Kidney disease is fast becoming a problem in Africa and Nigeria as well, because it is still under diagnosed.
These are the words of heart and kidney specialist/physician, Dr. Olurotimi John Badero. But what is he willing to do to change the narrative, knowing the fact that he has made a name for himself in the United States of America?
Yes! Badero has indeed made a name for himself in the US. For instance, between 1989 and 1990, he got admitted to do his residency training at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, US, and later became a resident in Internal Medicine at the same hospital.
By 1993, he had been named the chief medical resident at the Hospital and got the clinical fellowship in Critical Care in 1993. The next year, he earned the clinical fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine, and by 1997/98 he became fellow in Invasive and Interventional Cardiovascular medicine after he attended the prestigious Yale University.
Presently, he has established his own clinic known as “Cardiac Specialists of Brooklyn” and within two years he was able to buy up the property he rented for the business, turning from a tenant to landlord.
“Yet, with these achievements, one of Badero’s hopes is to see to the establishment in Nigeria of a medical center of excellence, especially, a world class heart center.”
That is a far dream, yet to be realised. However, presently, Badero is contributing his quota to improving kidney and heart treatments in the country, by coming every three months and staying for two weeks, just to treat Nigerians with heart and kidney diseases, at Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals, Victoria Island.
He told LEADERSHIP, that the traditional risk factors for kidney are diabetes and obesity, adding that, “the problem we have in Nigeria is that a lot of times, kidney disease is not being recognized. We need to raise awareness on kidney diseases. People don’t have primary care doctors. They only go to the hospital when they are sick.
“We don’t have to wait till we get sick before we go to the hospital. We need to emphasize the need to see doctors regularly so that they can do surveillance and check to pick up these diseases early and begin treatment promptly.”
Career And Education
Dr. Badero is a fully trained, Board-Certified Interventional Cardio-Nephrologist (Combined Heart & Kidney Specialist Physician) who has been recognised as the world’s first and only Board-Certified Interventional Cardio-Nephrologist. He has received several awards for his accomplishment in this emerging field of medicine and has been recognized globally for his contributions as a pioneer in this medical field.
He attended Federal Government College, Odogbolu, and won the best overall student in Nigeria in a National Science Quiz Competition. He obtained his medical education at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria before relocating to the United States to complete three years of Internal Medicine residency at the State University of New York (SUNY), Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn NY. He completed a two-year fellowship in Nephrology & Hypertension at the renowned Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta Georgia. He then completed another three-year fellowship in Cardiology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
Following a distinguished Cardiology Fellowship, he was admitted into the prestigious Yale University School of Medicine, where he completed fellowships in Invasive & Interventional Cardiology as well as Peripheral Vascular Intervention.
He graduated with a distinction in Interventional Cardiology and was awarded a certificate of achievement for outstanding performance.
Dr. Badero also completed another fellowship in Interventional Nephrology, Endovascular Medicine & Dialysis Access Intervention. In all, he completed an unprecedented 10 years of continuous postgraduate medical training in the United States, specializing in seven different areas of medicine, with 6 specialty board certifications. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Nephrology & Hypertension, Interventional Nephrology, Cardiology, Nuclear Cardiology, and Interventional Cardiology.
Dr. Badero has received several awards including a Congressional award by the United States Government for outstanding medical career and service to humanity. He has been inducted into several prestigious academic societies. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians; the American Society of Nephrology; the National Kidney Foundation; the International College of Angiology; the American Society of Diagnostic & Interventional Nephrology; the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology; the American Society of Angiology; the American College of Cardiology; and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and sits on the editorial board of many scientific journals. He participates in mentorship programs for young physicians and scientists, speaking engagements as well as medical training. He serves as a Consultant to some African Countries in establishing cardio-renal programs, cardiac centers of excellence as well as training and skills transfer.
Dr. Badero is a visiting senior consultant and Head of the Interventional Cardiology Program and Director of Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals, Victoria Island.
