Dr Olusimbo Ige Is First Female Black Commissioner in Chicago

Dr. Olusimbo Ige makes history with her appointment as Chicago’s Department of Public Health’s first black female commissioner.

A Nigerian woman, Dr. Olusimbo Ige has been appointed as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). thus becoming the first black female to occupy the position.

Dr. Ige received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and her Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Ibadan. She also received her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.

She is the Managing Director of Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and has served as the Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Congratulating Dr. Ige on Sunday, a statement signed by the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described her milestone as “extraordinary”.

Dabiri-Erewa said Ige’s appointment has once again confirmed that Nigerians in the Diaspora are excelling and impacting positively wherever they find themselves.

The NIDCOM boss urged Ige to live up to expectations while motivating other young Nigerian professionals to also be good ambassadors of Nigeria in their chosen careers.

In her reaction, Dr. Ige said: “It is a distinct honor to serve the city of Chicago in this role. Through collaboration with the Johnson Administration and with community members in Chicago, I am confident that we can improve the health outcomes for all Chicagoans.

“I have spent my entire career in the public health field, and I look forward to bringing all that I have learned to CDPH.”

From 2020-2023, Dr. Ige served as the Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

In her role as Assistant Commissioner, Dr. Ige advised New York City’s health and human services executive leadership team including the Commissioner of Health, Vice-President of Health and Hospitals, and the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.

During her time at the NYC Department of Health, Dr. Ige developed a community health worker program focused on outreach and engagement with Black communities and she spearheaded efforts for vaccine equity across the city.

Dr. Ige worked closely with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, academic institutions, and other partners to advance equitable health outcomes for all New Yorkers.

Prior to her time in New York, Dr. Ige served as the Executive Director of Global Health for the General Board of Global Ministries, where she successfully led health initiatives across the United States and 30 other countries.