Spotlight
From community engagement to mentorship, Drs. Matthew Duncan and Taiwo Ajumobi are shaping the future of medicine while championing equity and excellence in healthcare.
Matthew S. L. Duncan
“Meaningful care begins with meeting patients where they are.”
Taiwo T. Ajumobi
“My sister’s journey has taught me the importance of advocacy and health literacy for every patient.”
Matthew S. L. Duncan
Expanding Access Through Equity-Centered Psychiatry
Matthew S. L. Duncan, D.O., M.S. is a PGY-4 Psychiatry Resident Physician whose work sits at the intersection of addiction psychiatry, community psychiatry, and health equity. His passion for medicine is rooted in expanding access to culturally responsive, evidence-based mental health care and substance use treatment, particularly in communities that are disproportionately affected by stigma, structural barriers, and medical mistrust.
Passion in Medicine
Dr. Duncan believes that meaningful care begins with meeting patients where they are. His approach emphasizes recovery, resilience, and long-term wellness, recognizing that mental health outcomes are shaped not only by clinical interventions but also by social context, trust, and access to resources. Through his work, he strives to build pathways that support individuals and families in moving beyond survival toward sustainable healing.
The Importance of Organized Medicine
NJMA and NMA hold particular significance for Dr. Duncan as platforms for collective physician advocacy, mentorship, and policy engagement. He values organized medicine as a powerful vehicle for advancing equitable care, strengthening the physician workforce, and elevating community-informed solutions that improve health outcomes across New Jersey.
Through these organizations, Dr. Duncan is committed to contributing to a collective voice that works toward parity and justice in medicine and the elimination of health disparities.
What Fuels His Work
What fuels Dr. Duncan’s work is impact. He is motivated by the opportunity to help individuals and families transition from surviving to thriving and by the belief that sustainable change requires both clinical excellence and strong community partnerships. Advocacy, education, and empowerment are central pillars of his professional identity.
Leadership Through Service
Dr. Duncan approaches leadership as a responsibility to serve patients with integrity, to support colleagues through mentorship and collaboration, and to advance a more just and effective healthcare system. His work reflects the mission of the organization: amplifying African American physicians’ voices while driving systemic change that benefits both patients and the medical profession as a whole.
Taiwo T. Ajumobi
A Commitment to Pediatrics, Advocacy, and Health Literacy
Taiwo T. Ajumobi’s passion for medicine is deeply personal and broadly impactful. Her interests span pediatrics, care for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families, research and quality improvement initiatives, healthcare policy, and community outreach and advocacy. She is particularly interested in the role social media plays in shaping public perceptions of medicine and influencing clinical decision-making, an area she sees as increasingly important for both patient trust and health literacy.
Passion in Medicine
Dr. Ajumobi’s work is guided by a commitment to supporting children with developmental delays and intellectual disabilities and ensuring their families are equipped with accurate information, resources, and advocacy. Her interest in research, quality improvement, and policy reflects a desire to improve systems of care, not just individual outcomes.
The Importance of Community and the Organization
Since joining the organization in August 2025, Dr. Ajumobi has found it to be a space where her voice and passions are valued. Through community outreach events at local churches and collaborations with community organizations, she has had meaningful opportunities to give back and engage directly with the populations the organization serves.
She has also valued opportunities to engage with members actively involved in New Jersey’s political landscape, discussing the specific needs of Black patient populations and the policy decisions that affect their care.
Connection, Mentorship, and Collective Growth
Through social events and professional gatherings, Dr. Ajumobi has connected with Black residents across specialties, as well as fellows and attending physicians. Learning from their stories, guidance, and encouragement has strengthened her sense of belonging and purpose within the profession.
She is currently collaborating with fellow members to identify and address the unique challenges faced by Black residents, fellows, and early-career attending physicians during training and the transition into independent practice.
What Fuels Her Work
What fuels Dr. Ajumobi’s work is her twin sister, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Her sister’s lived experience has shaped Dr. Ajumobi’s understanding of trust and distrust in medicine, the influence of media on what families accept as medical truth versus fallacy, and the persistent healthcare disparities faced by individuals with autism, especially as they age out of pediatric systems.
Through this lens, Dr. Ajumobi has come to deeply value health literacy and advocacy, ensuring patients receive not only medical care but also the resources families need to support their loved ones.
Advancing Equity Through Advocacy and Education
Dr. Ajumobi’s journey embodies the organization’s mission: uplifting African American physicians, addressing disparities in care, and advancing justice and equity in medicine through advocacy, education, and community engagement.
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