Dr. Njideka Udochi and Millennium Family Practice: Dignity for All Patients

When you first meet Dr. Njideka Udochi, a family doctor at Millennium Family Practice, it doesn’t take long to realize you’ve found a doctor who is empathetic as well as highly competent. While many doctors are focused on moving patients through as quickly as possible,

Dr. Udochi prioritizes giving compassionate, quality care. “I balance showing respect for the patient’s time with slowing down just enough so that I can truly hear them and understand their medical problem,” she says. “The result is that patients receive better treatment, and many have placed their trust in my medical expertise for years.”

Dr. Udochi has been practicing medicine at Millennium, her private practice, for over sixteen years and is its Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer. She is a highly qualified expert in medical care for children, adults, and the elderly. “I can treat a range of issues at Millennium, from primary care for HIV patients, to food allergy testing, to urgent care treatment, to physicals,” she says.

It is one reason the clinic has been so successful. We have a full range of equipment and the ability to conduct many medical tests onsite. We are able to treat many health problems that people typically encounter.

Her clinic is also well-equipped to treat patients whose first language is not English. Her staff speak twelve languages, including French, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, Twi, Ibo, Yoruba, Somali, Arabic, Amharic, Ga, and English. “It’s amazing that our patients come from 114 countries,” Dr. Udochi says. “I love that! When I walk into the examination room, I never know where my patient will be from. It makes my days even more exciting than they already are.”

That enthusiasm for her job along with her skills led the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians to announce on February 17, 2021, that Dr. Udochi was the recipient of the 2021 Family Physician of the Year award. She was recognized for her exemplary service and engagement in the well-being of her patients and community. She was also honored for the compassionate, comprehensive medical service she continually provided her patients. 

Her ability to expertly treat her patients comes from her strong training. She first obtained her medical degree from the College of Medicine at the University of Nigeria in 1988. She then graduated in 1998 from the highly respected George Washington University Medical Center/Holy Cross Family Practice Residency Program. She also completed a fellowship in Geriatrics at the George Washington University Medical Center in 1999.

She is an experienced HIV provider and has had Board Certification since 2004. She also carries the designation AAHIVS. Dr. Udochi is currently the President of a consortium of multi-specialty physicians who provide care to patients using a PCMH model, which ensures improved access, quality, and outcomes. 

Before opening Millennium Family Practice, Dr. Udochi was employed by Mercy Medical Center and served as the Medical Director of HCH in Baltimore City. Dr. Udochi is certified in HIV Medicine and has experience in Addiction Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and in addition has a Masters Degree in Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

With such a strong background, it is not surprising that she is able to provide expert care for her patients. Her peers agree and have noticed that she uses her skills to provide dignified, respectful treatment for vulnerable patients, including those who are recovering addicts or are living with HIV.

Dr. Udochi is ultimately successful because she loves her patients. “I truly cannot imagine a better job,” she says. “People come to me scared about their medical issues, and I am able to put them at ease and treat them. At Millennium, they are assured that when they walk in the door, they are surrounded by caring staff who will do everything possible to help them overcome their health issues.”