Kostiya Peki, MD, MPH, Physician. Educator. Advocate

Dr. Kostiya Peki, MD, MPH, has spent more than two decades immersed in nearly every dimension of healthcare — public and private, outpatient and inpatient, in the U.S. and abroad. His career has spanned roles as a primary care provider, hospitalist, clinic owner, health system leader, and medical educator. This breadth of experience has given him a rare, inside-out understanding of the American healthcare system — how it works, where it fails, and how patients and providers can navigate it more safely. 
 
After earning his medical degree at RPFU Patrice Lumumba University, Dr. Peki went on to build healthcare systems from the ground up. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he designed and launched primary care clinics, created an emergency response system with ambulance services, and established ER, ICU, maternity, rehabilitation, and home health services — expanding care access to both local communities and international populations. In the U.S., he ran his own clinic, served as a hospitalist, and held leadership positions guiding primary care delivery at scale. 
 
Dr. Peki’s academic training matches his practical experience. He holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia University and a Master’s in Clinical Service Operations from Harvard Medical School. As an assistant professor, he trained medical students and residents in hospital medicine, passing on his vision for equitable, patient-centered care. 
 
His advocacy is deeply personal. Having watched family members suffer delays, discrimination, and dehumanization in hospitals, Dr. Peki has made it his mission to fight inequities, empower patients, and strengthen primary care. He believes that patients deserve clarity and confidence, and providers deserve systems that prevent burnout and allow them to deliver their best.