₦airaland Forum

04 Nov 2015

Olurotimi Badero

Summary

The value of knowledge is worth the time one spends in acquiring it. -- Olurotimi Badero, MD, F.A.C.P, F.A.S.N, F.A.C.C, F.S.C.A.I



During a visit to Nigeria late in September/early October, Jide Akintunde, Managing Editor, Financial Nigeria Magazine, and Director, Nigeria Development and Finance Forum, sat down with Olurotimi Badero, a Nigerian U.S.-based interventional cardiologist, nephrologist and peripheral vascular specialist to discuss his amazing, superlative training in medicine, becoming the only doctor in the United States or anywhere in the world to have full specialist training and certification in nephrology and cardiology. Dr. Badero is Executive Director, Cardiac Renal & Vascular Associates.

Jide Akintunde: There is a string of professional titles to your name. What is your training?

Olurotimi Badero: By training, I specialised in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine, invasive & interventional cardiology, nephrology and hypertension, interventional nephrology & endovascular medicine, nuclear cardiology as well as peripheral vascular interventions. Putting all that together, I would like to think of myself as an interventional cardio nephrologist as well as a peripheral vascular interventionalist. 

JA: How did you come about this extensive training? 

OB: I came about this training as a result of the things I had to go through in the United States and also because of my personal quest for knowledge. I started from one specialty to another, and kept looking for answers. I have a passion for patient care; and a passion for creativity. When you put that together, a rare opportunity is born. The ability to make a difference between sickness and health is one of the greatest forms of wealth and  
that doesn't stop as long as you continue to strive to get better. 
    
For me, it was just a continuous process of trying to get better, staying the course and finding the things that really define who I am and what I really want to do to make a difference in people's lives.       

I've always been a competitive person right from childhood. I attended St. Mary's Private School where I skipped 4th grade due to my academic performance; and then Federal Government College, Odogbolu, Ogun State, for my high school education. In my fifth year, I, alongside some students, won a nation-wide science quiz competition in the country and that heralded a quest for professional dominance. That marked the beginning of a journey for me. One that will eventually lead me down the path of medicine. I gained admission into University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study medicine. I really didn't want to study medicine, but my dad, who was a great man, wanted me to be a physician.

When I graduated from medical school, I moved to the United States where I began my specialist training, first in Internal Medicine at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, in Brooklyn which was a three-year programme. Following the completion of my programme, I proceeded to Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, for a two-year Fellowship in nephrology and hypertension. Following completion of my Nephrology training, I returned to State University of New York Downstate Medical Center for another three years of Fellowship training in cardiovascular medicine. Upon completion of my general cardiology training, I gained admission into the prestigious Yale University School of Medicine for two fellowship training in invasive & interventional cardiology as well as peripheral vascular intervention, a fellowship training I completed with distinction.

I then returned once again to State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn for yet another year of fellowship training in interventional nephrology, dialysis access care and endovascular medicine. Altogether, I spent ten years of continuous post-graduate medical training which I later found out was unprecedented. I currently specialise in seven different areas of medicine. I am a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Fellow of American College of Cardiology, a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology, and a Fellow of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions.

JA: Perhaps you would like to elaborate more on your personal motivation for the pursuit of this incredible professional excellence, particularly because Nigeria is noted internationally for the conflicting profile of churning out con artists, some of the world's best professionals, and inept political leaders? 

OB: I learnt very early in life that a goal without a plan is only a wish and that there is no testimony without a test. The only time that success comes before work is in the dictionary. I also learnt from my dad the value of hard work as well as perseverance and not letting the moments define you but defining the moment by embracing the challenge. I remember when I was in primary school, I would be top of the class on many occasions, but my dad was never really satisfied. He always told me to do better. I couldn't understand why he wanted me to do better when I was scoring around 96 percent on average. 

One day, I summoned up the courage and asked him why he wasn't completely pleased. He said, “Even though you were top of the class scoring 96 percent, the fact that you didn't score 100 percent means that based on the standard of your school, 96 percent was good enough. I want you to get to the point where you tell yourself '96 percent is not good enough for me' and start to set your own standards.” 

- See more at: http://www.financialnigeria.com/meet-world-s-only-combined-heart-and-kidney-specialist-doctor-interview-24.html#sthash.KiL88SMb.dpuf
http://www.financialnigeria.com/meet-world-s-only-combined-heart-and-kidney-specialist-doctor-interview-24.html

I knew it...it can't b ibo...yorubas making nigeria proud since adam ate d forbidden fruit

Considering that this guy actually schooled in nigeria before travelling for postgrad training shows that the sky is the limit for all of us.

The only thing that can stop you is YOU!

Lalasticlala, Mynd44,etc ..... abeg frontpage pls!

Thank you

kestolove95:
I knew it...it can't b ibo...yorubas making nigeria proud since adam ate d forbidden fruit

It is a new year....stop the hate

Not a big deal, after all he is adding nothing to Nigerians or even his tribe which he even abhors. Investing all his lives in the US. He must be friend to kanu since he sees Nigeria as Zoo.

kestolove95:
I knew it...it can't b ibo...yorubas making nigeria proud since adam ate d forbidden fruit

my dear you are too pretty and young to be saying this type of stuff.

Back to topic, why don't we see/hear news of Nigerians like these on CNN or BBC? Great achievements.

wiseoneking:
Not a big deal, after all he is adding nothing to Nigerians or even his tribe which he even abhors. Investing all his lives in the US. He must be friend to kanu since he sees Nigeria as Zoo.

Commonsense is not common at all.

kestolove95:
I knew it...it can't b ibo...yorubas making nigeria proud since adam ate d forbidden fruit

grow up

kestolove95:
I knew it...it can't b ibo...yorubas making nigeria proud since adam ate d forbidden fruit

Happy New Year!
Time to put away childish things.
Time to put away all things that don't add value to you as a human being.

7 billion people in the worlf and he is the ONLY one. Wow!!!

If he is from a tribe... We for no hear word

Just a single word came to mind

Exceptional!!

Well, I'm not surprised he's from the Yoruba's lineage. The Obatala & Oduduwa genes in us propel us to glorious heights of human excellence unlike those who carry the gene of Chukwu Okike Abiama - The gene of baby factories, cocaine & armed robbery.

"I currently specialise in seven different areas of medicine. I am a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Fellow of American College of Cardiology, a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology, and a Fellow of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions"


Just amazing!

OAU shaa