Boluwaji Ogunyemi FRCPC (born 1986) is a Nigerian-born Canadian dermatologist based in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2024, he was elected as president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association and took effect in 2026, making him the first black president of the association and its most youngest, serving at 39 years old.[1][2]
Bolu Ogunyemi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Boluwaji Ogunyemi 1986 (age 39–40) |
| Education | Memorial University of Newfoundland University of British Columbia University of Western Ontario Rotman School of Management |
| Occupation | dermatologist |
| Title | President of the Canadian Medical Association (2026–2027) |
| Predecessor | Margot Burnell |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
editEarly life and family
editBoluwaji Ogunyemi was born in Nigeria to Abayomi and Mary Ogunyemi and has 2 siblings.[3] They immigrated to Canada in the late 1980s when he was 11 years old and had settled in St. John's.[3][4][5][6] His father became the first neurology and epileptology professor of Newfoundland at the Memorial University of Newfoundland while his mother ran one of the first stores for African hair care and accessories.[3][5][6]
Education
editIn 2013, he completed medical school in Memorial University and received his Ph.D. in dermatology at the University of British Columbia in 2018.[7] He had also received a joint honours degree on sociology and medical sciences at the University of Western Ontario as well as completing the Leadership Program at Rotman School of Management in Toronto.[7][8] In 2024, he completed a Fellowship in Health Services Improvement at the University of Alberta.[7][9] Since 2018, he had been practicing dermatology in a specialist clinic in St. John's and also runs a regular clinic in Labrador City.[1][7][9]
Career
editIn 2020, Ogunyemi became the Assistant Dean of Social Accountability in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University for three years.[7][9] He had also been the member of the Board of Directors of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association for three years.[10][6][9] He also became a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Doctors for Medicare, the Resident Doctors of British Columbia, and the Canadian Dermatology Association.[4][9] Furthermore, he also was a member of the Public Health Ethics Consultative Group in the Public Health Agency of Canada.[9]
He also served as a member of the Governance Commitee of the Canadian Medical Association.[8][10] In 2024, Ogunyemi was elected president-elect of the CMA, following a majority vote against Susan MacDonald.[10] In 2026, he officially assumed president of the association, following the completion of Margot Brunell's term as president, making the first black and the youngest person to assume presidency at the association.[1][11] He also said that he was the first in the Memorial University almnus to be elected as such.[1][5] Nigerian president Bola Tinubu congratulated Ogunyemi on being elected as president, commending his qualifications at the job.[12][13]
Awards and recognitions
editIn 2017, Ogunyemi was awarded the Harry Jerome Award for Health Sciences.[14][15]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 Smellie, Sarah (1 June 2026). "Canadian Medical Association's first Black president brings N.L. resilience to role". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ↑ "Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi is the new president of the CMA | Canadian Healthcare Technology". Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 3 "Proust questionnaire: Boluwaji Ogunyemi, MD". British Columbia Medical Journal. 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 "Dr. Boluwaji Ogunyemi". Canadian Immigrant. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 3 "Memorial alumnus first Black president of Canadian Medical Association | Faculty of Medicine". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 3 "Boluwaji Ogunyemi is set to become the Canadian Medical Association's first Black president". Ron Fanfair. 2025-07-14. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Prasad, Aarathi (2025). "Boluwaji Ogunyemi: challenging the status quo for better health". The Lancet. 405 (10478): 534. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00249-1. PMID 39956115.
- 1 2 "Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, President | CMA". www.cma.ca. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reporter 2, T. S. J. (2024-12-07). "Nigerian doctor, Bolu Ogunwumiju becomes 1st black president of Canada medical association - The Street Journal". Retrieved 2026-07-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - 1 2 3 "Election results: Newfoundland and Labrador members elect Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi as CMA president-elect nominee | CMA". www.cma.ca. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ "Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi is the new president of the Canadian Medical Association | CMA". www.cma.ca. 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ Release, Press (2024-12-09). "Tinubu commends Nigerian elected president of Canadian Medical Association". Premium Times. ISSN 2360-7688. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ Reporter 3, T. S. J. (2024-12-09). "Tinubu applauds Bolu Ogunyemi on election as Canadian Medical Association president - The Street Journal". Retrieved 2026-07-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Harry Jerome award winners have excelled in their fields". Ron Fanfair. 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ "2017 Recipients". Harry Jerome Awards. Retrieved 2026-07-11.