Baltimore Health Commissioner Ihuoma Emenuga is no longer an employee of the city effective immediately, according to a memo sent to the members of the Baltimore City Council late Monday.
Emenuga, who previously worked for the city in a different capacity, has served as city health commissioner for fewer than eight months. She was tapped to replace former Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa in January. Dzirasa left the health commissioner post to serve as deputy mayor for Equity, Health, and Human Service. She resigned from that position in March.
The memo to council, sent by City Administrator Faith Leach, did not expand further on the reason for Emenuga’s departure. Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Simone Johnson will serve temporarily as interim commissioner, the memo said.
A source with knowledge of the personnel move who was not authorized to speak about it said Emenuga was terminated due to a “pending investigation.”
According to the Maryland Board of Physicians, Emenuga’s license as a medical doctor was issued in April 2014 and set to expire at the end of September. Her primary practice is listed in state records as a Park West Health System clinic in Northwest Baltimore, and no disciplinary actions or pending charges have been reported by the board.
Before joining the city, Emenuga most recently served as managing partner at the health care consulting company, Vie Health. She also has served as medical director for Chase Brexton Health Care, and chief medical officer at Park West Health System and Family Health Centers of Baltimore. She earned a medical degree at the University of Nigeria and holds graduate degrees from the University of London and the University of Maryland, College Park.
She served previously as a medical director for the Baltimore City Health Department’s Youth Wellness and Community Health Division, according to a news release circulated by the city when she was nominated for the position in December.
When she was hired, Mayor Brandon Scott said Emenuga, a board-certified internal medicine physician, would “bring her extensive experience, dedication to public health and innovative thinking to her work on behalf of Baltimoreans in every neighborhood.”
“As we safeguard all types of health in our communities, Dr. Emenuga will be critical in helping us build a healthier, more equitable Baltimore,” Scott said at the time.
Baltimore Sun staff reporter Dillon Mullan contributed to this report.
This story will be updated.
Originally Published: July 29, 2024 at 7:24 p.m.