Dr. Patricia Nwajuaku is the medical director of the Anesthesiology Department at MLK Community Healthcare, where she oversees the hospital’s staff of board-certified anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists. She also holds appointments as Director of Thoracic Anesthesiology at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, and as Associate Program Director of the Thoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship program at UCLA. 

She first joined MLKCH as Medical Director for Clinical Operations, where she focused on ensuring the highest quality of care and safety for surgical patients at MLKCH. Dr. Nwajuaku also had an instrumental role in creating an elective rotation at MLKCH for anesthesiology residents at UCLA, and in overseeing Harbor UCLA Emergency Department residents rotating at MLKCH.

A proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Nwajuaku has served in leadership positions such as Chief Medical Officer and Flight Surgeon in countries like the United Kingdom, Republic of Djibouti, Norway and Spain. In 2015, she received the Meritorious Service Award from the Air Force, a prestigious award presented to members who distinguish themselves with outstanding achievement or service to the United States. 

She is also recognized nationally as a member of several committees within the American Society of Anesthesiologists, including its Global Humanitarian Outreach Committee, the Committee on Professional Diversity, and the Committee on Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia.

Dr. Nwajuaku trained in Anesthesiology at the University of Florida and completed a Fellowship in Thoracic Anesthesia at UCLA. She earned her MPH degree in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University, where she studied as a Phoenix Fellow. She is a graduate of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where she participated in the UCLA/CDU Medical Education Program and was recognized for her commitment to serving in underserved communities throughout Los Angeles.