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Your proven national voice for the future of healthcare.

Dr. Bolu

Ogunyemi

Proudly running to be your CMA President-Elect.

Integrity Experience Advocacy

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Bolu Ogunyemi, HBSc, MD, FRCPC, ICD.D
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, MUN
Health Services Improvement Fellow, University of Alberta ‘24

FROM Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi

Dear Physicians, Medical Students, and Resident Doctors,

It is with great enthusiasm and humility that I announce my candidacy for the position of Canadian Medical Association President-elect.

Since the pandemic, the rate of change in Canada’s healthcare system has been rapid. Future changes—social, demographic, and political—are bound to transform the way healthcare is administered, resourced, and funded.

With the encouragement of many respected physicians, academic, and community leaders, I have decided to put my name forward to lead because I believe I am well-positioned to advocate on the behalf of the healthcare system and our profession during this time.

I have considerable experience addressing the most pressing current and future challenges in healthcare. My background includes:

  • Advising the Government of Canada on who should receive the very first COVID vaccine doses during the height of the pandemic as a member of the Public Health Agency of Canada Ethics Consultative Group.
  • Designing North America’s first Leadership Development, and Implementation program specific to climate change health leaders. This program is now funded through the BC Ministry of Health.
  • Being the lead author of a national policy paper on how to use virtual care to improve health equity.
  • Completing an Interdisciplinary Fellowship in Health Systems Improvement through the University of Alberta School of Public Health.

Please see my full platform and vision for the CMA here:

https://www.cma.ca/about-us/who-we-are/presidency/2026-27-cma-presidency/dr-bolu-ogunyemi

I am a changemaker.

Healthcare has changed significantly since the pandemic, and I have been at the frontier.

The son of a neurology professor who left Lagos to pursue a Mayo Clinic fellowship and a tireless entrepreneur who was one of the first women from her region in Nigeria to attain post-secondary education, I understand that integrity, grit, and a vision of a better future can propel an unlikely journey.

As an early adopter, I was one of the first physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador to support online patient self-referral, reducing the burden on physicians’ offices and increasing patient autonomy. I have published articles on artificial intelligence in medicine and I leverage its use in delivering medical care. I am on the steering committee for Pathways NL, which is a web-based platform that will facilitate efficient referrals from referring physicians to consultants.

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I am at ease on the big stage.

I have lobbied the provincial government at the Confederation Building and the federal government on Parliament Hill for increased resources for medical education in rural areas. I am a TEDx speaker, and I delivered the Royal College Valedictory Address.

In addition, I have been interviewed many times by CBC, NTV, and Global TV over the last three years. My focus on health equity has allowed me to connect with a national audience. As a result, I have been published in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, CBC, Vancouver Sun, Huff Post, and the National Post.

I am a trusted voice to represent physicians nationally.

Considering my primary community practice in St. John’s, my established travelling clinic in Labrador City, my ongoing on-call duties, and my academic service as Assistant Dean, I feel that I can truly represent the diverse interests of a broad range of physicians in this province and across the country. I believe that my experiences as a physician leader on the provincial and national stage, as a skilled communicator, and as a dedicated equity advocate and administrator make me well-positioned to serve as President-elect of the CMA. I have been serving as a CMA Ambassador and member of the CMA Media Network and the CMA Governance Committee since 2020. This experience has given me a great familiarity with the organization, and I am ready to make the CMA work for physicians across Canada from day one. I am a proud MUNMED graduate, and I am honoured, not only to be able to practice in the community that raised me, but also to have the opportunity bring up my two daughters here. My professional involvement is borne out of a commitment to serve—to give back to the province that has given so much to me since immigrating here at the age of three years old . With your support, I hope to advocate for a unified and respected profession, a robust healthcare system, and healthier communities as the national voice for physicians in Canada.

Sincerely, Bolu.

Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi's Experience

Current Clinical And Academic Appointments

  • Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, MUN
  • Consultant Dermatologist, Eastern Zone, NLHS Services
  • Dermatologist, ProActive Wellness and Prevention
  • Visiting Specialist, Labrador-Grenfell Zone, NLHS Services
  • Consultant, Provincial eConsult Platform

Organized Medicine Leadership and Directorial Experience - National

  • Pathways NL Steering Committee, Consultant Representative
  • NLMA Board of Directors
  • NLMA Finance and Administration Committee
  • NLMA Transitioning Hospital-based Service Committee
  • NLMA External Liaison / Rep – HHR
  • Representation, Private-Public Debate Representation, Child Youth and Social Development Representation
  • Media and Stakeholder Relations Committee, Canadian Dermatology Association
  • National Practice Advisory Panel, Canadian Medical Association Journal
  • CMA Ambassador

International Advisory and Consultative Experience

  • Professionalism and Ethics Committee, American Academy of Dermatology
  • Choosing Wisely Steering Group, American Academy of Dermatology

Formal Leadership Training

  • Fellowship in Health Systems Improvement, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
  • Physician Management and Leadership Program, Memorial University
  • ICD.D, Director’s Education Program, Institute for Corporate Directors, Rotman School of Management
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Medical Association Fellow
  • American Academy of Dermatology Leadership Institute

Organized Medicine Leadership and Directorial Experience - National

Leadership and Advocacy For Underserved Groups

  • Memorial University Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
  • Canadian Dermatology Association EDI Committee
  • Indigenous Health Advisory Committee
  • Diversity and Inclusion Professional Certificate, Cornell University
  • Internationalization Task Force, Strategic Plan Implementation Team
  • AFMC Social Accountability Network
  • Physician Advisor, Black Physicians of Canada

Health Policy Leadership and Advisory Experience

Active Research Grants

  • CIHR Network Grant in Skin Health, Bone Health and Muscular Dystrophy. Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada): Advancing interdisciplinary, patient-relevant research to improve skin health. Role: Collaborator, Value: $2,000,000.00
  • CIHR – Team Grant: Transforming Health with Integrated Care (THINC) Implementation Science Team Grants. Role: Collaborator, Value: $400,000.00
  • SSHRC – The promotions process as an act of power: An institutional ethnography of faculties of medicine in Canada Role: Collaborator, Value: $199,870.00
  • Pfizer – Voicing Opinions, Identifying Concerns, and Expectations of Patients with skin of colour accessing dermatological care in Canada Role: Co-Supervisor, Value: $20,000.00

Communications Experience

Academic Leadership Experience

  • Assistant Dean, Social Accountability, Memorial University Faculty of Medicine
  • Senior Management Committee, Memorial University Faculty of Medicine
  • Team Lead, Social Accountability Accreditation Project Team
  • University-Wide Strategic Plan Facilitation Team, Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Destination Excellence Strategic Plan Implementation Steering Team, Memorial University Faculty of Medicine (2020 – 2023)
  • Accreditation Steering Task Force, Memorial University Faculty of Medicine
  • Admissions Committee, Memorial Faculty of Medicine
  • Current or former Member of over 25 committees at Memorial University

Other Leadership Experience

  • NLMA Physician Health Advisory Committee
  • Board of Directors, Skin Research Group of Canada
  • Board of Directors, Canadian Dermatology Association
  • Board of Directors, Resident Doctors of British Columbia
  • Canadian Medical Association Ambassador
  • Executive Committee, Canadian Professors for Dermatology

Awards and Honors

Advocacy for Medical Learners

In The News

NL Dermatologist Running for President-Elect of Canadian Medical Association
We're medical specialists, and see a side of the family doctor shortage you should know
Understanding The Crucial Role Of Resident Doctors
The status quo is not acceptable. We need bold, transformative action to save our health-care system

Please reach out to me directly and share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas!

One of the benefits of CMA membership for physicians and medical learners is the ability to vote for CMA President-Elect when the rotation is in their province or territory. Practicing and retired physicians, resident doctors, and medical students in Newfoundland and Labrador can register online to become CMA members:

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PLEASE NOTE:

Those with an active CMA membership as of 8 November 2024 should receive a link to vote in the morning of 20 November.

Voting takes place online starting November 20th!