Diversity Training Branch Chief Dr. Peter Ogunbiyi Retires from NCI
, by CRCHD Staff
Dr. Peter Ogunbiyi
We at the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities want to congratulate Diversity Training Branch Chief Peter Ogunbiyi, PhD, DVM, who retired from the National Cancer Institute at the end of 2020 after nearly two decades of outstanding service and leadership. Throughout his time at the NCI, Dr. Ogunbiyi worked tirelessly to build, develop and advance the institute's diversity training efforts, and by extension, to increase workforce diversity nationwide.
Dr. Ogunbiyi was truly instrumental in developing the NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) and Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE) programs into the flagship NCI programs they are today. His efforts were critical to helping shape a smoother and more visible path toward careers in science and medicine, especially among those from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in cancer research and care, within these programs for the Institute.
Dr. Ogunbiyi’s path to NCI began with completion of his doctoral degree in veterinary medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, where he went on to become a Professor. Dr. Ogunbiyi earned MSc and PhD degrees in pharmacology/toxicology from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, before completing his post-doctoral work at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. He was on the faculty at Tuskegee University, Clayton College and State University, and Southern Polytechnic State University.
In 2002, Dr. Ogunbiyi joined NCI as a Program Director in its Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch (CMBB), which was then located in the Office of Centers, Training, and Resources (OCTR) in the NCI Office of the Director. CMBB was moved into CRCHD in 2007. Dr. Ogunbiyi became Chief of CRCHD’s Diversity Training Branch in 2013.
We wish our long-time friend and colleague a terrific retirement. We are grateful for him, and we are honored to have worked alongside him to advance cancer research and workforce diversity. Dr. Ogunbiyi epitomized the very best of what NCI strives to do for the health and well-being of all Americans, and he and his service will be long remembered and sorely missed.