Ex-NAFDAC DG Dora Akunyili’s Daughter Ijeoma Becomes 1st Black Chief Medical Officer of US Hospital

The daughter of former director general of NAFDAC, late Dora Akunyili, Ijeoma, has made history as the first black Chief Medical Officer of a heath facility in the United States.

Ijeoma who is the first daughter of the late Dora, was announced as the new CMO of the Jersey City Medical Center.

The medical center made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, adding that Dr. Akunyili is its first Black Chief Medical Officer.

NAFDAC was the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) where Akunyili was DG. She was also an ex-minister of information.

“Jersey City, NJ – Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, announced the appointment of lje 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,” the statement read.
“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 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.”