New physician leader at Popoff views education as central to his role

A family physician is, by nature, a teacher, says Dr. Babafemi Onabanjo, who will join the Authority Health Centers staff in July. As the attending physician at the Popoff location, he will not only educate his patients but also help train the medical residents who rotate through the health center.

“You’re teaching your patients every day,” he says. “We educate them about their diseases and treatment options, but you’re also there for the residents. Residents are continuous learners. I see my relationship with them as one of collaboration and mentorship. I look forward to helping foster the next generation of physicians.”

Dr. Onabanjo comes to Authority Health from Durham, North Carolina, where he worked at a community health center. A board-certified family physician, he brings expertise in community-based HIV and viral hepatitis care.

Although he will be practicing in a different region of the country, he says the challenges facing low-income populations are remarkably similar.

“A lot of my patients have limited health literacy and poor health outcomes,” he says. “Many face work demands that make lifestyle changes difficult.”

He recalls conversations with patients who tell him, “I work a 12-hour construction job. I don’t have the time or energy to exercise when I get home.” Others spend their days driving trucks and struggle to find time to prepare healthy meals.

“I work with patients to determine what they can do and what they are willing to do,” he says. “You meet patients where they are. What is feasible? Then you move forward step by step.”

Health, he emphasizes, is a marathon, not a sprint.

“We don’t need to sprint, but we do need to start moving in the right direction,” he says. “That may begin with what is affordable and realistic.”

Taking blood pressure medication may be necessary in the short term, but it is not the ultimate goal.

“We want to help patients reach a healthier place,” he says. “Can you walk for 30 minutes twice a week to start? You assess the resources patients have and begin the journey. Then you revisit those goals at each appointment and measure progress.”

Dr. Onabanjo was pleased to learn about Authority Health Centers’ commitment to Food as Medicine. From the Fresh Prescription (Fresh Rx) program to the Healthy and Resilient Communities Initiative and the Ruby Cole Community Kitchen, he sees the organization’s focus on nutrition as closely aligned with his clinical philosophy.

“When people have access to fruits and vegetables and can maintain a healthier lifestyle, they tend to eat fewer processed foods and experience lower rates of diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure,” he says. “Food as medicine is absolutely essential to preventive health.”

He often poses a simple question to his patients: “Would you rather take a pill or eat more fruits and vegetables? Would you rather take a pill or exercise more?”

His point is that lifestyle changes are also forms of treatment.

“You’re trading one treatment for another,” he says. “Lifestyle interventions often provide long-term benefits with fewer side effects.”

Still, he recognizes that behavior change is influenced by many factors. Sometimes the first success is simply showing up for an appointment.

His experiences have taught him the importance of patience, understanding, and encouragement.

“I often tell patients, ‘You made it in today. I’m grateful for that,’” he says. “We have to determine what the patient can do at this moment. That may differ from visit to visit.”

Before joining Authority Health, Dr. Onabanjo served as the clinical lead at one of the Lincoln Community Health Center locations in Durham. Previously, he was the Home Health Provider Leader at the Family Health Center of Worcester, Massachusetts. During his time in Worcester, he also served as co-director of the COVID-19 Incident Command.

He is a graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at the University of South Carolina. He also completed a Community-Based HIV and Viral Hepatitis Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts.

As he learned more about Authority Health, he saw an organization whose mission closely matched his own approach to medicine.

“I realized this health center is truly about caring for the Detroit community, and that’s the kind of medicine I want to practice,” he says. “The opportunity to work with residents and medical students made it an even better fit.”