Dr. Ladi Kukoyi Highlights the Health of the Birmingham VA
President Jeff Stone and Rotarian Bolaji Kukoyi with Dr. Kukoyi
This week, the Rotary Club of Birmingham (RCB) welcomed Dr. Oladipo Kukoyi, Executive Director & CEO of the Birmingham VA Health Care System.
Dr. Kukoyi shared how the Birmingham VA serves over 93,000 veterans across central and northern Alabama through 12 clinics, with a new Huntsville site opening soon. With more than 3,000 staff and a $1 billion budget, the system delivers a million outpatient visits annually while adapting to the changing needs of veterans—especially the growing number of female veterans.
He highlighted specialized services in kidney transplants, neurology, palliative care, and mental health, noting that veterans who receive VA care are less likely to die by suicide than those outside the system. A recent five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services places the Birmingham VA among the top hospitals in Alabama.
Dr. Kukoyi emphasized that beyond healthcare, the VA provides transportation, housing support, and innovative community partnerships, all rooted in its mission to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served.
Bio for DR. Oladipo Kukoyi
Oladipo ”Ladi” Kukoyi, MD, MS has led the Birmingham VA Health Care System as Executive Director/CEO since 2021. He began his tenure at the Birmingham VA in 2017 when he was named Chief of Staff after transferring from the Charlie Norwood VAMC in Augusta, GA, where he served as the Chief of Staff from 2015-2017 and the Deputy Chief of Staff from 2014-2015.
Prior to joining the Charlie Norwood VAMC, Dr. Kukoyi was the Chief of Mental Health at the Dorn VAMC in Columbia, SC from January 2013 to June 2014. While at Dorn VAMC, he served in multiple roles within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 7, which provided him broad exposure to increasing areas of clinical and administrative responsibilities. Prior to moving to VISN 7, he was the Medical Director of Inpatient Psychiatry at the Sacramento VA Medical Center in California from September 2007 to January 2013.
Dr. Kukoyi is board certified in Psychiatry and Family Medicine. He has held academic appointments at a variety of higher institutions of learning and is currently a Clinical Professor in the departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at UAB School of Medicine, his alma mater. Dr. Kukoyi has expertise in psychosomatic medicine and in treating a wide array of psychiatric conditions, with a research interest in the interface between psychiatric and medical conditions, a field in which he is well-published.
Dr. Kukoyi holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Investigation, has pursued research in the neuropsychiatry of epilepsy, and has been recognized for his teaching and mentoring excellence of trainees. He is a 2012 graduate of the Health Care Leadership Development Program (HCLDP), a 2017 Federal Executive Institute (FEI) graduate and a VHA Certified Mentor.