Dr. Ladun Oyenuga is into her first full week as Lyon County’s health officer.
Dr. Oyneuga joined KVOE’s Newsmaker 2 segment for an introductory interview. With coronavirus still raging, she says her first priority is to do what she can to slow the spread. Part of that deals with the vaccination process that began with healthcare staffers three weeks ago.
Besides coronavirus, Dr. Oyenuga’s responsibilities involve the investigation of different ongoing or potential health hazards and getting the word out about best health practices and accessible health services. She says coronavirus has “amplified” the need for those duties without actually changing much about the overall role.
Dr. Oyenuga is board certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine, serving her residency at Harlem Hospital Center in New York through Columbia University after receiving her undergraduate and medical education at a hospital in Nigeria. She plans to use that experience, plus her master’s degree in public health from Emory University and her time as a hospitalist at Newman Regional Health, to help as she begins her new role.
Dr. Oyenuga says leadership at Newman Regional Health approached her about the health officer position. She will keep her current position as hospitalist.
Dr. Oyenuga takes over the health officer role from Renee Hively, who resigned effective this past Thursday to concentrate on her role as chief executive officer at Flint Hills Community Health Center. Dr. Oyenuga says she has been talking with Hively and the Public Health staff as she gets acclimated.
