Say Hey to Funmi Adeleye

June 28, 2022
Portrait of Leah Sanford in glasses, smiling against a gray background with a purple frame and award badge.

The Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) is excited to introduce you to Olufunmilola (Funmi) Adeleye, our member in the spotlight for the month of July. Funmi is a full-time medical student at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. Earlier this year, she was elected to the ArMA Board of Directors as a Student Director.

 

Her journey to medicine is as unique as her perspective on life. In her interview for the member spotlight, Funmi shares her experience growing up in Lagos, serving the uninsured population in Oklahoma City, and how organized medicine plays a vital role in underserved communities.


Learn more about Funmi’s life with medicine below! 👇

What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?


As physicians and physicians-in-training, we are expected to have the knowledge to address almost any issue. However, many real-world challenges cannot be addressed in the classroom or clinical setting. To drive changes that affect both patients and physicians, passionate individuals must advocate and lend their voices to their community. As the largest organization in the state of Arizona that represents the interests of all physicians, involvement in ArMA means being a part of shaping the face of healthcare.


Growing up in a medically underserved community showed me a world with insufficient healthcare. Living in Lagos as a young girl, I witnessed the devastating health conditions of married underage girls, ailing neighbors with limited access to care, and grew up receiving care in medical facilities with poor sanitary conditions. This experience largely informed my decision to get involved in organized medicine. Physicians must collaborate to find solutions to health challenges and participate in shaping policies to achieve the best outcomes.


What has been the most memorable event in your career?


The time spent during my administrative residency at Mercy Health in Oklahoma City was one of my most memorable. I had the privilege of serving the health needs of the uninsured population by working on an outcomes-based pilot that utilized Community Health Workers to triage and manage their chronic conditions. I learned about their unique challenges including their social determinants of health as well as the decrease in health resources available to them. With this pilot, we demonstrated the ability to directly improve the health of the most impacted members in our community.


What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self?


When I was 18, I was so worried about the future that I did not fully experience and maximize my present moments. In hindsight, I would tell my 18-year-old self to slow down, live in the present, and create memories with the ones I love. I would tell her to have some patience with herself and build good habits. Consistency always pays off.


What do you like best about living in Arizona?


Arizona has a thriving scene of young professionals with unlimited opportunities to network and grow as future leaders. With its beautiful desert scenery and an endless array of activities, I can work hard and look forward to unwinding on my days off.


What’s your idea of a perfect day?


Having some quiet time to meditate and reflect before starting my day sets the tone for my perfect day. I would spend the day doing meaningful work and end my day knowing that I contributed something that was not there in the beginning.


What is your favorite meal? Least favorite meal?


My favorite meal is one of the popular savory delicacies in Nigeria - egusi and fufu. Egusi soup is chock-full of assorted meat and thickened with ground melon seeds balanced with leafy green vegetables enveloped in layers of nutty and spicy flavors. On the side is fufu, a traditional starchy blend of yams with a pull-apart dough-like texture. My least favorite meal is anything with a banana in it (except for banana bread).


What inspires you?


My family is my greatest source of inspiration. I would not be where I am without my parent's nurturing, my husband's encouragement, my siblings' support, and the motivation to be my daughter's role model. Whenever I stumble upon roadblocks, my family helps me see things differently, and this shift in perspective always enables me to thrive in the face of adversity. I am also inspired by authenticity. I revel in being in spaces where truth exists along with vulnerability. Most of the people who have left indelible marks on my journey are those whose true stories informed my path to success.

ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .