Ikenna Ikele

Profile

Dr Ikenna Ikele joined Queen Mary University of London in February 2024 as a Lecturer in Anatomy (Teaching & Scholarship) and serves as Module Lead for Locomotor 1 and BMD113. He is a medically qualified Clinical Anatomist with over sixteen years of academic, clinical, and leadership experience across the UK and Nigeria.

He holds a PhD in Anatomy and Human Identification, with substantial experience working with Thiel-embalmed cadavers and teaching using formalin-embalmed bodies. This expertise informs his understanding of anatomical variation, tissue handling, and clinical training environments.

Dr Ikele teaches gross anatomy, histology, neuroanatomy, embryology, radiological anatomy, and clinical reasoning. His teaching is known for its narrative-driven, clinically integrated approach, as reflected in his philosophy: “When you learn anatomy with joy, everything makes sense.”

He has published over twenty-eight peer-reviewed articles and presented at multiple conferences. His research interests include clinical anatomy, medical education, technology-enhanced learning, and narrative pedagogy.

His leadership experience includes serving as an Associate Dean and contributing to curriculum development, academic governance, and quality assurance. Clinically, he has held roles as Chief Medical Director and worked in infectious disease management, public health, and antiretroviral care, including projects with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Family Health International (FHI360).

He has received Elsevier funding to support STEM outreach in London schools through digital anatomy tools, and past honours include a Vice-Chancellor’s Award and recognition as Most Student-Friendly Lecturer. Aligned with QMUL’s Vision 2030, he promotes inclusive, evidence-based anatomy teaching and scholarship that connects foundational science with practice.

Teaching

Module lead Biomedical Science Anatomy 113
Module lead Locomotor 1
Co-supervisor for MA students QMUL
Anatomy teaching across MBBS, GEP, and BSc
OSCE examiner year 1 and 2; PBL and TBL facilitator
Academic Adviser providing pastoral and academic support

Research

Research Interests:

My research explores how anatomy can be taught and applied in ways that are clinically meaningful, ethically grounded, and emotionally engaging. I investigate joyful, narrative‑based approaches to learning, dissection‑room pedagogy, and student professionalism—bringing anatomy to life with joy. Alongside educational scholarship, I conduct applied anatomical research in orthopaedics, physiotherapy, and cervical spine morphology. My longer‑term vision focuses on developing and reconstructing medical implants and establishing anthropometric biomarkers that support diagnosis. I am particularly interested in whether measurable bony parameters can translate to MRI, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing imaging pressures within the NHS.

ORCID Number: 0000-0001-8415-3183

Link to ORCID: Dr Ikenna Ikele (0000-0001-8415-3183) - My ORCID

Link to Research Gate: Ikenna Theophilus Ikele

Link to Academia: Dr. Ikenna T Ikele. MBBS (Nig), MSc (Nig), PhD. (UK) - Queen Mary, University of London

Publications

Relationship between physical activity level and flexibility profile of Nigerian postpartum women January 2023Azerbaijan Medical Association Journal 63(01):7239-7249

Study at Queen Mary

Experience Queen Mary

Dr Ikenna Ikele, MBBS (Nig), MSc (Nig), PhD. (UK) - Queen Mary, University of London

Lecturer in Anatomy

Profile

Teaching

Research

Research Interests:

Publications