Dr. Bukola Ogunkua

Dr. Bukola Ogunkua is a distinguished public health physician, healthcare executive, pediatric psychologist, and child trauma expert with more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare sector. Her expertise in public mental health, psychiatric rehabilitation, and counseling psychology has established her as a pioneering leader in child trauma and behavioral health. Dr. Ogunkua has a strong educational background—including a Doctor of Medicine degree, a master’s degree in public health with a minor in health management and policy, a master’s degree in human services counseling, and certifications in biostatistics for behavioral health, and psychiatric rehabilitation.

Dr. Ogunkua has held leadership positions in mental health organizations and played a key role in child protection policies. She founded Suburbancares founded a workforce development firm that provides coaching services to clients throughout the United States and abroad, aiming to enhance family resilience, promote wholeness, and improve health outcomes. She has led national initiatives to end childhood sexual violence and has held roles such as chief clinical officer, population health researcher, and public health physician within New Jersey's children’s system of care, and contributed significantly to government health systems in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Her executive coaching has significantly enhanced the professional development of county workers and senior executives, particularly in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Ogunkua is a fellow of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, a master trainer for the Enough Abuse campaign by Massachusetts Citizens for Children, and an advanced trainer for the Nurtured Heart Approach in Arizona. She is frequently consulted by school districts, community mental health organizations, and child protective services for trauma-informed initiatives. Currently, she serves as a subject matter expert for the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, a child trauma and behavioral health consultant for the Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia, and principal investigator for trauma-informed education research at the Rutgers-Rowan University South Jersey Institute for Population Health.

As a certified master gardener from Penn State University, Dr. Ogunkua enjoys gardening, loves learning new languages, and cherishes time spent with her family.