Prof. Patrick Dakum, MBBS, MPH
Prof. Patrick Dakum, MBBS, MPH is a distinguished Nigerian public health physician, implementation scientist, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN). With over 42 years of experience, Dr. Dakum has led IHVN's growth from a small team to a workforce of over 600 professionals, managing grants totaling $50 million annually from global funding agencies like CDC, USAID, and The Global Fund. He has been instrumental in Nigeria’s public health response to pandemics, including HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19, overseeing programs that have placed over 350,000 patients on therapy. An Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr. Dakum specializes in HIV and TB epidemiology, implementation science, and public health strategies for resource-limited settings, with over 50 publications in international journals. A former Commissioner of Health in Plateau State, he continues to shape health policy and mentor future leaders in public health.