The origins of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) are deeply tied to the vision and dedication of Dr. Iheanacho Emeruwa—a busy internist and board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist—rightly recognized as the founder of ANPA. Dr. Emeruwa spearheaded the research, organization, and labor-intensive groundwork that led to ANPA’s birth.
In its earliest days, ANPA’s “headquarters” was Dr. Emeruwa’s son’s bedroom, with his wife, Meg Emeruwa, serving as the first manager of the secretariat. Dr. Emeruwa himself became ANPA’s first Executive Director.
Working closely with him during ANPA’s formative period were Dr. Olusegun Salako, Dr. Dapo Popoola, Dr. Julius Kpaduwa, and Dr. Yinka Soroye. Notably, Dr. Soroye authored the very first directory of Nigerian physicians in the United States and Canada—a milestone in building the community that would become ANPA.