Person

Chika C Okafor, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM (Epidemiology)

Associate Professor | Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences Department
Overview

Dr. Chika Okafor is a Pre-harvest Food Safety Epidemiologist. As the director of the Veterinary Public Health (VPH) Program, he oversees the veterinary concentration of the UTK’s Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program. His long-term research goal is to improve stewardship of antimicrobial use in food animals and veterinary medicine. He has utilized his expertise in both qualitative and quantitative epidemiological methods as well as statistical analysis of large datasets to understand/prevent animal diseases (e.g., bovine anaplasmosis) and pre-harvest food safety issues (colibacillosis, salmonellosis) associated with the use of antibiotics. He has published extensively in his field and has an excellent record of obtaining extramural funding. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and has a specialty board certification in Epidemiology from the same college. Before joining UT, Dr. Okafor did a post-doctoral fellowship in Nutritional Epidemiology at the University of Guelph, Canada. He received his PhD in Epidemiology and MS in Food Safety, both from Michigan State University, and his DVM degree was from the University of Nigeria.

Research Focus

Identifying patterns of antimicrobial use/resistance in animals and preventing pre-harvest food safety issues associated with antimicrobial use.

Teaching Focus

DVM and CEM courses in One Health, Public Health, Food Safety, Zoonoses, Biostatistics and Epidemiology.

Outreach Focus

American College of Veterinary Preventive Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Okafor enjoys mentoring students to a successful career in promoting One Health.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
CEM 508 - Epidemiology of Parasitic, Foodborne, and Bacterial Zoonotic Diseases
3 credit hour(s)

Emphasis is placed on understanding the host, agent, and environmental factors that determine the distribution of diseases of importance to both human and animal populations. Selected topics include anthrax and leptospirosis, in addition to parasitic and foodborne zoonoses. This is an online course.

Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

PUBH 593 - Directed Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Individual identification and study of health/wellness or health promotio problem/issue. Specific proposal must be presented to instructor before registration.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Makau, Dennis | Mahero, Michael

PUBH 693 - Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Individual study of selected issues.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Mahero, Michael | Makau, Dennis

VMP 833 - Public Health and Epidemiology
3 credit hour(s)

Study of distribution and determinants of disease in animal populations. Host-agent relationships, public health aspects of veterinary medicine and role of veterinarians in ecology and food hygiene. Use of knowledge (evidence) gained from management of clinical patients in past to improve future clinical decision-making processes.

Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Picture of Chika C Okafor, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM (Epidemiology)
A201 Veterinary Medical Ctr
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, , Michigan State University, 2011

Chika C Okafor, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM (Epidemiology)

Associate Professor | Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences Department
Picture of Chika C Okafor, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM (Epidemiology) image
A201 Veterinary Medical Ctr
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, , Michigan State University, 2011
Overview

Dr. Chika Okafor is a Pre-harvest Food Safety Epidemiologist. As the director of the Veterinary Public Health (VPH) Program, he oversees the veterinary concentration of the UTK’s Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program. His long-term research goal is to improve stewardship of antimicrobial use in food animals and veterinary medicine. He has utilized his expertise in both qualitative and quantitative epidemiological methods as well as statistical analysis of large datasets to understand/prevent animal diseases (e.g., bovine anaplasmosis) and pre-harvest food safety issues (colibacillosis, salmonellosis) associated with the use of antibiotics. He has published extensively in his field and has an excellent record of obtaining extramural funding. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and has a specialty board certification in Epidemiology from the same college. Before joining UT, Dr. Okafor did a post-doctoral fellowship in Nutritional Epidemiology at the University of Guelph, Canada. He received his PhD in Epidemiology and MS in Food Safety, both from Michigan State University, and his DVM degree was from the University of Nigeria.

Research Focus

Identifying patterns of antimicrobial use/resistance in animals and preventing pre-harvest food safety issues associated with antimicrobial use.

Teaching Focus

DVM and CEM courses in One Health, Public Health, Food Safety, Zoonoses, Biostatistics and Epidemiology.

Outreach Focus

American College of Veterinary Preventive Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Okafor enjoys mentoring students to a successful career in promoting One Health.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
CEM 508 - Epidemiology of Parasitic, Foodborne, and Bacterial Zoonotic Diseases
3 credit hour(s)

Emphasis is placed on understanding the host, agent, and environmental factors that determine the distribution of diseases of importance to both human and animal populations. Selected topics include anthrax and leptospirosis, in addition to parasitic and foodborne zoonoses. This is an online course.

Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

PUBH 593 - Directed Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Individual identification and study of health/wellness or health promotio problem/issue. Specific proposal must be presented to instructor before registration.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Makau, Dennis | Mahero, Michael

PUBH 693 - Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Individual study of selected issues.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Mahero, Michael | Makau, Dennis

VMP 833 - Public Health and Epidemiology
3 credit hour(s)

Study of distribution and determinants of disease in animal populations. Host-agent relationships, public health aspects of veterinary medicine and role of veterinarians in ecology and food hygiene. Use of knowledge (evidence) gained from management of clinical patients in past to improve future clinical decision-making processes.

Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.