Professor Ima-Obong A. Ekanem MBBS(Ibadan), FMCPath(Nig), FWACP(Lab Med), FICS, JP, is a Chief Consultant Pathologist, scholar, researcher and first female Professor of Pathology at the University of Calabar and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. She hails from Afaha Iman , Etinan LGA of Akwa-Ibom State. Currently, she is Director, Calabar Cancer Registry and the 2015 awardee of the International Association of Cancer Registries, Calum Muir Fellowship. A medical graduate of University of Ibadan with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor Surgery (MBBS) degree since 1977. Her Pathology training began in, Zaria at A.B.U. hospital and continued with a two year visiting fellowship at the University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She joined the University of Calabar as Lecturer Two in 1983 and obtained her Fellowship of the National Post-graduate Medical College of Nigeria in Pathology, 1987. Thereafter she was appointed Consultant Pathologist at the UCTH, Calabar. She is fellow of the West African College of Physicians in Laboratory Medicine, a 1990/91 Commonwealth Visiting Fellow at the St. Thomas Hospital, London, UK and Fellow International College of Surgeons (Nigeria Chapter). Formerly, Head of Pathology Department at the University and the Teaching Hospital for over 12 years, till 2013. She was a senate member and presently an examiner at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and West African College of Physicians. Her research interests include: Pathology of Cancers in women and children, Cancer epidemiology and tobacco control among youths. She has co-authored three books including a text book of Human Pathology edited by Ed’ B Attah and published over five dozen articles in peer-reviewed journals. She has won several honours locally and internationally, for her outstanding contributions in cancer control and prevention. Professor Ima-Obong Ekanem’s contributions in the training of both undergraduate medical and allied health professional students in the University and post graduate Resident doctors in UCTH have been duly appreciated by awards of excellence by the Calabar University Medical Students Association(CUMSA) and the Association of Resident doctors(ARD)- UCTH. As a way of encouraging the study of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the University, she has instituted an annual award of PROFESSOR IMA-OBONG EKANEM PRIZE for the best graduating student in Laboratory Medicine at the Part 2 MBBCh/MBBS professional examinations at the University of Calabar College of Medical Sciences since 2014 and the University of Uyo College of Health Sciences in 2016 respectively. She is a member of many professional bodies including, Nigerian Medical Association(NMA), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria(MDCAN), Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria(MWAN), College of Nigerian Pathologists(CNP), Nigeria Cancer Society(NCS), American Society of Clinical Pathologists(ASCP) and African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer(AORTIC) Ima-Obong was born on November 15 and is happily married to Prof. Asukwo D. Ekanem, a Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. The family is blessed with four lovely children and grand children. She enjoys singing, gardening and sharing the good news of salvation.