BUFFALO, NY – Feb. 18, 2021 – The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. has named Dr. Kenyani Davis, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer. The announcement was made by Dr. LaVonne Ansari, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, CHCB, Inc.
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Davis joins the CHCB, Inc. Leadership Team reporting to Dr. Ansari, and has overall responsibility for managing CHCB, Inc.’s providers to provide safe, effective healthcare services to patients visiting CHCB, Inc.’s Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Lockport and Niagara Falls facilities.
Dr. Davis also maintains her role as Director of Employee Health; and will continue to lead CHCB, Inc. research efforts. Most recently, she served as lead author of a “Clinical Case Report” published in the Wiley Open Access Journal entitled: “COVID-19 pneumonia with back pain: Presentation of an acute pulmonary embolism associated with novel coronavirus infection in an outpatient setting”. Dr. Davis, a former National Institute of Health Fellow, was assisted with editorial contributions from Dr. Ansari; Arvela Heider, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer; Shilpa Kapoor, DDS; and Shahla Ahmad, MD. The Case Report (available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ccr3.3208 ), was the first product of a new research initiative launched in March 2020 by CHCB, Inc.
JOINED CHCB, INC. IN 2016
Dr. Davis joined CHCB, Inc. in 2016 as General Internal Medicine/Preventive Medicine Physician and has also served as lead physician at the CHCB, Inc. Cheektowaga office located at 934 Cleveland Dr., Buffalo, NY.
In 2020, Dr. Davis was promoted to Medical Director responsible for the oversight, administration, planning and development of the clinical services provided by the Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., in addition to supervision of the Clinical Staff and development and implementation of high-quality care through updated and approved policies and procedures based on national standards and recommendations, and New York State and Federal regulations and guidelines.
Before joining CHCB, Inc., Dr. Davis served from 2016 to 2020 as Assistant Medical Director with Millennium Collaborative Care, a Performing Provider System in the New York State Delivery Service Reform Incentive Payment Program designed to reform the delivery of healthcare to the Medicaid and underserved population.
Since 2017, she has continued to serve as the Director of Employee Health at the State University of New York at Buffalo Graduate Medical Education, overseeing the medical needs and annual health assessment for over 800 UB residents and fellows.
Dr. Davis has faculty appointments as a Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Public Health.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Dr. Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Professional Biology (Minor: Chemistry) in 2005 from William Penn University, Oskaloosa, IA. From 2006 to 2006, she attended the master’s program in Biomedical Science at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, AZ. She completed her Doctor of Medicine degree (High Honors) in 2012 from Ross University School of Medicine, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies.
From 2012 to 2016, Dr. Davis served as an Internal Medicine/ Social & Preventative Medicine Resident at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She simultaneously completed a Master of Public Health degree (Concentration in Health Services Administration) in 2016 at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Dr. Davis completed extensive clinical experience from 2012 to 2016, including serving as a Medical Resident at Buffalo General Hospital; Erie County Medical Center; Veteran’s Administration Hospital Buffalo; Hertel-Elmwood internal Medicine, Buffalo; Continuity Clinic; Erie County Health Department: STD and TB Clinic; Niagara Falls County Health Department, Lockport; Buffalo Cardiology & Pulmonary Associates, Williamsville; Community Health Centers of Buffalo, Inc.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATES
ECFMG certified: October 2011; American Board of Internal Medicine: Board Certified 2016; American Board of Preventive Medicine: Board Eligible; Lean Six Sigma Certified- Green Belt: Completed June 2016.
DISTINCTIONS/HONORS
Dr. Davis has earned several distinctions and honors including, 2018 National Institute of Health (NIH) Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar (she was 1 of 50 selected health disparities researchers selected to go to the prestigious NIH for formal training and exposure of health disparities research.); Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society; UB Richard T. Sarkin/Emeritus Chapter 2015 Inductee; Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching 2015 Recipient; 2014 ECMC Resident of the Month Award; 2014 Award of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Dr. Davis’ community organizations and board service include African American Healthcare Disparities Task Force, Member 2014 to current; Board of Directors for Community Health Centers of Buffalo, President 2017 to 2018; GME Strategic Planning: Diversity Work Group; University at Buffalo Resident Committee (UBRC), Resident Member, 2014 to current; Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC); Inclusion and Cultural Enhancement, Resident Member, 2013 to present; PQRS GME Committee, Resident Member, 2013- 2014.
PUBLICATIONS AND GRANTS
Publications and grants authored/obtained by Dr. Davis include:
- UB Center for Translation Science sponsored by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award Number UL1TR001412. Pilot study $45,000.
Cutting the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Black Males: A Novel Evidence-Based, Community Based Program to Increase Screening Uptake in Black Males
Kenyani Davis, MD, MPH1; JM Lackner, PsyD, MA2; Joseph E. Ravenell, MD, MS3; BM Quigley, PhD2; Rebecca S. Firth, MHA2; Abbey Braun, MS2; Patricio Castillo,BS3.
- Lutchmansingh, Denyse & Allen, Kenyani. (2012, May). “Allow Natural Death”. What we have learned?. Poster presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. San Francisco, CA.
- Improving the Initial Assessment of Obesity at the Hertel Elmwood Internal Medicine Center. 2013-2014 University at Buffalo Graduate Medical Education Quality Improvement Award. $3,000.
- The Giant Elephant in the Room: The Underutilization of Hospice Care amongst the African American Community. 2014 Evan Calkins, MD Fellowship for Community Based Research Award. $2500.
About CHCB, Inc.
The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., under the leadership of Dr. LaVonne Ansari, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) operating four patient centers across Western New York in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Lockport, and Niagara Falls. As a National Health Services Corps site, CHCB, Inc. is committed to serving all patients, regardless of ability to pay; offering discounted fees for patients who qualify; and not denying services based on a patient’s race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation. CHCB, Inc. also accepts insurance including Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Focused on Patient Centered Medical Care, the Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. is also an LGBTQIF friendly organization. www.chcb.net
