Chudy Nduaka
Associate Director, Clinical Development

Pfizer Global Research and Development, New London, CT

It's a common perception that you are either a "math-science" person or an "English-history" type. Chudy Nduaka blows this theory to bits: he's a board certified toxicologist, has a veterinary degree and a PhD in pharmacology - and he's about to publish his first novel (and its protagonist is an actress, not a scientist).

As a child, art, humanities and literature were Chudy's passion. But as his father was a veterinarian and his mother a nurse, there was some gentle nudging towards a health care-related pursuit. As an Associate Director of Clinical Development at Pfizer Global R&D facility in New London, Chudy is responsible for managing and monitoring of clinical trials around the world, at more than 100 research centers in 32 countries.

Chudy is a member of the Pfizer Africa American networking group in Groton/New London and provides mentorship to young African-American undergraduate and graduate students across the country. His drive to mentor young students and enhance their science education led him to found and head the Africa Education Initiative (NEF), a non-profit organization with a mission to advance science in Africa. As the organization's president, he has helped to initiate strategies for improving education and health care for Africa's children. Recently, the group, in partnership with Pfizer, started a community clinic in rural Nigeria.

In 2002, Chudy started one of the first HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment program for mothers and children in Liberia. His motivation is deeply personal - he lost both of his parents because the hospitals where they lived in Africa simply did not have adequate medicines and resources. And he doesn't want another family to go through this horrible experience.

As he notes, "The medicines that Pfizer brings to patients changes lives on a daily basis. I know what I do is important, because I see lives turned around."