The following message was sent to the Department of Medicine community from its chair, Kathleen Cooney, MD, MACP.
I am excited to announce that Opeyemi Olabisi, MD, PhD, will assume the role of Chief of the Division of Nephrology, effective June 1, 2025. I would like to thank Dr. Cathleen Colon-Emeric for leading the search committee that evaluated both internal and external candidates for this important position. Dr. Olabisi's dedication to translating basic research into preventive measures and innovative therapies, along with his collaborative approach across disciplines, will greatly enhance the outstanding work within the division.
Dr. Olabisi is currently an associate professor in the Division of Nephrology and is a member of the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute. He also serves as the vice chief for research within the division. Prior to his recruitment to Duke in 2019, he was a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he studied the use of patient-stem cell-derived podocytes to uncover the disease mechanisms of APOL1 nephropathy, which is prevalent in our patient community.
Dr. Olabisi graduated summa cum laude from The City College of New York with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He earned his doctor of medicine and doctorate of philosophy degrees from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, followed by a nephrology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Since arriving at Duke, Dr. Olabisi has received innumerable research awards including the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, recognizing high-risk/high-reward research conducted by early-stage investigators, and multiple NIH R01 grants. Additionally, he has received several honors from the Duke School of Medicine, including the Whitehead Scholars Award and the Ruth and A. Morris Williams Faculty Research Prize. In 2025, he was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation, one of the nation's oldest medical honor societies.
We look forward to having Dr. Olabisi join the Duke Department of Medicine leadership team and anticipate his significant contributions as we continue to advance the field of medicine. He is an inspiring leader who is committed to training and mentoring future academic nephrologists. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Olabisi on his new role.
I would also like to recognize Dr. Christina Wyatt for serving as the interim Chief of the Division of Nephrology. She has provided outstanding support to the division’s faculty, staff, and trainees during the past year, and her contributions are greatly appreciated.