About

Benjamin Chi, MD, MSc, holds appointments in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lived in Lusaka for over a decade (2003-2015), where he led a research portfolio focused on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, HIV care and treatment, and maternal and child health. He has served on guideline committees for the World Health Organization and as a consultant to UNICEF, working to translate research into policy. Since returning to Chapel Hill in 2015, his activities in Zambia have expanded to other neighboring countries, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, Dr. Chi leads several research training programs designed to foster U.S. collaborations abroad, including the UNC Global Women’s Health Fellowship and the UJMT Fogarty Global Health Fellows Consortium. He is an active mentor to numerous faculty and fellows—from the U.S. and abroad—with dedicated NIH support for these efforts.

Awards and Honors

• Fogarty International Center Advisory Board, NIH, 2024-Present 
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Therapeutics Working Group for HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs, World Health Organization, 2022-Present 
• Chief Scientific Officer, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, 2012-2014
• Maternal and Child Health Guideline Development Group, World Health Organization, Department of HIV/AIDS, 2012-2013
• Obstetrics Co-Chair, PMTCT Scientific Committee, IMPAACT, 2010-2013
• Fellow, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2008
• Diplomate, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2006
• Technical Working Group for PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Treatment, Zambian Ministry of Health, 2003- 2015

In the news

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  Association of Postpartum Cardiovascular Biomarkers with HIV Among Women with Recent Preeclampsia in Zambia

  Women recovering from preeclampsia with elevated vascular biomarkers have a higher risk of future cardiovascular diseases. Benjamin H. Chi, MD, MSc, investigated whether HIV on treatment was associated with biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in the weeks following delivery. Dr. Chi analyzed data from a six-month prospective cohort study conducted from January 2022 to June 2023. … Read more

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  Preclinical Usability Evaluation of the Liveborn app: A mobile Health Application

  Neonatal mortality, particularly due to failure to breathe at birth, remains a significant challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Liveborn mobile health application for newborn resuscitation was developed to provide real-time guidance and support debriefing for healthcare workers in LMICs. Benjamin H. Chi, MD, MSc, and Jackie Patterson, MD, MPH, conducted this study … Read more

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  Evaluation of an Adherence Strategy to Support HIV Antiretroviral Therapy for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Malawi

  In a pilot study, Lauren M. Hill, PhD, and  Benjamin H. Chi, MD, MSc, evaluated a combination adherence support package for HIV antiretroviral therapy, for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in Malawi, which included an adapted motivational interviewing-informed counseling approach (Integrated Next Step Counselling, iNSC) and an optional adherence supporter. They screened 106 … Read more

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  Benjamin Chi Successfully Renews K24 Mentoring Grant

  Benjamin Chi, MD, MSC, the Institute’s Associate Director of Fellowship Programs, has successfully renewed a K24 mentoring grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. This will be the second five-year grant cycle for which Dr. Chi has received this award. Dr. Chi is a Distinguished Professor … Read more

Education