Ever speculated on how busy the life of a neurosurgeon can be?
You guessed right! extremely hectic is the right response.
Today, we present to you an amazing and dedicated neurosurgeon, Dr. Olawale Sulaiman who manages to divide his time between New Orleans and Nigeria despite his hectic schedule. While in Nigeria, he performs life-saving surgeries for free.
A neurosurgeon is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system including congenital anomalies, trauma, tumors, vascular disorders, infections of the brain or spine, stroke, or degenerative diseases of the spine.
Dr. Sulaiman is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery. Prof. Sulaiman is the Co-Medical Director of the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute and the Medical Director of the most comprehensive Spine Center in the African Region. Prof. Sulaiman is recognized as one of the best spine surgeons in the USA and is skilled in the application of minimally invasive techniques to treat spinal disorders. With a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, he is actively involved in neuroscience research and heads the Laboratory for Neural Regeneration at Ochsner Medical Center.
Professor Sulaiman is a renowned leader in healthcare and a member of the American College of Physician Executives. His broad range of experiences have earned him recognition locally, nationally, and internationally.
Over the past decade, he has been actively involved in improving the quality of healthcare in Nigeria using his influence and expertise to bring modern neurosurgery and spine care to several neurosurgery practices in the country.
Dr. Sulaiman began his missions to Nigeria in 2010, leaving Ochsner to travel to Nigeria regularly, spending seven to 10 days doing surgeries. He has been involved in neurosurgery and spine surgeries in Nigeria and provides free neurosurgery services.
Saving lives in two separate countries is not an easy undertaking and requires a great deal of sacrifice. Prof. Sulaiman leaves his family periodically to attend to these surgeries and consultations. In order to maintain his travel schedule, he agreed to have a salary reduction at Oschner in exchange for a more flexible travel schedule. These acts are a true definition of compassion and sacrifice, which are unquestionable Nigerian traits.
Born in Lagos Island, Lagos, Dr. Sulaiman says his motivation comes from growing up in a relatively poor region. He is one of 10 children born into a polygamous family, himself and his siblings shared one room where they often slept on a mat. Dr. Sulaiman received a scholarship to study medicine in Bulgaria through the Bureau for External Aid, a Nigerian government program targeted at improving the quality of life for Nigeria’s vulnerable communities at the age of 19.
According to Dr. Olawale Sulaiman, the scholarship opened many doors, and, in turn, he is giving back to society back through healthcare. He believes that Africans who have had the privilege of getting outstanding training and education abroad must mobilize their network of influence to transform our continent. We absolutely agree.
To further his philanthropic objectives, Prof. Sulaiman founded RNZ Global. RNZ Global is a leader in healthcare development, operations, and management in sub-Saharan Africa, and is at the forefront of revolutionizing healthcare in the region.