November 03, (THEWILL) – New details have emerged about how Nigerian born former US based doctor, Julius Oni allegedly got a soft landing with ‘reverse japa’ made easy for him so he can fulfill his ultimate goal of transforming musculoskeletal care in Nigeria.
Recall that THEWILL had reported a few weeks ago, how Oni who was the associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery had supposedly taken the very bold decision to leave his highly placed job at Johns Hopkins Hospital to return to Nigeria to give Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital a run for its money by transforming musculoskeletal care in Nigeria.
Musculoskeletal health refers to the performance of the locomotor system, comprising intact muscles, bones, joints and adjacent connective tissues that bind them together. His return undoubtedly attracted mixed reactions among Nigerians.
While some applauded his decision, not a few questioned his rationale for returning to a country plagued by economic woes, hardship and high cost of living particularly at a time multinationals are packing up their bags and leaving the country.
Well, it turns out that Oni who has a portfolio of real estate and assets which he manages as the CEO of Xsite Capital, a private equity multi- family real estate company, was allegedly motivated to return to Nigeria with the help of the number one citizen. His influence allegedly helped to facilitate Oni’s easy return to Nigeria. Apparently, the number one citizen was allegedly one of his patients at some point during Oni’s practice in the United States. In August 2021, the number one citizen allegedly underwent a knee surgery at the John Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland where Oni practised and he (Oni) allegedly attended well to him, thus endearing him to the number one citizen.
Before his relocation, Oni said he relinquished his duties as Director of the Joint Replacement Fellowship and his role as the Diversity Chair for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins. He however retained his position as the Director for Global Orthopaedics. He said he took a leave of absence from his job at Johns Hopkins, sold his property and then moved back with his family. He also claimed that his interest in orthopaedics was spurred by his paternal grandmother’s inability to access care while she suffered from end-stage knee arthritis.
With a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, a medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine, the 41 year-old completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Programme at the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
