bridges, programs, and communities, since medical school.   

“During my surgical training, I saw firsthand how critical pathology is to decision-making, yet how invisible it can feel in clinical conversations. That communication gap became a foundation of my research career, bridging gaps between pathologists and non-pathologist clinicians, and between diagnostic information and patient understanding,” shares Dr. Ojukwu.  

As a Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA, Dr. Ojukwu practices general surgical pathology and leads health systems research in innovative medical education, with a focus on diagnostic communication. Her work centers on how to translate pathology—the foundation of nearly 70 percent of medical decisions—into language and experiences that are meaningful and digestible for clinicians, trainees, community members, and patients.   

One of the earliest examples of Dr. Ojukwu’s commitment to translating complex medical concepts into accessible language was as a co-founder of Anatomy Academy while in medical school. The initiative provides anatomy education to elementary school students through service-learning, now in dozens of classrooms across the U.S.   

Currently, Dr. Ojukwu’s multi-institutional, multispecialty and multilevel collaborative team is in the process of launching a pathology clinic at a safety net hospital. There, patients will be able to review their own pathology slides alongside a pathologist and receive tailored explanations of their diagnosis. This clinic is the result of a robust needs assessment and community-centered pathology education pilot initially funded through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Back to Bedside grant.  

“Across all my work, my priority is designing inclusive, scalable educational models that improve diagnostic understanding, enhance collaboration, and ultimately lead to more equitable patient care,” Dr. Ojukwu says.   

Pathology for Surgeons—a multidisciplinary curriculum designed to improve communication around specimen handling and diagnosis, which Dr. Ojukwu directs—is another example of her commitment to building bridges to ensure inclusivity and equity, creating spaces where learners can contribute meaningfully. The curricula have been implemented across multiple institutions “I am deeply proud of the trainees I mentor,” Dr. Ojukwu says. “In a system that can sometimes reward efficiency over humanity, I am most inspired by trainees who choose to stay fully engaged with both the science and the people it serves.”  

Dr. Ojukwu has been a collaborative and inclusive leader, dedicated to communication and education since medical school—serving elementary students with Anatomy Academy to launching a pathology clinic at a safety net hospital with her collaborative team to directing the Pathology for Surgeons curricula and working with trainees.   

When asked about her leadership style and if she had advice for new leaders, Dr. Ojukwu shares, “My leadership style is grounded in authenticity and shared purpose. I believe that people do their best work when they feel seen, not just as trainees or professionals, but as whole individuals navigating a complex system. My advice for new leaders is this: do not lose your humanity in the pursuit of excellence. Efficiency matters but meaning sustains you. The more you stay connected to why you entered medicine, and to the people you serve, the more impactful and fulfilling your leadership will be.”