Olakunle Akinboboye, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York, was chosen to chair the cardiovascular disease board of the American Board of Internal Medicine. The board is responsible for certifying cardiologists in the United States. Dr. Akinboboye is the first Black physician to head the board in its 81-year history.
In accepting the appointment, Dr Akinboboye noted that “unfortunately I am taking over the mantle of leadership at a point in time in which many cardiologists are openly revolting because of what they perceive as high handedness of the board.” But he vowed to “work with other board members to come up with assessments for practicing cardiologists that are fair, and not unduly burdensome.”
Dr. Akinboboye is a native of Nigeria. He earned his medical degree at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and completed his residency at Stony Brook University in New York. Dr. Akinboboye also holds a master of public health degree and an MBA from Columbia University in New York. Dr. Alinboboye is the past president of the National Association of Black Cardiologists.
