Dr. Ije Akunyili, the first Black woman to be appointed Chief Medical Officer at Jersey City Medical Center
Nigeria’s Ije Akunyili was recently appointed Chief Medical Officer at Jersey City Medical Center. This was seen in a publication on the website, announcing her appointment.
Dr. Akunyili is the daughter of Dora Akunyili, a former professor from Nigeria who served as the Director-General of Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from 2001 to 2008.
In her position, she will support Jersey City Medical Center in delivering comprehensive healthcare to the entire community, thanks to her experience leading multi-speciality physician groups in integrated healthcare systems, according to Andy Anderson, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical and Quality Officer for RWJ Barnabas Health.
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In response to her appointment, she stated, “I am grateful for this opportunity. I look forward to serving the residents of Hudson County and continuing to deliver safe, cutting-edge, effective, and equitable treatment. 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’s educational background in emergency medicine is applaudable. She first received an academic degree from the University of Pennsylvania before earning a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard. She later returned to UT Houston, where she finished her residency in emergency medicine, and was honoured with the Michael Wainstock Outstanding Resident Award given by the Texas ACEP Chapter.
Dr. Akunyili has actively participated in EMRA (Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association) and ACEP(American College of Emergency Physicians) and has held several leadership roles. She led the EMRA Council from 2013 to 2014 and a position in the House of Delegates of the Texas Medical Association, specifically as a member of the Harris County delegation to the TMA (Texas Medical Association). She also represented ACEP in the AMA-RFS (American Medical Association Resident and Fellow Section) section from 2012 to 2014 and was elected to the TCEP (Texas College of Emergency Physicians) Board of Directors in 2014. In the same year, she was made a full Councilor from Texas. Akunyili has been involved in the Texas Chapter of ACEP and has shown a desire to mentor others. She currently serves as the fellowship’s co-director.