Dr. Tóyìn O
Opesanmí, MD
Physician. Public health leader. Philanthropist. Mentor.
Commissioner Dr. Tóyìn O Opesanmí, MD, affectionately known as Dr. O, is a physician, public health leader, mentor, philanthropist, and passionate advocate for healthier communities. She serves as Health Officer for Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and wellbeing of the community.
Public health and clinical leadership
Dr. Opesanmí serves as Health Officer for Prince George’s County, Maryland, protecting and improving the health and wellbeing of the community. A family physician with extensive experience in clinical medicine and healthcare leadership, she brings a commitment to health equity to her public service.
She previously served as Chief of Medicine at Park West Health Systems in Baltimore, treating patients living with HIV and substance use disorders. She subsequently served as Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of Gennesaret Medical Center, providing healthcare services across Maryland before her appointment as Health Officer.
She launched the first Health Enterprise Zone clinic in underserved Capitol Heights, Prince George’s County, expanding access to healthcare for a community with significant needs. This work reflects her commitment to reducing health disparities and increasing access to quality care.
Medical Mondays with Dr. O
To improve health and prevent disease in our communities, Dr. O hosts Medical Mondays with Dr. O, a free international virtual program on Zoom, streamed live on YouTube and Facebook on Monday nights. The program brings health education and expert conversations to a worldwide community.
Explore the conversations →Teaching and mentorship
Dr. O invests in the next generation of healthcare professionals. She teaches and mentors medical students, internationally trained physicians, nurse practitioner students, and physician assistant students, sharing her knowledge and experience to help develop compassionate, competent, service-oriented healthcare providers.
Global outreach and health equity
As founder of the nonprofit Global Vision Foundation, Dr. O works to address health disparities through health fairs across the United States and multidisciplinary medical missions internationally, including in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
She brings together physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, ophthalmologists, and other healthcare professionals to expand access to care in communities with significant unmet medical needs.
One particularly meaningful experience involved a man who had lost his sight because of cataracts. During a medical mission, he was evaluated and diagnosed; following surgery, he regained his vision. For Dr. O, his story embodies the meaning of service: restoring independence, dignity, and hope.
Board service and civic engagement
Dr. O believes in collaboration and civic engagement as ways to strengthen communities. Her board service includes Just Heart Help and the Baltimore City Medical Society, an affiliated component of MedChi, where she served as Treasurer. She also served as Board Chair of the Nigerian Center in Washington, DC.
Through these roles, she has contributed to initiatives that advance health, professional collaboration, and community wellbeing.
Awards and Recognition
Her dedication to service has earned numerous honors, including:
- Congressional Recognition from Congressman Glenn F. Ivey
- Certificates of recognition from Maryland Governor Wes Moore, former Governor Martin O’Malley, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott, and Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy
- Telly Award
- Nigerian Independence Ball Award, presented at the Nigerian Independence Ball Award & Dinner (NIBAD)
- American Success Award FIRN from Howard County
- Heroes of Tomorrow Africa Foundation Quiet Hero Award
- Nigerian American Lawyers Association Presidential Award
- She RISES International Making a Difference Award
- Women with One Voice Award of Excellence
A life of service
Despite her accomplishments, Dr. O considers the most meaningful rewards to be the lives touched, the suffering relieved, and the hope restored through her work. Her approach to healthcare extends beyond treating illness to caring for the whole person and recognizing each individual’s dignity, needs, and potential.
A woman of faith who loves Jesus and is passionate about serving others, she is known for her approachable nature, generosity, collaborative spirit, and commitment to helping others succeed. Whether caring for patients, mentoring healthcare professionals, serving on boards, or organizing medical missions, she strives to lead by example.
For Dr. O, true success is measured by the lives transformed, the hope restored, and the lasting positive impact one leaves on individuals and communities.