How long have you been a member of the Black Health Network, and what drew you to CBHN?  

I have been a member of CBHN for a little over a year. After relocating to California and establishing the Center for Family Health Initiative (CFHI), our priority was to expand our impact by building meaningful partnerships with organizations aligned with our mission. In that process, we actively sought out groups committed to advancing African American health and equity – and that led us to CBHN.

We joined CBHN not only to support the important work they lead, but also to amplify CFHI’s vision and mission: empowering African American families to live healthier, safer, and more fulfilling lives. Through CBHN, we discovered a community of like-minded partners who share the same values and goals, making membership a natural and purposeful step for us.

What is your current profession?  

I am a physician turned academician. Currently, I serve as an Assistant Professor of Health Management in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where I teach courses in Health Management and Public Health. I also teach Research Methods as an Adjunct Professor at the Yo San University in Los Angeles.

In addition to my academic roles, I serve in a non-paid capacity as the Chief Operating Officer and Board Secretary of the Center for Family Health Initiative (CFHI). I am also actively involved as a volunteer in several community-based programs across Southern California.

From your perspective, what barriers exist in achieving health equity for Black Californians?  

Significant historical, structural, and systemic barriers continue to impede health equity for Black Californians. These challenges are rooted in a long legacy of racism and exclusion – from the era of slavery and “man’s inhumanity to man,” to unethical medical practices such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, to biased clinical algorithms and standards of care that have contributed to disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

While these issues are well-documented, one barrier that receives far less attention is the persistent use of racial nomenclature that oversimplifies identity and reinforces outdated hierarchies. Categories such as “Black” and “White” were historically constructed in ways that fueled inequity and continue to influence social, health, and political systems today. In reality, all people have cultural, ethnic, and geographic roots – whether in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, or elsewhere.

Reframing how we speak about identity and lineage, and moving away from reductive racial labels, could help disrupt longstanding structures that perpetuate inequities. Until we critically address both the historic injustices and the frameworks that sustain them, health disparities affecting African Americans will remain difficult to overcome.

Both in your work and with CBHN, how have you been able to prioritize the health of Black Californians?  

In both my academic work and my engagement with CBHN, I have been intentional about prioritizing the health and well-being of African Americans.

At California State University, Dominguez Hills, home to the highest number of African American students among public institutions in the United States, I integrate health equity concepts directly into my teaching. In my Public Health courses, students explore the nine dimensions of health through experiential learning. I encourage them not only to apply these principles personally but also to share them with their families and communities, including African American households that may benefit from increased awareness and access to wellness practices.

In Fall 2025, I launched a student-led organization, Designed to Lead (D2L), with a mission to equip students – particularly African American students – with the knowledge, skills, and leadership tools they need to live healthier, safer, and more fulfilling lives, and to empower others to do the same.

Through the Center for Family Health Initiative (CFHI), we have also taken direct action to support African Americans. Our Lift to Live project, which received external funding, focuses on helping African Americans adopt healthier lifestyles through education, outreach, and community engagement. CFHI conducts research and assessments to generate data that can meaningfully inform decisions, policies, and community programs. We also provide practical support, including financial assistance, groceries, temporary housing, and other resources, to help African American individuals and families overcome barriers to well-being.

Across all these efforts, the goal is the same: to advance health equity, build capacity, and strengthen pathways to healthier lives for African Americans in California.

What inspires you to keep doing the work you do?  

My inspiration for this work traces back to a defining moment in my early medical training. As a medical student, I witnessed a child brought from prison to be circumcised – a moment that deeply unsettled me and awakened my commitment to advocacy. That experience motivated me to begin writing and publishing on issues affecting vulnerable populations, to establish my first nonprofit focused on child abuse, and to serve as a Child Ombudsman.

Over time, I came to understand that children thrive best within stable, healthy family systems. This realization led to the creation of the Center for Family Health Initiative (CFHI), built on the belief that supporting the entire family is essential to achieving lasting well-being.

What continues to inspire me today is seeing the tangible impact of this work: healthier families, brighter futures, and individuals (especially African Americans) living with dignity, balance, and joy. Every smile, every improved outcome, and every family that finds stability reinforces my commitment to keep doing this work.

What's the bravest thing you've ever done? 

The bravest decision I have ever made was uprooting my life in Nigeria – leaving behind my investments, businesses, and professional network/standing – to immigrate to the United States at age 50 so my daughter could pursue her dreams of studying and working here. It required starting over, embracing uncertainty, and trusting that the sacrifice would create better opportunities for my family.

In the years that followed, I have taken other courageous steps, including working among tribal communities in Klamath Falls, Oregon; driving for Uber and Lyft to meet financial needs despite my professional background; and opening my home to a homeless man in California. Each of these choices reflects my belief in service, dignity, and doing what is necessary – both for my family and for those around me.

These experiences, though challenging, have strengthened my resolve and reminded me that bravery often looks like humility, sacrifice, and choosing compassion in moments when it would be easier to look away.

What's the best advice you've ever received? 

The best advice I’ve ever received is this: “Nothing is impossible to the person who believes.” It taught me that belief (belief in oneself, in one’s identity, in one’s heritage, and in one’s capacity to create change) is the foundation of every meaningful accomplishment. When you ground yourself in that confidence, challenges become opportunities, and even the biggest goals become attainable.   

Question missing from this list: 

CBHN is truly making a meaningful difference, and I believe we can amplify that impact by further empowering nonprofits through training, capacity-building, and support in securing grants that enable them to reach and transform more lives.

Thank you for the opportunity and privilege to be profiled. It is an honor to contribute to this important work.