The Bloom Foundation is a 501(c) tax exempt organization organized under North Carolina law. The foundation was founded by Dr. Ureh Lekwauwa and is comprised of individuals with varying backgrounds who believe in the importance of education, advocacy and treatment of those impacted by mental illness and other behavioral issues. Each of us believe wholly in the truth and power of the Bloom Foundation's mission statement. Read about our backgrounds below.
President - Dr. Ureh Lekwauwa MD DFAPA
Dr. Lekwauwa graduated from Ahmadu Bello University School of Medicine. Ureh completed her pyschiatry residency training at Columbia University - Harlem Hospital. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. In 2016, after years of service to the state of North Carolina, she retired from her position as the Medical Director and Chief of Clinial Policy for the North Carolina Division of Mental Health. Dr. Lekwauwa has a heart for global mental health and has been leading global missions to Africa since 2002.
Vice President - Dr. Obi Ikwechegh MD FAPA
Dr. Ikwechegh, who has practiced psychiatric medicine for several years, began his training at the federal Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria and on to Wake Forest Univeristy where he completed Residency training. He currently serves as Medical Director for Behavioral Health at Novant Health area hospitals and actively is engaged with the American Psychiatic Association as a Fellow.
Obi is convinced that a holistic approach to mental health is required to empower individuals in achievement of their passions in spite of mental health problems
Vice President - Dr. Aju Lekwauwa PhD
Dr. Lekwauwa holds a PhD in Food Science. He retired from his position as Senior Staff Engineer at RJR Nabisco and has since been teaching as a professor of biotechnology at Forsyth Technical Community College. Aju has served on the Board of nonprofit organizations, most notably the United Way of Forsyth County. He has a passion for education, community service and outreach.
Dr. Ken Dunham MD, MAED, FAPA
Dr. Dunham graduated from the Brody School of Medicine North Carolina where he also completed a combined residency in internal medicine and Psychiatry. Ken is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He currently serves as the medical director and the physician leader for psychiatric medicine for the Novant Greater Winston Salem Market. He brings his passion for whole-person, Integrated Care to the Bloom Foundation, acting as an advisor to the foundation.
Dr. Ruby Lekwauwa MD
Dr. Lekwauwa is a board certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist practicing in Connecticut. Ruby completed medical school at Duke University, and her adult psychiatry residency as well as child/adolescent fellowship at Yale University. She is passionate about engaging and educating community stakeholders, specifically communities of faith and school systems, to better understand the developmental and mental health needs of children, adolescents, and young adults. She is excited to bring passion for youth and their families to the Bloom Foundation.
Board Secretary - Nena Lekwauwa Esq.
Nena Lekwauwa is a North Carolina licensed attorney. Nena earned her law degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and currently serves as the Associate Vice President, Global Compliance at a non-profit organization conducting global assessments and education policy and psychometric research. She believes deeply that when one brings education and the right resources to under-served and marginalized communities, they are empowered to thrive.
Dr. Queen Buyalos, Rph.
Dr. Buyalos is a registered US Navy pharmacist, licensed in Colorado and Virginia. Queen graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Worcester Massachusetts and is currently practicing in Virginia. She loves humanitarian work and any avenue that will help her to give back to the community.
Financial Secretary - Nena Abai-Ikwechegh Esq.
Nena Abai - Ikwechegh is an attorney licensed to practice law in New York. Nena earned her law degree from Abia State University, Nigeria and currently works as a Privilege Litigation Specialist with Womble Carlyle's Product Liability Litigation Group. She is passionate about protecting children in child abuse and neglect matters, termination of parental rights cases and child support issues and specifically the Guardian ad Litem model of representation.
Anya Odin, LCAS, LPA
Anya Odim is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist and a Licensed Psychological Associate. Anya holds a B.Sc degree in Applied Biochemistry from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria, a post graduate diploma in Banking and Finance from the prestigious University of Nigeria, and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from North Carolina Central University, Durham North Carolina. Anya is the Chief Executive Officer of Sunrise Clinical Associates, PLLC, and Oceantrust Logistics LLC. His interests includes helping individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis to alleviate, ameliorate, or cope with their symptoms in order to live a better life. Anya is happily married to his best friend Nneka Odim. The family is blessed with four children.