Priscilla Pemu

Priscilla E. Pemu is a Nigerian-American physician who is Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine. She has campaigned for increased diversity in clinical trials and equitable participation of populations in medical research. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2024.

Early life and education Pemu studied at the University of Benin. She specialized in anesthesia at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, and was a medical resident at Morehouse School of Medicine.

Research and career Pemu is a professor of clinical medicine at Morehouse College. Alongside clinical practice, her research has explored barriers that prevent communities engaging with clinical trials. These include restricted access to trial sites, reduced diversity among clinical investigators, the detrimental financial impacts of participation and mistrust. She has worked with Yale University and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine on "Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development", an initiative that looks to increase diversity in clinical trials.

Pemu has worked closely with the Community Physicians Network, an organization that looks to improve health outcomes for underserved patients.

Pemu was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Medicine in 2024.

Selected publications