In memory of Dr. Ada Adimora, trailblazing physician scientist and mentor
January 5, 2024
Dr. Adaora Adimora
It is with heavy hearts that the Gillings School of Global Public Health shares the passing of our esteemed colleague, Adaora Adimora, MD, MPH, professor of epidemiology at the Gillings School and Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Medicine at UNC’s School of Medicine.
Adimora, a brilliant and compassionate physician scientist, left an indelible mark on her colleagues and students as well as the broader public health and medical communities.
She earned a medical degree from Yale University in 1981, later moved to North Carolina and received a Master of Public Health from UNC’s School of Public Health in 1993.
She joined the School of Public Health’s Epidemiology Department as a clinical assistant professor in in 1997 and became a full professor in 2009. A true pioneer, she made history as the first Black woman to achieve tenure within UNC’s Department of Medicine.
During more than 25 years of clinical practice, she dedicated her career to treating patients with HIV and investigating the epidemiology of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Her groundbreaking work shed light on heterosexual HIV transmission within Black communities, emphasizing the role of sexual network patterns and addressing the impact of macroeconomic and social forces on racial disparities during the United States HIV epidemic.
In 2019, Adimora was elected to the National Academy of Medicine — a testament to her exceptional intellect and commitment to advancing health care. In 2020, her peers honored her with the Thomas Jefferson Award, which is UNC’s most prestigious faculty recognition. In 2021, she was recognized as the No. 17 expert in AIDS and HIV in the world.
Her leadership extended to numerous state and national positions, including roles in the N.C. Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Control Section, the National Institutes of Health’s Prevention Trials Network, the HIV Medicine Association, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Antiretroviral Treatment Guidelines Panel. She also served with prestigious groups such as the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Advisory Council.
Notably, Adimora’s tireless efforts did not stop with her research and leadership roles. Despite her demanding schedule, she generously gave her time to mentor and advise countless students, trainees and junior faculty. This commitment to nurturing the next generation of health professionals reflected her deep passion for education.
“Ada was fearless. She was kind, smart, tenacious and funny,” said Stephen Cole, PhD, a professor and close collaborator of Dr. Adimora’s in the Department of Epidemiology. “But her intellectual courage was the secret sauce that made her an unparalleled partner in medical research. Ada was an untiring advocate for people infected with HIV, particularly women. This is a huge loss.”
Dr. Adaora Adimora will be profoundly missed, and her legacy will inspire those who follow in her footsteps.
A funeral service will be held Monday, January 8, at noon in the main sanctuary of World Overcomers Christian Church (2933 South Miami Boulevard, Durham, N.C.).
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in her honor to the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.
A larger celebration of Dr. Adimora’s life will be planned for the spring.
Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.
