Akilah J. Pope, MD
2023 Women with Heart Honoree
Akilah J. Pope, MD
Dr. Akilah Pope is a board-certified pediatrician who served as the Lead Senior Physician for the Florida Department of Health-Duval (FDOH-Duval) until she became the interim Medical Executive Director on July 1, 2021. Knowing she has the desire to keep the Duval community healthy and whole, she accepted the director’s position in 2022. She has a wealth of knowledge as she has served the pediatric population for 20 years. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Pope received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her Medical Degree from James H. Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee. She completed her pediatric residency training at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA.
Dr. Pope jumped into pediatric emergency care at the West Jefferson hospital in Marrero, LA immediately after Hurricane Katrina for 2 years prior to moving to Jacksonville. She has been with the Department of Health since 2010. She currently provides pediatric services to patients at the Center for Women and Children and calls herself the Passionate Pediatrician. As the Medical Executive Director, she has oversight over the pediatric, women’s health, dental, pharmacy, immunizations, family planning, epidemiology, and disease control departments which is inclusive of TB/refugee health, STI and HIV services. She also enjoys being a clinical preceptor for pediatric and family practice residents, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant students from several colleges and universities in Florida.
