DR. UDOCHUKWU O. ASONYE, FAAP

Chief of Pediatrics and Neonatology

 

 

Dr. Asonye obtained his M.B.B.S at University of Ibadan in 1972. He completed his a pathology residency at University of Nigeria in 1974. At University of Illinois Hospital Chicago he completed a pediatric residency in 1976 followed by a neonatology fellowship at the same hospital in1978. He then did a short stint as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago. In November, 1979 he went part-time at the University of Chicago to become the  Founder, President and CEO of Midwest NeoPed Associates, Ltd, (NeoPed) a now >60 Physician Neonatology, Pediatrics and Hospitalist Medical Group.  Groups’ focus was in the organization of Neonatal-Perinatal Services in Community Hospitals initially, in Metropolitan Chicago Inner City Hospitals.

 

In the intervening years. Dr. Asonye worked to establish credible Level IIs, III Facilities in over 20 Hospitals in greater Chicago and in the process, reduced Perinatal Mortality in the Chicago Inner City Hospitals from >79/1000 to <20/1000 over five (5) years mostly by education and skills development. He was able to Introduced High Risk Neonatal-Perinatal health Care System in these Hospitals.

 In the mid to late 1980’s Dr. Asonye persuaded the Illinois Department of Public Health to expand opportunities for Community Hospitals for the upgrading of Services and recognized “Level II with Exceptions” later to be called “Level II with Extended Capabilities” Designation, thereby creating a prospective process for Designation for “Levels of Care”.

 

Between 1998 and 2000, Dr. Asonye worked with the Illinois Perinatal Advisory Committee to eliminate the “Moratorium” on the Designation of Level III Facilities, opening the way for the introduction of sophisticated Neonatal-Perinatal Services to community Hospitals. He then spearheaded and guided three (3) facilities from Basic level II to Level III Designation in Illinois and NW Indiana. He then expanded the Scope of Services of NeoPed from purely Neonatology to Hospital-Based Pediatrics and now, Medical/Surgical Hospitalist Services.

 

Currently Dr Asonye is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Midwestern University Medical School, Downers Grove, Illinois. Over the years, NeoPed has served more than 30 Hospitals in over 5 Health Care Hospital Systems.  NeoPed has utilized the services of >300 Neonatology, Pediatric, Internal Medicine Specialists and >20 Neonatal Nurse Practitioners.  NeoPed currently serves over 16 Hospitals and 10 Referral Facilities.

 

Dr. Asonye has invested in local medical projects, community development, building churches, health centers, offering scholarships and micro-finance to deserving recipients in Nigeria

Dr. Asonye is a founding member of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) and currently chairs the ANPA Committee on Maternal/Child Health Initiatives.

 

Dr. Asonye has participated in multiple (2-3/year) Medical Missions in Nigeria.  He has also participated in the establishment/equipment of Teaching Hospitals – notably in Imo State. He was part of a 6-Physician team that Evaluated and made Recommendations for Medical Care Services Reorganization in Katsina State on the Initiatives of the State Government in August, 2007.

 

He was a key figure in the establishment of the Calabar Women & Children’s Medical Center, spearheaded by Former Governor and Mrs. Donald Duke, Cross River State.  Dr. Asonye currently serves on the Board of the Medical Center. More recently, Dr. Asonye has turned his attraction to Health Care Services in his Home State of Abia, Nigeria.  He led the effort and construction of a State-of-the-Art 20-Bed functioning Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia.

 

At the Initiative of Dr. Asonye and as the Immediate Past President of  the 100 IGBOS, USA, Inc, a Cultural Organization of IGBOS in the USA, Abia State Government has established an Independent Medical Task Force to advise Abia State in the Comprehensive, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary System of Health Care in Abia State. The 100 IGBOS, USA, Inc has collaborated and partnered with a Private Medical Center in Enugu, Enugu State, to establish a Critical Care Intensive Care Unit, a fully equipped Mobile Diagnostic Surgical Unit and Critical Care Ambulance.

 

As a member of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health Diaspora Joint Technical Task Force Committee,  Dr. Asonye was elated and enthused by the Federal Ministry of Health (in collaboration with 7 International Organizations) “Integrated Maternal/Child Health Care Program”.  His dream to see ANPA and Nigerian Professionals in Diaspora in partnership with USAID, other organizations in Nigeria to see full implementation of the Agenda well described in the belated Federal Maternal/Child Health Care Program.

 

Dr. Asonye was involved in Grant Application to the USAID RFA for a 5 Year Maternal/Child Program in Bauchi & Zamfara States of Nigeria presents a unique opportunity to begin the implementation of the “Integrated Maternal/Child Health Care Initiatives” starting with the two states with extraordinary, very high maternal and children under 5 years morbidity and mortality.

Dr. Asonye’s Agenda is to devote his ending professional years to the Initiatives in Nigeria to achieve a life-long goal of organized and accessible Maternal/Child Health Care System in his native Nigeria. In this effort, he is currently involved with the establishment of four (4) different Private Health Care Facilities in Nigeria.