Ever heard of Toyin Ajayi?
Toyin Ajayi is a physician, Co-founder, and CEO of Cityblock Health, a primary health care provider that focuses on underserved populations who rely on Medicare and Medicaid in the United States.
She is not just a doctor, she is a healthcare visionary transforming the lives of millions across America!
From her childhood in Kenya to leading a billion-dollar healthcare revolution, Toyin’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.
With her brilliant mind, compassionate heart, and groundbreaking leadership, she’s proving that healthcare can be accessible, equitable, and truly serve those who need it most.
Here are nine incredible facts about this remarkable woman!
She’s Building a Healthcare Empire Worth BILLIONS!
Toyin, co-founded Cityblock Health, which skyrocketed from a startup to a company valued at nearly $6 BILLION! Her company focuses on serving people who use Medicare and Medicaid, groups often overlooked by traditional healthcare systems.
Her Doctor Dad inspired her
Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, she watched her father work as a physician during the AIDS epidemic. His dedication to improving maternal health planted the seeds for her remarkable journey in healthcare—like father, like daughter!
She’s Got an IMPRESSIVE Education
She collected degrees from some of the world’s top universities—Stanford University (bachelor’s in human biology), University of Cambridge (master’s), and King’s College London School of Medicine (medical degree). Talk about academic excellence!
She started a Non-Profit in Sierra Leone at Age 25
While most 25-year-olds were figuring out their careers, Toyin was already changing lives! In 2009, she launched a non-profit in Sierra Leone—a country with only 50 doctors for 7 MILLION people. There, she improved community-hospital relationships and discovered her true calling: building healthcare systems that work for everyone.
She Believes in the Power of Trust
Toyin understands something many healthcare leaders miss—trust matters! She’s passionate about building genuine connections with underserved communities, especially communities of color and people with mental health needs. She believes you need trust before you can help people change behaviors and improve their health.
She Kept Seeing Patients Even as an Executive
Even while serving as Chief Medical Officer at Commonwealth Care Alliance, Toyin continued seeing patients. She stayed connected to the frontlines of healthcare while leading from the top! This hands-on approach gives her insights that many healthcare executives simply don’t have.
She’s Tackling Healthcare Inequality Head-On
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted America’s healthcare disparities, but Toyin was fighting them long before that. She’s made it her mission to create community-based healthcare solutions that work for everyone regardless of income or background.
She’s Racked Up Major Recognition
She’s been named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Women of Impact, featured on TIME Magazine’s TIME100 Next list of rising leaders, recognized by the Black Business Ventures Association on their Founding 50 list of top Black tech founders, and selected as one of Modern Healthcare’s Women to Watch. In 2024, she reached another milestone by being elected to the National Academy of Medicine!
She Gives Back Through Advocacy
Beyond her medical work, Toyin served as a board member for the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center from 2017 to 2019. Her commitment to helping vulnerable populations extends beyond the doctor’s office, showing that her compassion knows no bounds!
