Chinyere O’Connor, MD

Biography

Chinyere O’Connor, MD, is a board-certified pediatric critical care physician and assistant professor of pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. She earned her medical degree magna cum laude from St. George’s University, followed by residency and chief residency in pediatrics at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, New York. She completed fellowship training in pediatric critical care medicine at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital, where she also served as chief fellow.

Dr. O’Connor’s clinical and academic work centers on medical education, with a particular emphasis on medical ethics. Her contributions include developing ethics curricula, mentoring trainees at all levels, and guiding learners through their clinical and scholarly endeavors as well as their professional identity journey. She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and scholarship with honors such as the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award and the Junior Faculty Educator Award at UTHealth Houston.

An active contributor to the field, Dr. O’Connor has authored several peer-reviewed publications and engages with national organizations including the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is also a certified health care ethics consultant. At her institution, she serves on multiple committees and leads educational initiatives focused on ethics, professionalism, and the development of future pediatricians.