Health Member - Commissioner
Victoria O. Odesina

Victoria Odesina has worked in the field of public health for more than 25 years. She began her career in nursing in Nigeria, West Africa in 1977 and earned credentials in midwifery from Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa, Nigeria in 1979. Ms. Odesina holds both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Services Administration (1983) and a Master of Science degree in Community Health Education (1985) from Western Illinois University.

She currently works as a Clinical Research Facilitator/Program Nurse Coordinator for the University of Connecticut Health Center. There she directs, organizes, manages and evaluates a wide variety of clinical research projects. Ms. Odesina is responsible for the daily operation of the Medication Adherence Support Program for patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as supervision of records maintenance and communication with service facilities.

As a community health educator and advocate, Ms. Odesina has done extensive work in the area of sickle cell disease and HIV/AIDS. She has served as a consultant and clinical research nurse/instructor at Yale University School of Nursing relative to HIV/AIDS patient health monitoring and assessment.

Additionally, she has written, co-authored and published several articles and research papers related to pain assessment and management for sickle cell patients and pediatric sickle cell care. Ms. Odesina is Vice-President of Citizens for Quality Sickle Cell Care headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut. She was appointed to the African-American Affairs Commission in February 2004, by Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin B. Sullivan.