Dr. Ayo Ajayi appointed vice president for field programs

Contact:
Gena Morgan, PATH, 206.285.3500, media@path.org

Seattle, WA, August 25, 2008—PATH today announced the appointment of Ayo Ajayi, MD, MPH, as vice president of field programs, effective September 1, 2008. Dr. Ajayi is an internationally recognized expert with more than 25 years of experience in global health, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. His areas of expertise include building health service capacity and developing culturally appropriate service-delivery models in low-resource settings.

Ajayi will lead strategy development and implementation for PATH’s country programs in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. He will represent the organization internationally, nationally, and locally and serve as the primary liaison between PATH headquarters and field offices. Ajayi replaces Harriet Stanley, PhD, who has left PATH to return to her home community in British Columbia, Canada.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Ajayi join us in our work to strengthen and grow our country programs,” said Christopher Elias, MD, MPH, PATH’s president and CEO. “His leadership skills, outstanding knowledge of global health needs, and excellent relationships with other global health organizations and leaders will help us further our mission in the years to come.”

Ajayi is currently regional director for sub-Saharan Africa for the Population Council, where he manages seven offices and oversees the organization’s regional research portfolio. Prior to joining the Population Council in 1990, he was a regional vice president for Pathfinder International. He also taught at Boston University and served as a government health officer in Nigeria. Ajayi has been a consultant to USAID, the World Health Organization, and several United Nations agencies. His professional activities include serving as a board member for the Africa Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), which he helped establish, and as chair of the advisory committee on access for the International Partnership for Microbicides.

“I have worked closely with Ayo and know that his extensive knowledge of health issues facing sub-Saharan Africa will be an excellent asset to PATH,” said Alex Ezeh, PhD, MSc, a PATH board member and executive director of APHRC.

Ajayi completed his medical training at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and received a master’s degree in public health from Boston University. He also holds a certificate in family planning from the London University School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is fluent in Yoruba and Hausa.