Our Founder & Chief Executive Officer

from

Mrs. Lulu Pearl Kwakye

Executive Director – Lulu Kwakye, Master of Science in Nursing, Master’s in Healthcare Administration, Bachelor’s in Business Administration.

Lulu Pearl Kwakye, as the Founder and Executive Director of the Divine Gateway Foundation Inc., boasts a distinguished career marked by notable achievements in nursing leadership roles at esteemed institutions like Stanford Healthcare, Emory Healthcare, and the Grady Hospital. Her extensive credentials underscore her expertise and dedication to healthcare advancement.

Kwakye's leadership has likely been instrumental in shaping policies, implementing innovative practices, and fostering a culture of excellence within healthcare organizations. Moreover, her establishment of the Divine Gateway Foundation Inc. signifies a broader commitment to addressing systemic healthcare challenges and promoting health equity, particularly in underserved communities.
Lulu Pearl Kwakye's professional trajectory exemplifies a steadfast dedication to enhancing healthcare standards and making a tangible difference in the lives of others.

Born in Ghana, Lulu Kwakye has firsthand experience with the challenges faced by parentless children in her homeland.
In 2005, she experienced three pivotal events: joining Emory Healthcare as a Staff Nurse, initiating the adoption process for two Ghanaian children, and dreaming about the Divine Gateway Foundation Inc. Since then, Kwakye has made significant strides in both her career and philanthropic endeavors, demonstrating her commitment to improving healthcare and addressing the needs of vulnerable children.

Lulu Kwakye's aspiration was to establish an international community-based foster care foundation, beginning in Ghana. Over 16 years, she simultaneously pursued three paths: nurturing her children, advancing her career, and growing the Divine Gateway Foundation Inc.

Here's a timeline highlighting her key achievements and qualifications:

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

Lulu Kwakye's leadership and nursing career were dedicated to patient safety, exemplified by her focus on implementing and maintaining standards of practice, safety measures, patient advocacy, and education. She showcased her capabilities notably on committees such as the Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) and Stroke committees.

In her role as part of the CAUTI committee at Emory University Hospital Midtown, Lulu worked closely with the Clinical Nurse Specialist, and later assumed the role of Shift Nurse Manager in the Medical ICU while continuing her involvement with the CAUTI committee. She was eventually promoted by the Director of Critical Care Services, to serve as the Clinical-Co-Lead of the hospital-wide CAUTI committee.

Additionally, Lulu collaborated with Jemma Brown, Stroke Coordinator at the same hospital, on the Stroke committee. Under Brown's guidance, she actively participated in developing a comprehensive stroke program, leading to the hospital's national stroke certification and accreditation as a stroke center in Atlanta, GA. Together with the stroke team, Lulu and Brown conducted stroke education, awareness, and prevention initiatives within various communities in Atlanta, GA.

Throughout her nursing career at Emory Healthcare and Grady Hospital, Atlanta, GA, Lulu Pearl Kwakye's collaboration with experienced leaders like Monica Tennant, Bobby Wright, Dr. Charles J. Grodzin, Debra Barker, Jim McMurtry, Jemma Brown, Dr. Seema Tekwani, Dr. Mary Marshman, Dr. Jacqueline Head, and Mary Kangoma, facilitated significant advancements in patient safety and healthcare quality, reflecting her commitment to improving patient outcomes and community well-being.

2017
2017

Clinical Staff Manager at Grady Hospital with Tributes

After joining Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2017 as a Clinical Staff Manager in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Lulu quickly made an impact. Within her first month, she was recognized as Employee of the Month. That same year, she received the "Top Nurse Leader" award from the International Nurses Association. Moreover, the association dedicated a page to acknowledge Lulu's contributions to the Foley-free zone project and patient safety. As a token of appreciation for her dedication, the International Nurses' Association published a video tribute on YouTube, highlighting Lulu's significant contributions to patient safety. 

YouTube

While at Grady, Lulu revitalized the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) in the medical ICU, earning her the nickname "Queen of CUSP." With Lulu as the facilitator and supported by a dedicated team including Dr. Greg Martin, Dr. Jacqueline Head, Dr. Marshman, Dr. Seema Tekwani, Dr. Jenny Han,  Charity Ikpe, Bessie Lurlay Koryan, Sjajuana Whigham, Norman Poindexter, and  Medical ICU staff, significant improvements were achieved in quality indicators, notably reducing CAUTI and catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) to their lowest levels. The MICU's efforts in combating hospital-acquired infections were recognized on numerous occasions, reflecting their dedication and hard work.