Ogechi Ikediobi, MD, PhD

     Dr  Ogechi's (aka Dr Chi)  early interest in the mystery and beauty of plants and how the scientific method can allow for a deeper understanding of the natural world led her to pursue training in the field of Pharmacy, earning her undergraduate degree in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharm.D.) from Florida A&M University (1998-2003).  However, during her clinical years, it became clear to her that the actual use of chemically synthesized medications could cause unintended consequences, some of which are due to inherent individual genetic differences in ability to metabolize medications.  That sent her on a quest to acquire a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of adverse drug reactions. In so doing, she completed and earned her Ph.D.  and post-doctoral work in Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenomics at the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK)  and the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD, USA) (2003-2008). 

     Armed with a unique perspective in the field of personalized medicine, she sought to apply this knowledge in a clinical setting. Therefore, she accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of clinical pharmacogenomics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).  However, after five years of a wonderful academic career (2007-2012), she realized that studying the impact of personalized medicine on a population level felt far removed from the one-on-one interaction with patients that she needed for her work to feel impactful.  Since she was already an avid practitioner of yoga and yoga philosophy, she delved deeply into the study of its sister science, Ayurveda.  She dedicated 625 hours of study and immersion and earned a certificate as an Ayurvedic wellness counselor at Kerala Ayurveda Academy (Milpitas, CA)(2012-2018). The training reconnected her to her early love for the appreciation of the medicinal properties of plants and herbs. Rather than focusing only on the impact of chemically synthesized compounds on human physiology,  she learned how to use plants, herbs and whole foods to heal disease.  Therefore, she realized her passion for improving the health and wellbeing of human beings would best be realized as a Physician, so she pivoted and earned her MD at UCSF (2014-2018).  Afterward,  Dr Chi completed her Dermatology residency at the University of California, San Diego  (2019-2022) and trained with internationally renowned experts in the fields of pediatric, medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology.

     Outside of work, Dr. Chi enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, traveling and cooking with her husband and their two children. She is a certified Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, avid practitioner of Yoga, passionate about holistic health care practices, and published a novel in 2016 called, “Mrs. Okonkwo”.