Biography
Born and raised in Nigeria, Chris is a vascular surgery resident at Michigan Medicine. He attended Purdue University for college, completing a B.Sc. degree in Chemistry. He then completed his MD at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and his PhD in Chemistry at Dartmouth's Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. During surgical residency, his research endeavors have led to the 2020 Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society Resident Research Award, and a NIH F32 grant investigating the impact of Notch inflammatory pathway inhibition on wound repair pathophysiology. His research interests include intra-arterial calcification, critical limb ischemia, diabetic wound healing, drug development, design and delivery, and practice-changing clinical outcomes research.
Academic Development Time (ADT)
My research interests lie at the intersection of medicinal chemistry, immunology, and vascular pathophysiology. Specifically, I’ve been involved in understanding how chromatin modifying enzymes alter the inflammatory responses seen in diabetic wound healing and using my skills as a chemist to develop novel therapeutics against these new targets. ADT has really solidified for me my desire to become a surgeon scientist with a dynamic basic science laboratory in the near future. It’s also provided the much-needed time to develop my own theories and questions that I intend to take with me into my first job.
Mentorship
Paying it forward has always been a joy of mine. I had the privilege of being part of the leadership team for LEAGUES this year, and it was a true pleasure to watch our fellows grow in their understanding of health policy, clinical research and surgical training.
Education:
- Undergraduate: Purdue University
- Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
- Graduate School: Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth
Mentors:
Meet Dr. Christopher Audu, Resident Liaison
Why Michigan Surgery
"The team, the team, the team. I chose Michigan for its stellar surgical training, the opportunity to have mentors who have walked the career path I intend to trod, and the wonderful family-friendly and collaborative environment. It was an easy choice, really."
Life in Ann Arbor
"Ann Arbor has something for everyone. Its been a great place for me to raise my daughters and has provided opportunities to get outside and play. Additionally, it’s not terribly far from other beautiful parts of Michigan up north. The other thing I appreciate about A2 is the closeness of the Detroit airport. It makes traveling that much more feasible."
Hobbies
"My hobbies include exploring Ann Arbor, biking, kayaking/canoeing, reading and creative writing."
Questions?
If you are considering becoming a surgical resident at Michigan Medicine, contact Christopher Audu at caudu@umich.edu or reach out on Twitter @ChrisAuduMD with any questions about the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency program.