Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has approved the appointment of Dr. Michael Olumide Gbala as the substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo.
With this confirmation, Dr. Gbala becomes the second CMD in the history of the state-owned tertiary health institution.
His appointment follows a rigorous and competitive selection process where he emerged as the top candidate among a pool of qualified applicants. Until this elevation, he had been serving in an acting capacity as CMD, a role in which his exceptional leadership and commitment to healthcare delivery earned him accolades and eventual confirmation.
A renowned consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with a subspecialty in materno-fetal medicine, Dr. Gbala brings over 20 years of extensive clinical, academic and administrative experience to the role.
A pioneer in medical administration, he was the founding Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) at UNIMEDTH and previously served as the CMD of the acclaimed Mother and Child Hospital in Ondo.
In academia, he played a key foundational role as the pioneer Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo. He currently serves as a Visiting Associate Professor at Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin.
A passionate researcher, Dr. Gbala has over 60 peer-reviewed publications, focusing on maternal health, especially the prevention of maternal deaths resulting from hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. His research work and leadership recently earned him recognition from the Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Worldwide.
Dr. Gbala earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and completed postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
He is a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS), West African College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FWACOG), and International College of Surgeons (FICS). He also holds credentials in Human Resource Management including FCIHRM and ChHRC, and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM).
In addition, Dr. Gbala earned a Certificate in Leadership and Management in Health from the University of Washington, USA, and holds a Diploma in Theology from the Redeemed Christian Bible College.
Over the years, he has contributed significantly to public health policy and institutional development in the state. He served as Medical Consultant to the UNIMEDTH Edict Drafting Committee, Secretary of the Health Technical Working Group of the Ondo State COVID-19 Inter-Ministerial Committee, Site Coordinator for the WHO ACTION 3 Trial, and Project Director for the APIN HIV Prevention and Treatment Programme.
Notably, in 2021, Dr. Gbala led the UNIMEDTH technical support team that assisted the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), in securing NUC accreditation for its Medicine and Surgery programme—further establishing his status as a leader in the nation’s health sector.
Outside his medical and academic career, Dr. Gbala serves as a Senior Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where he holds the position of Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province (Administration), RCCG Ondo Province 2. He is married to Pastor Mrs. Patience Gbala and the union is blessed with children.
The appointment of Dr. Gbala is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the leadership of UNIMEDTH and position the hospital as a foremost institution for medical training, research and healthcare delivery in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
