Dr. Olayiwola Inducted into National Academy of Medicine

Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President, J. Nwando Olayiwola, MD, MPH, FAAFP, has been inducted into the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, membership recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

The National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau noted “This is…the NAM’s most diverse class of new members to date, composed of approximately 50% women and 50% racial and ethnic minorities. This class represents many identities and experiences – all of which are necessary to address the existential threats facing humanity. I look forward to working with all our new members in the years ahead.”

Dr. Olayiwola was selected and recognized for innovation in health equity, primary care and health systems transformation, health information technology and workforce diversity. She is one of the youngest, as well as one of a small number of Black women to be admitted, and the first Humana executive. Also recently invited to join the White House Clinician Innovators Roundtable, Dr. Olayiwola is one of a select few physicians and women of color whose expertise bridges academic, healthcare delivery, health policy and health technology leadership.

“This is incredibly surreal, and it gets no bigger in medicine,” said Dr. Nwando Olayiwola. “The caliber of this particular class is unmatched so to be recognized, and also to have the opportunity to amplify heath equity work in the private sector at Humana, is all very humbling.”

Humana’s creation of the inaugural Chief Health Equity role in 2021 aligns to a core business objective focused on innovating healthcare. Humana is driving the transformation of healthcare to become more holistic, high quality, integrated, affordable and equity centered.

The newly elected members bring NAM’s total membership to more than 2,200 and the number of international members to approximately 172. The Class of 2021 was formally inducted in October 2022; read more about the class.