Nigerian doctor named top cardiologist in US

A top Nigerian cardiologist, based in New York, Dr. Oluyemi Badero, has been named among the top interventional cardiologists in the United States, according to a prominent US rating organization for the medical profession.

Castle Connolly, the organisation which publishes distinguished US doctors, has listed Badero among the top US doctors, based in the New York metro area, which includes New York, New Jersey and Connecticut states.

The publication, which is the 15th edition and dated 2012, was released recently, reporting that Badero, who earlier had been named among top US cardiologists, is one of the interventional cardiologists to reckon with in the US. Interventional Cardiology is deemed a rarefied specialty in medical practice, and fewer African-Americans and blacks are qualified in that field.

Commenting on his listing this year by the Castle Connolly, regarded as eminent among US medical professionals, Dr. Badero said the recognition would further spur him to do more and do better, adding that “I feel highly honoured.”

Badero was among a handful of US black doctors and Nigerians on the Castle Connolly. Some of the other Nigerian doctors, who had featured on the list, include Professor Ferdinand Ofodile, Dr Ola Akinboboye and Dr Chukwuma Okadigwe.

Badero’s training in Africa was noted in the publication. He graduated with an MBBS in 1984 from the then University of Ife. However, it added that Badero had two residency programmes in the US, both at the State University of New York between 1990 and 1994. It was also highlighted that Badero had two post-residency fellowships at SUNY and Yale, between 1994 and 1998.

The publication also noted his three levels of America medical board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology.

The publication stated that the process of selecting the top doctors “begins with the identification of a select pool of board-certified physicians from the total numbers of doctors practicing in a given area.” The process involves a survey of already distinguished and leading physicians and hospital CEO’s and medical directors, who are asked to nominate top doctors on an annual basis.