North Carolina Healthcare Association Honors Dr. Olu Jegede with Clinical Leadership Award
Jegede is recognized for his health equity work.
Greensboro — Dr. Olu Jegede, vice president of clinical care-health equity at Cone Health, has been awarded the North Carolina Healthcare Association’s (NCHA) 2024 Clinical Leadership Award. This award honors an individual who has demonstrated exemplary clinical leadership in care transformation through innovation and improvement. Jegede received the award July 17 at NCHA’s Summer Membership Meeting.
Jegede developed CATCH 5 in 5, which stands for Collaborative Actions Toward Community Health, to implement strategic community wellness events and expand access to health care using Cone Health’s mobile medicine units. Research from Cone Health has determined that there are areas where people live 15 years less on average than those who may live in an adjacent zip code. CATCH 5 in 5 is a sustainable community outreach program designed to give 5 years back to those living in these zip codes by improving health and reducing health disparity gaps.
Dr. Olu Jegede and NCHA Board Member John Green
In 2023, at CATCH 5 in 5’s first event, more than 700 attendees were screened for chronic diseases, cancers, and social health drivers and 130 completed wellness surveys.
Jegede successfully led efforts that reduced the number of people using the emergency department for non-emergencies by 18.1% and the number needing hospital-level care by 37%. These efforts improved the health and wellbeing for the patients served. He established the first transitional care clinic, which reduced the number of people returning to the hospital within 30 days after leaving it by 43% among established patients within the first year.
“Dr. Jegede’s innovative leadership and unwavering commitment to health equity have transformed community care, significantly improving health outcomes and reducing disparities,” said NCHA President and CEO Steve Lawler. “His dedication to this impactful initiative makes him truly deserving of this recognition.”
These efforts have also created partnerships with the City of Greensboro, including the departments of housing and health, local universities and other entities to provide access to health care using the mobile clinics. Thanks to these agreements, Cone Health has a calendar of community wellness events in partnership with community organizations in their service area. These events are scheduled at community centers, barbershops, malls, schools and churches. Jegede has also broadened Cone Health’s collaborations with nursing students at local universities to promote how they build health equity and well-being for their patients.
Jegede is a fellow of American College of Physicians (FACP), American Association for Physician Leadership (FAAPL), and American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Jegede was also appointed to the North Carolina Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome by Governor Roy Cooper and to the Minority Health Advisory Council by the North Carolina Senate Preside Pro Tempore.
