I am delighted to announce to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI) Community that our very own alumnus, Dr. Olayiwola Ajileye has been appointed as the Clinical Director of the Integrated Community Care and Recovery Service (ICCR) at the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation NHS Trust (BSMHFT). Dr. Ajileye's appointment follows a comprehensive selection process, including interviews and stakeholder presentations to the Senior Executives of the Trust.
In his new role, Dr. Ajileye will spearhead a multi-disciplinary team comprising doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, and psychologists. His leadership will drive advancements in mental health care across the Birmingham and Solihull area, establishing strategic partnerships with external stakeholders and provider collaboratives.
Dr. Ajileye brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He currently serves as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Acute Care and Crisis Intervention at BSMHFT. His extensive portfolio encompasses General Adult Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry, Acute Care and Crisis Intervention, and Psychosomatic Medicine. Since joining BSMHFT in 2016 from Nottinghamshire Mental Health NHS Trust, Dr. Ajileye has demonstrated exemplary commitment to enhancing mental health services.
As Clinical Director, Dr. Ajileye will lead the NHS England Transformation agenda, focusing on improving clinical effectiveness, quality, access, outcomes, and patient experiences within the local population. BSMHFT, as the second largest Mental Health NHS Trust in the UK, serves a diverse population, including Black and ethnic minorities in the West Midlands.
Dr. Ajileye's responsibilities will include overseeing critical services such as Early Intervention in Psychosis, Rehabilitation Psychiatry, Assertive Outreach, Addiction, and Rough Sleepers Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). His leadership will play a central role in bridging health inequality gaps and positioning the Trust to achieve strategic objectives in health equality and improved mental health well-being within the community.
Dr. Ajileye holds a Masters in Health Management, Policy, and Development from the University of Birmingham's Health Services Management Centre, School of Public Policy. He also possesses a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychiatry from Cardiff University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Adolescent Addiction Studies from Keele University. Dr. Ajileye completed his psychiatry residency with Keele University Rotation Post Graduate Scheme and is a Diplomate of Legal Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine.
In addition, Dr. Ajileye is a member of esteemed professional bodies such as the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, Royal College of Psychiatry, and Royal Society of Medicine. His expertise extends to telehealth and telemedicine, holding a Certificate from the Global Access Institute, Harvard University, USA.
Outside of his clinical and academic pursuits, Dr. Ajileye serves as a respected Medico-legal psychiatric expert, providing expertise to Crown Courts, Family Courts, and Police Constabularies. He has authored over 100 expert reports on various aspects of medicolegal jurisprudence, including sexual offense medicine, forensic medicine, and litigation capacity.
Moreover, Dr. Ajileye is a proficient public mental health communicator, having contributed to educating and raising awareness of mental health matters through various media platforms, including television. He has held several positions such as Editor-in-Chief of DOKITA Editorial Board and is an active member of the Ibadan Medical Specialist Group (IMSG) United Kingdom and the Association of Black Psychiatrists (ABP) in the UK.
Dr Ajileye is currently serving as the President of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association, (ICOMAA) United Kingdom and Ireland. He is an alumnus of the CoMUI MBBS graduating Class of 1997 where he distinguished himself as a great leader and team player.
As Provost, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Olayiwola Ajileye on his remarkable appointment as Clinical Director of the Integrated Community Care and Recovery Service at BSMHFT. Dr. Ajileye's achievements not only bring honour to him but also reflect the excellence of our institution. As a Child and Youth Mental Health Professional myself, I attest to Dr. Ajileye’s dedication to advancing mental health care globally. His works embody the values we instil in our students, and I am immensely proud to see one of us, a distinguished alumnus, making such significant contributions to global healthcare.
I have full confidence that Dr. Ajileye will excel in his new role, and I wish him continued success as he embarks on this important endeavour.
Olayinka Omigbodun FAS
Professor of Psychiatry &
Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan