Dr. Ijeoma Akunyili, daughter of the late former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Control and Administration (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili, has achieved a historic milestone in the United States.
Dr. Akunyili has been appointed as the Chief Medical Officer of Jersey City Medical Centre, becoming the first Black physician to lead the hospital since its establishment in 1882. The development was made public in a post shared on X on Friday.
Despite building her medical career in the United States, Dr. Akunyili continues the legacy of excellence associated with her family. Her appointment mirrors the trailblazing path of her late mother, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who was also a record-breaker in public service.
The statement read: “Jersey City, NJ – Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, announced the appointment of Ije Akunyili, MD, MBA, MPA, as the new Chief Medical Officer effective January 2, 2023. Dr Akunyili is the Medical Center’s first Black Chief Medical Officer.
“RWJBarnabas Health is proud to add Dr Akunyili to its executive clinical leadership team. Her experience managing multi-specialty physician groups in integrated health care systems will help support Jersey City Medical Center in providing comprehensive health care throughout the community,” said Andy Anderson, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical and Quality Officer for RWJBarnabas Health. She will be a tremendous asset to our team.
“Dr Akunyili has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and as our Chief Medical Officer, we look forward to creating a world-class experience for every patient at Jersey City Medical Center. I am confident that Hudson County will benefit in a great way from her leadership, and that her presence will have a tremendous impact,” said Michael Prilutsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Center.
“In her most recent role, Dr Akunyili served as the Regional Medical Director for TeamHealth, Northeast Group, where she had strategic, operational, and clinical oversight of nearly twenty emergency departments, critical care, and hospitalist service lines in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. She led an unprecedented fourfold expansion of service lines with a specific focus on medical services and access to care for underserved populations.
“Previously, Dr Akunyili served as the chair of emergency medicine at Waterbury Hospital, a Level II trauma teaching hospital. There she was the change agent who led a dynamic team in dramatically reducing the lengths of stay, improving overall performance across multiple patient-centered metrics, and increasing physician staffing. She was awarded the 2019 Medical Director of the Year Award for the impressive turnaround of the Waterbury Hospital Emergency Department.
“In addition to her executive experience, Dr. Akunyili has vast leadership and advocacy experience, and is currently serving as the President of the Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians (CCEP). Prior, she served for several years on the board of directors of Texas and Connecticut Colleges of Emergency Physicians. She was an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, and she is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale University.”
Reacting to the appointment, Akunyili thanked the hospital and added that she remains committed to ensuring quality service delivery.
She said: “I am grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to serving the residents of Hudson County and continuing to provide safe, innovative, efficient, and equitable care. It is a true privilege to lead the clinical effort at Jersey City Medical Center and to create sustainable health outcomes for our community.”
Dr Akunyili graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her emergency medicine residency at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
Prof. Akunyili served as the first female Director-General of NAFDAC after her appointment in 2001 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. She held the position until 2008 and later became Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Communications in 2009.
In 2011, Prof. Akunyili resigned from the ministerial role to contest for the Anambra Central Senatorial seat, a race she eventually lost to former Governor Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Dr. Ijeoma Akunyili’s achievement has been widely celebrated as a moment of pride, reflecting both professional excellence and a lasting family legacy.
