Growing up in Nigeria, West Africa, Dr. Oluwaseun Omofoye didn’t see many doctors, but the few he did encounter inspired him.
“Doctors were considered like superheroes,” said Dr. Omofoye, now a neurosurgeon at Tidelands Health. “They left an indelible impression on me. I knew I wanted to become a doctor since I was a very young boy.”
The determined, driven boy – raised in a home where education was a priority – pursued his dream to be a physician with passion and determination, fueled by a love of science. New doors opened when his father won the visa lottery to move to the United States when Dr. Omofoye was 16. Dr. Omofoye then spent 19 years – yes, nearly two decades – completing specialized studies and training in the latest medical technology at some of the country’s premier universities.
Now, he’s living his dream as a neurosurgeon at Tidelands Health, the region’s largest health care provider with four hospitals and more than 60 outpatient offices. Dr. Omofoye brought his specialized skills and expertise in robotic-assisted procedures to help lead the expansion of Tidelands Health Neurosciences. The expansion ushers in a new level of care and treatment in the region for a variety of brain, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
“I have a passion for treating patients with brain tumors, and I have an emotional connection with those patients,” Dr. Omofoye said.
Dr. Omofoye discovered his neurosciences niche during his extensive studies. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University. He completed his medical degree at UNC Chapel Hill and his neurosurgical residency at the University of California Davis Medical Center with an enfolded fellowship at Boston Medical Center.
He then completed an additional fellowship in neurosurgical oncology and skull base neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Along the way, he earned an impressive collection of honors and awards, including first place in the UNC Healthcare Quality Expo and notable awards for neurosurgical residents.
Last year, Dr. Omofoye celebrated the completion of his extensive training with a post on LinkedIn that generated more than 9,600 reactions and more than 1,125 comments. His words were not only a celebration of his persistence and determination to achieve his dream but also an inspiration to others.
“I am grateful to have made it through,” Dr. Omofoye said in the viral post. “It was challenging to say the least, but I’m thankful to everyone who has supported and believed in me along the way.”
Dr. Omofoye didn’t spend too much time celebrating, though. Instead, he jumped right into his role at Tidelands Health, helping expand the health system’s neurosciences services. He specializes in the surgical treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors and is proficient in minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques.
In the fall, Dr. Omofoye was the first physician in South Carolina to use a state-of-the-art cranial technology to perform a brain tumor biopsy that is less invasive and drastically reduces a patient’s recovery time.
“We often meet patients at the worst possible time in their lives,” Dr. Omofoye said. “We can make a longtime impact and change the course of their lives forever in this profession.
“I’m grateful to be a neurosurgeon.”