IDU USA Board Members

General Secretary: Dr. Olubunmi Afonja

Dr. Olubunmi Afonja is a true daughter of the soil. Born and raised by Dr. Lateef Emiola (from Alafara Olubadan) and Mrs. Otolola Emiola (nee Alabi) (from Isale Ijebu), she spent most of her childhood and early adulthood in Ibadan. She started elementary school at Sacred Heart Primary School, Ring Road Ibadan and completed this at the Staff School, University of Ibadan. She then attended International School, University but had to leave to complete secondary school at Government Girls’ College Maiduguri when her father accepted faculty position at the Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri.

She did a year of advanced level courses at the Polytechnic Ibadan before proceeding to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan where received her undergraduate degree in Medicine and Surgery (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S., equivalent to MD).  Following a year of rotating internship at the University College Hospital (UCH), she came to the USA to pursue postgraduate residency training. She did general pediatric residency training at the State University of New York, Health Science Center in Brooklyn  (SUNY Downstate Brooklyn) and then proceeded to do her subspecialty training in childhood cancers and hematologic disorders at New York University (NYU). Dr. Afonja is board certified in general pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology. Dr. Afonja has also pursued and obtained a Masters degree in Business Administration from the George Washington University. Dr. Afonja has been actively involved in basic science research with several published manuscripts in peer reviewed medical journals.

Dr. Afonja is married and blessed with three wonderful children. She joined the New Jersey Chapter in 2009 and was elected as the General Secretary of IDU USA in October 2010.