Kenyan-Born Man Makes 171-Year History in US as First African at Helm of Minnesota Medical Association (MMA)

A collage of Dr. Edwin Bogonko who is currently based in Minnesota, US.
A collage of Dr. Edwin Bogonko who is currently based in Minnesota, US.

A Kenyan-born medical doctor has made history as the first African at the helm of the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) since its inception in 1853.

At age 12, Edwin Bogonko knew medical practice was calling and he would end up a doctor. Growing up in Kisii, located in the southwestern part of Kenya, he lived with a younger brother who suffered from heart disease, necessitating the family to make frequent hospital visits, an experience that birthed his passion for medicine.

Bogonko trained as a physician with Allina Health in Shakopee in the US. He became a member of the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) in 2010. After joining, the doctor became a very ardent member of the group which saw him tapped to head the organisation.

“He has been so active for so long, so it made sense that he would be our president at some point,” Dan Hauser, the association’s director of communication and education stated in an interview with Mshale Newspaper.

Dr. Edwin Bogonko attends the launch of the African Health Care Providers Association alongside other healthcare practitioners on February 15, 2020, in Minneapolis.
Dr. Edwin Bogonko attends the launch of the African Health Care Providers Association alongside other healthcare practitioners on February 15, 2020, in Minneapolis.
Photo
Mshale Newspaper

Minnesota Medical Association is a nonprofit professional group that represents physicians, residents, and medical students in the state of Minnesota.

After clearing his high school education, Bogonko proceeded to the University of Nairobi (UoN) to pursue medicine. Upon graduation in 1993, he practised in Kenya until 1999 before relocating to the United States where he was attracted to MMA. He was a former Kenya Medical Association secretary in Kenya.

Bogonko served in several roles at MMA including the Executive Committee, Policy Council, Nominating Committee, Awards Committee and the Finance and Audit Committee.

In the period between October 2020 to September 2023, Bogonko served as the chair of the MMA’s Board of Trustees.

His colleagues describe Bogonko as an amiable person with an overmastering passion for medicine. “He is a very engaging and friendly person. You can tell that he really wants us to do well and to make the practice of medicine better,” he testified.

Every year, MMA requests its members to nominate physicians whom they think can be the next president. Should more than one doctor be nominated, the candidates are invited for an electronic vote held in July.

Extraordinarily, in 2024 there was no election because Bogonko’s nomination was unanimously vouched for by the majority of MMA members. His one-year term began earnestly on October 1.

At his inauguration held in Minneapolis on September 27 at the association’s Empowering Physicians Conference, the outgoing president Laurel Ries stated it was an honour to pass the presidential medallion on to Bogonko.

“You can be assured that over the next 12 months, I will give my all as the MMA works on serious issues that face medicine in this land of 10,000 lakes,” Bongoka pledged.

He further pledged to work to reduce the abuse of prior authorization, the practice of health insurers reserving the right to determine whether a treatment, prescription drug, or medical equipment is necessary before they pay.

“As many of you in the frontlines would agree, expanding access to mental healthcare is really crucial to easing the choke on our systems, both as physicians and even our hospitals, and especially our emergency rooms,” he added highlighting the need to advocate for an environment that doesn’t force seniors to choose between medicine and putting food on the table.

When asked by Mshale Newspaper to reflect on being the first person of colour to ever serve as president of MMA, Dr. Bogonko noted that it inspired him to dedicate a significant portion of his term as president to advocate for equity in healthcare.

Bongoka will serve as the who is the principal spokesperson of the MMA, and testifying at the State Capitol whenever a physician’s voice is needed. He advocates for more doctors from minority communities to improve care for patients of colour.

Inside an ICU ward at a hospital in Kisii County
Inside an ICU ward at a hospital in Kisii County
Photo
Joseph Simba
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