Ije Akunyili, daughter of former and late National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) chairman Dora Akuyili, has been appointed the new chief medical officer of the Jersey City Medical Center.
The centre made the announcement on Thursday, December 12, saying the Nigerian was appointed because of her “wealth of experience and knowledge.”
With the appointment, Ije is the first African American medical professional to serve in that role, the centre said.
“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,” RWJBarnabas Health Executive Vice President/Chief Medical and Quality Officer Dr. Andy Anderson said in a statement.
“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,” JCMC President/CEO Michael Prilutsky hailed the new CMO in a statement available on the centre’s website.
In her most recent role, Akunyili served as the regional medical director for TeamHealth, Northeast Group, where she had strategic, operational, and clinical oversight of nearly 20 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, Akunyili served as the chair of emergency medicine at Waterbury Hospital, a Level II trauma teaching hospital.
She was awarded the 2019 Medical Director of the Year Award for the impressive turnaround of the Waterbury Hospital Emergency Department.
Her mother, Dora served as NAFDAC managing director from 2001 to 2008. She was a Nigerian professor of Pharmacy.
