In recent years, a number of Nigerians have projected the country in the limelight of the medical profession.

These outstanding individuals have through hard work and dedication to duty, projected themselves and earned the respect of their contemporaries in countries of across the globe.

These Nigerians have left indelible prints in the sands of time in countries including; America, Canada, Australia and Europe.

One of such people is Dr Oluyinka Olutoye.

Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye is a renowned fetal and pediatric Nigeria born surgeon based in Texas, USA.

In 2016, he successfully operated on a baby-in-utero. 

The mother, at the 23rd week of pregnancy had gone for a routine ultra-sound and it was discovered that her baby had a rare birth defect known as sacrococcygeal teratoma, a large tumor located on the fetus’ tailbone. 

“This is a very opportune time to be joining the organization as we build upon the already impressive success of our surgical services to help children around the country and increasingly around the world,” he said.” 

“I look forward to the privilege of leading and collaborating with this team in the next phase of our journey.”

Olutoye led a team of 21 doctors to remove the tumor. The five-hour surgery involved removing the baby from the uterus for 20 minutes so as to remove the tumor and then placing the baby back into the womb for the remainder of the gestation period, after which she was safely delivered.

For this groundbreaking feat, Olutoye was appointed surgeon-in-chief at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the US. 

He now leads one of the largest children’s hospital surgery departments in the world.

Olutoye received his medical degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. In 1996, he went on to earn his PhD in anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University. 

He completed his residency in general surgery at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Virginia Commonwealth University, and his fellowships in pediatric and fetal surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr Olutoye is certified in surgery and pediatric surgery by the American Board of Surgery. 

He is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the West African College of Surgeons. Olutoye is a member of the American Surgical Association, the American Pediatric Surgical Association and past president of the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society.

In 2019, Olutoye was appointed Professor and the E. Thomas Boles Chairman of the pediatric surgery at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

He has not ceased blazing the trail in this chosen career of his.

Olaitan Oye-Adeitan