Onye Ononogbu, PharmD, MPH, BCOP, Discusses Her Journey to Advance Health Equity and Patient Care Through Research

Pharmacy Times interviewed Onye Ononogbu, PharmD, MPH, BCOP, on her journey into research as a pharmacist. Ononogbu is a research assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research and a faculty member at the Population Health Outcomes and Pharmacoepidemiology Education and Research (P-HOPER) Center at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy in Texas. She is also a hematology/oncology clinical pharmacy specialist at the UT Physicians Adult Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. Additionally, she is a co-founder and board member of Pharmacy Initiative Leaders, Inc (PILs), an organization dedicated to coaching and equipping fourth-year pharmacy students with the tools needed to secure postdoctoral residencies, fellowships, and job opportunities, with a focus on promoting equity in the workforce.

Onye Ononogbu, PharmD, MPH, BCOP

Pharmacy Times: What brought you to research as a pharmacist, and how has research shaped your work in the field?

Onye Ononogbu, PharmD, MPH, BCOP: Since my undergraduate years, my journey into research as a pharmacist has been driven by my passion for serving the underserved and addressing health disparities within that community. My role as a hematology/oncology clinical pharmacy specialist and my focus on public health and epidemiology have allowed me to merge clinical practice with innovative research. Research has shaped my work as a seasoned clinician and an early research investigator by enabling me to address critical gaps in care, develop evidence-based tools, and advocate for equitable health care solutions through publications, presentations, and grantfunded projects.

Pharmacy Times: What is your role within the research team, and how often are you involved in pharmacist-led research?

Ononogbu: Traditionally, I play various roles. I serve as a principal investigator, co-investigator, collaborator, and research mentor to PharmD and PhD students. My responsibilities include designing studies, analyzing clinical outcomes, writing manuscripts, mentoring, and translating findings into actionable health care practices. My engagement in pharmacist-led research is deeply inspired by clinical questions arising from my practice at the UT Physicians Comprehensive Adult Sickle Cell Center and collaborative research projects.

Pharmacy Times: When getting involved with a research team, are you most frequently connected through your institution, or have associations or other groups provided opportunities for research collaboration?

Ononogbu: I primarily connect with research teams through my institutional roles at the UT Physicians Comprehensive Adult Sickle Cell Center and the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, as well as through collaborations with institutions within the Texas Medical Center. My recent NIH [National Institutes of Health]–funded grant involves a partnership with Howard University, and I have played a key role in fostering research collaborations across the nation. Additionally, my active involvement in groups focused on health equity and diversity often opens doors to broader and more impactful collaborations.

Pharmacy Times: What are some of your greatest accomplishments as a pharmacy researcher?

Ononogbu: Some of my greatest accomplishments include securing an NIH grant to investigate the connection between pain and the gut microbiome in patients with sickle cell disease; developing a project to create a tailored depression screening tool for patients with sickle cell disease, addressing inaccuracies in current methods; cofounding PILs, which has significantly improved diversity and representation within the pharmacy workforce; and being able to grow and learn from incredible mentors in this field when I wasn’t sure if I knew how to do it. Seeing the fruits of my hard-earned labor has been refreshing and exciting.

Pharmacy Times: Can you share a recent publication that highlights your research area and why it stands out as a significant accomplishment?

Ononogbu: I recently published an article in Lancet Hematology titled “Call to Action: Equitable Comprehensive Care for Patients With Sickle Cell Disease in the USA.” This work highlights the systemic barriers faced by [patients with] sickle cell, including discrimination, fragmented care as they transition from pediatric to adult services, and frequent reliance on emergency [departments] due to severe pain crises and a lack of comprehensive care. The article emphasizes the urgent need for compassionate, equitable, and multidisciplinary care models. I am extremely proud that Lancet Hematology recognized the importance of this issue and provided a platform to amplify this call for change.