As more Nigerians in the diaspora count to prove themselves in different fields of human endeavours, Ijeoma, the daughter of the late Professor Dora Akunyili, has been named the Chief Medical Officer of the Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJ Barnabas Health facility, in the United States of America.
A release on the official website of the centre, which announced the appointment, said that Dr. Akunyili is the first African American medical professional to serve in that capacity.
The MD, Executive Vice President/Chief Medical and Quality Officer at WJBarnabas, Dr. Andy Anderson, said that her “experience managing multi-specialty physician groups in integrated health care systems would help support Jersey City Medical Center in providing comprehensive health care throughout the community.”
“She 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,” added, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Center, Michael Prilutsky.
Ijeoma, who expressed appreciation on her appointment, 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,” she said with a tone of excitement.
It would however be recalled that her late mother, Dora Akunyili was the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control of Nigeria(NAFDAC) from 2001 to 2008 and was later appointed Minister of Information and Communications.
She brought so much sanity to the pharmaceutical and beverage industries in Nigeria through policy formulation that helped to check the proliferation of fake drugs and beverages in Nigeria. But she died in 2014 after a two-year battle with cancer. She would be remembered for forthrightness and love for Nigeria.
