Historic Win: Yoruba-born Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi elected first black president of Canadian Medical Association

December 08, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

A Yoruba man, Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, one of the prominent clinical associate professor of medicine in Canada, has been elected as the president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

This historic win makes Dr. Ogunyemi the first black person to hold the position in the association’s 158-year history.

Dr. Ogunyemi, who practices medical dermatology in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, will serve as president-elect pending approval at the 2025 CMA annual general meeting.

He will then become the association’s president for a one-year term.

As the inaugural Assistant Dean of Social Accountability at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ogunyemi aims to build a robust and diverse health system.

His vision aligns with the CMA’s goals, and his election is seen as a significant step towards promoting diversity and inclusion in the medical profession.

Dr. Ogunyemi expressed his gratitude to his supporters, including medical students, resident doctors, and physicians across the province. He also thanked his colleagues, mentors, and family for their guidance and counsel throughout his career.

He said, “Thanks to medical students, resident doctors & physicians all over the province who supported me & shared candid advice on how we can work together.

“With gratitude, I thank my colleagues and mentors, both in academia and in the community, for their guidance and counsel. Lastly, I thank my family for their enduring support.” Dr. Ogunyemi mentioned.

The CMA presidency is a prestigious position that represents the association in the media, provincial and territorial medical associations, government, and other partner organizations.

Dr. Ogunyemi’s success is as a result of his leadership skills, expertise, and commitment to the medical profession.

As he prepares to take on his new role, Dr. Ogunyemi acknowledged the challenges ahead, including making life better for the medical profession and the communities they serve.

However, he expressed his optimism and enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead, stating that he looks forward to working together to achieve great things.