Dr. Odiraa Nwankwor is a highly distinguished Pediatric Intensivist currently serving at the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition to his clinical role, he holds the esteemed position of Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson University, located in Philadelphia.
His extensive academic journey began with his graduation from the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He further honed his expertise through a rigorous residency training program in pediatrics at the Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center/New York University program in Brooklyn, New York. Following this, he completed a specialized fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, solidifying his deep understanding of complex pediatric cases. Dr. Nwankwor also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the prestigious Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, demonstrating his commitment to broader health initiatives.
Dr. Nwankwor’s dedication extends beyond his immediate clinical practice. He was recognized as a fellow of the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program, an initiative that underscores his commitment to global health. Currently, he serves as a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, further strengthening international medical collaborations. His leadership capabilities are also recognized through his certification as a Certified Physician Executive (CPE).
At the core of Dr. Nwankwor’s professional passion lies global child health. His primary focus is on capacity building and strengthening health systems and services, particularly in the delivery of care for critically ill or injured children in resource-constrained environments. A testament to this commitment is his groundbreaking work in 2019, when he led a pioneering team from Nemours Children’s Hospital and Cooper University Hospital. This collaborative effort culminated in the establishment of Nigeria’s first organized Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, a significant milestone in improving pediatric critical care in the region. Continuing his philanthropic efforts, in 2025, he generously donated essential medical equipment and supplies to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka, further enhancing their capacity to care for children.
Beyond his direct medical work, Dr. Nwankwor is also a visionary leader and founder of several impactful organizations: Global Health Projects Inc., the Nigeria Pediatric ICU (PICU) Project, and the Health Place for Children Initiative. These organizations share a common and vital mission: to establish “medical homes” for critically ill children in environments with limited resources, ensuring they receive comprehensive and sustained care.
Dr. Nwankwor is widely regarded as a gifted teacher and an enthusiastic scholar, a reputation earned through his consistent dedication to education and continuous learning. His outstanding contributions have been recognized with numerous academic and community service awards throughout his career. These accolades include the “Best Graduating Resident in Pediatrics” in 2008, multiple “Faculty Teaching awards” in 2017 and 2018, and being named a “South Jersey Magazine Top Doc” in both 2020 and 2021. His significant impact on the community was acknowledged with the “African Community Service Award” in 2021. Further demonstrating his educational excellence, he received the “Sidney Kimmel Medical College Deans Award for Excellence in Education” in 2021. His commitment to humanitarian efforts was highlighted by the “Local Heroes Award from the Nigerian American Nurse Anesthetics Association (NANAA)” in 2022. Most recently, he was honored with the “Excellence in Health Leadership Award from the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA)” in 2024, and was recognized as an “Ambassador Per Excellence from the University of Nigeria College of Medicine Alumni Association-North America (UNCOMAA-NA)” in 2025, underscoring his profound and lasting influence on both medical education and global health initiatives.
Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.
