Dr. Ifekandu Bennett Omalu, hailing from Urunnebo Village in Enugwu Ukwu, Anambra State, is a remarkable figure in the field of medicine and pathology.
Born on September 1st, 1968, Dr. Omalu received his primary and secondary education in Nigeria and pursued his MBBS degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Currently, he holds the esteemed position of a Professor of medical pathology and laboratory science at the University of California. His academic journey also includes an MPH from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.
Dr. Omalu achieved global recognition as the first person to discover and publish findings about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players while working at the Allegheny County Coroner’s Office. Presently, he serves as the Chief Medical Examiner for San Joaquin County, California, and is a professor at UC-Davis.
Dr. Bennett Omalu’s journey to excellence brought him to the United States in the 1990s at age 26, where he completed his Medical Residency. Driven by the relentless work ethic synonymous with his Igbo heritage, he became one of the world’s foremost neuropathologists. His groundbreaking work involved the discovery and study of CTE, a degenerative brain condition prevalent in American football players.
Dr. Omalu challenged the safety of certain sports through his research on former NFL players. His findings were subsequently confirmed by a study in Sweden, revealing that children who suffer one concussion are more likely to die before the age of 42 and prone to developing psychiatric issues. The Sweden research also disclosed that NFL players were experiencing premature deaths or self-harm within 20 years after retirement, often in their 30s—something Dr. Omalu had asserted years earlier.
Concerned by the grim fate of retired NFL players, Dr. Omalu began researching the root causes. His investigations pointed to “Concussion” as the primary factor. Remarkably, the NFL initially denied these facts and made attempts to hide his findings as they perceiving it as a threat to their multibillion-dollar industry.
Undeterred, Dr. Omalu persevered and his determination prevailed despite threats and verbal abuse,and this led to the dissemination of his groundbreaking scientific discovery worldwide.
The impact of his research was so profound that it inspired a movie titled “Concussion,” starring iconic American actor, Will Smith as Dr. Omalu. The film shed light on the harsh consequences of contact sports on both children and adults, particularly the damaging brain condition, CTE, which Dr. Omalu had uncovered.
Dr. Bennet Omalu also authored the book “Truth Doesn’t Have A Side: My Alarming Discovery About The Danger Of Contact Sports.” This book serves as a valuable resource for parents facing the dilemma of choosing between their love for football and the well-being of their children answering the question: ‘Do I love football more than I love my child ?’
Hopefully, Dr. Omalu’s exceptional contributions to the field of medicine will earn him the Nobel Prize in recognition of his life-saving research.
Happy Birthday To Award Winning Pathologist Dr. Bennett Omalu, The Nigerian Medical Pioneer Who Revolutionized Sports Safety.
