Georgia State Welcomes Interim Medical Director, Thanks Outgoing Leader for Service During Difficult Pandemic Era

ATLANTA—Dr. Susan Whitmer began work Sept. 8 as the interim medical director for Georgia State University, taking over for outgoing director, Dr. Ijeoma Azonobi.

Azonobi will remain affiliated with Georgia State’s Student Health Clinic as a full-time consultant through Oct. 31 to provide support through the transition.

She previously was a health clinic physician and began her tenure as Georgia State’s medical director in January 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know that you all will join me in welcoming Dr. Whitmer and thanking Dr. Azonobi for her leadership and continued commitment to provide the very best medical care to our Panthers through it all,” said Jill Lee-Barber, associate vice president for student health and wellness.

Whitmer is a graduate of Emory University School of Medicine and was a U.S. Navy physician in Iraq. Following her active-duty service, she served in the Navy Reserve while leading outpatient clinic services in Nashville, Tenn. Whitmer earned an MBA from Duke University with a concentration in health services leadership.

“I am very excited to have been selected as Georgia State’s interim medical director,” she said. “It is exactly the blend of administrative and clinical responsibilities I enjoy, combined with the energy of a university setting. I look forward to working with the Student Health Clinic, Health and Wellness, and Housing teams as well as other Georgia State leadership to tackle rising COVID-19 numbers and continue to improve care. As an Atlanta native, I’m thrilled to be back in my hometown and to have an opportunity to serve an outstanding university.”

Top photo: Dr. Susan Whitmer.