Dr. Abayomi Salako

Chief, Division of Primary Care/Preventive Medicine

The first seven years of Dr. Abayomi Salako’s life were spent in London, England. His parents had attended college there, studying for professional careers in accounting and teaching. When the family returned to their homeland of Nigeria, Dr. Salako was encouraged to study Medicine. During Dr. Salako’s teenage years, one of his cousins suffered a serious hand injury, requiring care from the local teaching hospital. Dr. Salako observed and was influenced by the excellent care provided. It inspired him to become a physician. Several years later, Dr. Salako attended the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, which is the medical school for the same hospital where his cousin was treated. Dr. Salako also followed his parents’ path by returning to London for post-graduate training culminating in membership in the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom and completion of training as a General Practitioner.

In 1997, Dr. Salako continued his medical education journey by immigrating to the United States. This time, his wife was the influencing factor for him as she had many friends living in the United States. Dr. Salako was accepted for an Internal Medicine Residency at BronxCare. “It was an incredible experience for me, one which reinforced the importance of caring for an underprivileged inner city population with significant health disparities,” stated Dr. Salako.

Many physicians completing their residencies leave their respective hospital training locations. In Dr. Salako’s case, he made the firm decision to stay at BronxCare and be part of its Department of Medicine. “I wanted to make a meaningful difference for our Bronx community, and BronxCare gave me the perfect opportunity to fulfill my goals,” stated Dr. Salako. As a result, he became an Attending in 1999 and was subsequently promoted to his present position as Chief, Division of Primary Care/Preventive Medicine. Dr. Salako was also elected in 2020 as President of BronxCare’s Medical Board, a selection he finds humbling and especially values. “The opportunity to represent the medical staff and convey their perspectives to senior leadership and the board is vital, particularly during this COVID-19 Pandemic,” stated Dr. Salako.

Currently, Dr. Salako supervises 20 Primary Care Physicians including the Medical Directors of BronxCare’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Third Avenue Medical and Dental Practice, as well as Medical and Dental at Poe Practice. In addition, he directs the Adult Medical Practice at BronxCare’s Health & Wellness Center. Dr. Salako has embraced a patient-centered primary care approach at the practice locations targeting health promotion, wellness, and chronic disease management for asthma, diabetes, and hypertension, among other serious illnesses that impact the Bronx community. He is also proud of his efforts to establish the Diaspora Medical Practice, which is providing comprehensive medical and support services to the growing African population in the Bronx. “Our continuing efforts are directed toward improving access for all our patients and achieving better outcomes by getting them to come to us earlier, when prevention can make a significant difference in achieving better outcomes,” stated Dr. Salako.

When Dr. Salako is away from BronxCare, he is actively involved in various roles, including serving on the Board of the Transformation Life Church in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey. He also enjoys Christian music, as well as soccer, basketball, and Formula 1 Racing. Dr. Salako and his wife, Oluwakemi, a Physical Therapist, have three children—two sons and a daughter.

“At BronxCare, we have clearly earned the trust of our patients, and going forward we will continue to work with them, the community, and all stakeholders to overcome health and societal barriers in order to provide equitable high quality care and improve the health of the population,” stated Dr. Salako.