Zudi Takizala

Zudi Takizala, MBA, MD, MPH is a clinical research coordinator at Meharry Medical College. She currently oversees the operational, administrative and financial management of the Clinical and Translational Research Center.
One of her proudest accomplishments in her current role is her team's contribution to the success of one of the largest pediatric mRNA CoVID vaccine trials conducted. In addition, her team made significant contributions to the emergency use authorization by the FDA of a CoVID-19 vaccine for children and one for adults during the CoVID pandemic.
At the beginning of her career, she worked as a geriatric physician in Belgium. After moving to the US, she worked in the Prevention Research Center at the Meharry Medical College, exposing her to the pervasive health disparities plaguing the American healthcare system.
As an immigrant, Dr. Takizala had to learn to navigate an unfamiliar healthcare system. Using these experiences, she became an advocate for various family members, refugees, and immigrants in healthcare settings. She created a resource list to facilitate new immigrants' transition to life in America. The document provided information regarding accessing public services, signing up for government assistance, registering for health insurance, and more. Seeing how a lack of information and access to quality medical services impacted these vulnerable communities, furthered her interests in public health.
Dr. Takizala earned her MD degree from Université Catholique de Louvain (Catholic University of Louvain) in Brussels, Belgium. After relocating to the US, she earned her MBA and MPH degree from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.
Dr. Takizala serves on the board of Université Nouveaux Horizons (New Horizons University) located in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Additionally, she acts as an officer of Kemi’s Friends, a nonprofit created by her children. This charity is dedicated to providing resources to underserved communities in the DRC.
She is married and a mother of three children, Wabi (29), Kahwit (25), and Kemi (19). In her free time, she loves listening to world music and enjoys experiencing new cultures through travel. She believes that immersing oneself in different cultures is essential for personal growth and development.