© 2024 WYPR
WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore WYPF 88.1 FM Frederick WYPO 106.9 FM Ocean City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Healthcare coverage from WYPR is made possible by support from GBMC HealthCare.

Scott dismisses Baltimore health commissioner after less than a year in the job

Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga after being sworn in as Health Commissioner by Mayor Brandon Scott at Baltimore City Hall on March 20, 2024. (Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner)
Jessica Gallagher
/
The Baltimore Banner
Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga after being sworn in as Health Commissioner by Mayor Brandon Scott at Baltimore City Hall on March 20, 2024.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott abruptly fired the city’s health commissioner, Dr. Ihouma Emengua, Monday night.

The administration did not provide a reason for the dismissal, but sent out a statement Monday evening saying the move was already in effect.

“Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga will no longer serve as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner and is no longer employed by the City of Baltimore, effective immediately,” Scott said in the statement.

Deputy City Administrator Simone Johnson will act as interim health commissioner until Baltimore finds a new permanent replacement.

Johnson has more than two decades of local and state government experience.

She previously served as the chief of staff and chief operating officer at the Baltimore City Health Department.

She also served as chief of staff for the Maryland State Department of Housing and Community Development and for the Maryland Transit Administration.

Emenuga took over as health commissioner after Dr. Letitia Dzirasa left the position to become the deputy mayor of equity, health and human services.

Emenuga had only been in the position for about seven months.

She previously worked as a managing partner at Vie health, a health care consulting firm. She also served as director of Baltimore’s Youth Wellness and Community Health division.

Scott is the Health Reporter for WYPR. @smaucionewypr
Related Content