BIO
ORIGIN
Chidiebere Ibe (born Sunday 31 March 1996) hails from the Igbo ethnic group and is a native of Ebonyi State, Nigeria, was born in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. He speaks English, Igbo, and Ibibio. Chidi has 3 siblings.
Having lost his mother to surgery for fibroid, he became passionate about medicine, especially as it relates to women and children. He began medical illustrations by reading anatomy textbooks, watching videos online, and practising illustrations using hand sketches, and a computer mouse. Presently, he is a Medical Illustrator, renowned for the creation of the Black Fetus Illustration.
EDUCATION & CAREER
Chidiebere has MBBS in view at Kyiv Medical University, Ukraine. He holds a BSc degree in Chemistry from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He is a TEDx speaker whose impact and works have been featured by reputable online media like Forbes, CNN, BBC, Good Morning America, WebMD, and Huffington Post among others.
He currently serves as the Medical Illustrator of Harvard Medical School International Center for Genetic Disease, the Chief Medical Illustrator & Creative Director of the Journal of Global Neurosurgery, Research Fellow and Creative Director of the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons (AFAN), a Junior Member of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, Global Neurosurgery Committee, etc
Chidiebere’s career in medical illustration started in 2020. He quickly realized the under-representation of People of Color, especially black people in medical illustrations which created health inequities and hampered proper diagnostics for black patients; so he took the initiative to bridge this gap by creating hyper-realistic, diverse and inclusive black-skin medical illustrations with the hope that this will improve the health outcomes of People of Color.
He has so far worked with several medical schools, medical associations and societies, multinational entities, etc., to expand the frontiers of diversity and inclusion in the health care system. He is a regular keynote speaker at conferences, workshops, and college events.
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
Conference Officer – BrainBook Charity (2021-Present)
- Organize a global neurosurgery conference annually alongside other team members.
President American Chemical Society – University of Uyo (2019-2021)
- Won an outstanding global international student chapter award twice for the university.
- Won a total grant of $20,000 under my leadership as president.
- Chartered two more chapters in Nigeria.
- Hosted Chemistry Festival Nationwide, twice.
- Registered over 120 students into the American Chemical Society.
Secretary General – Students’ Chemical Society of Nigeria (2018-2019)
- Hosted one south-south chemical conference.
Financial Secretary – Students’ Chemical Society of Nigeria, South-South, Nigeria
PUBLICATIONS
Kanmounye U, Zolo Y, Tsopmene DM,… Chidiebere I et al. Understanding the motivations, needs, and challenges faced by aspiring neurosurgeons in Africa: An e-survey. British Journal of Neurosurgery. December, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/02688697.2020.1862053
Zolo Y, Sebopelo L,… Chidiebere I et al. Increasing neurosurgery interest in Africa: An analysis of the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons’ social media handles. ECAJS Journal. October, 2021. http://journal.cosecsa.org/public/in-press/ecajs-20200092.r1-accepted-or-211026.pdf
Ignatius N. Esene, Ahmed Negida, Chidiebere Ibe… et al. Observational Studies in Neurosurgery: Structure, Functioning, and Uses. World Neurosurgery, Volume 161, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2021.12.014
RECOGNITION
Chidi has been recognized by Project Management Institute (PMI) as one of the 3 Nigerians featured in its third annual Future 50 list, which features 50 rising leaders using bold and innovative thinking to transform the world through notable projects. Ventures Africa also featured him as one of the 7 Notable Inventions in Africa in 2021.
PARTNERSHIPS
As an advocate for diversity and inclusion in medical illustrations and a proponent of equitable healthcare, Chidiebere believes strongly in the power of continued advocacy and representation of People of Color in the medical literature.
MY VISION
To promote the use of African skin types in medical illustrations for medical textbooks and public health materials. Equal representation, inclusion, and diversity in healthcare practice are things I want to bring about in medical training/education in the coming years.
PROSPECTS
Presently a medical student at Kyiv Medical University, Ukraine, Chidi hopes to build a career in Paediatric Neurosurgery and work with others to establish an association for black medical illustrators.
PAST CONTRIBUTIONS
- President of the American Chemical Society, International Student Chapter, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
