Chikeluba “Valentine” Okafor, MD

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Undergraduate School: East Carolina University

Medical School: East Carolina University

Hobbies/Outside Interests: Soccer and Hiking.

Favorite things to do in Charlottesville: Discovering all the trails and wineries in the city.

Why did you choose UVA? I chose the University of Virginia for anesthesiology because it offers the rare combination of rigorous clinical training and a genuine culture of support. From my first conversations with faculty during interview season, it was clear that residents here aren’t just only trained to be excellent anesthesiologists but they’re also mentored as people too. UVA’s reputation for excellence in perioperative care, combined with a faculty invested in resident wellbeing, made this an easy choice. As a first-generation immigrant from Nigeria who found my calling in medicine, I’m drawn to programs where growth and humanity go hand in hand, and UVA embodies that balance.

Anesthesiology Interests: At the moment, I am open to exploring all subspecialties and honing my craft to become an excellent anesthesiologist.