High incidence of heart diseases in Nigeria worrisome —Prof Akinboboye, frontline US-based cardiologist

Professor Olakunle Akinboboye is the first black person to be appointed chairman of the Cardiovascular Disease Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the apex organisation that maintains oversight on the training and certification of all cardiologists in the United States. In this interview by WALE OJO LANRE, Professor Akinboboye speaks on how he achieved this feat, a first in the 81-year history of the organisation and on cardiovascular challenges facing Nigeria. Excerpts:

You are the first black to be elected as chairman of the Cardiovascular Disease Board in the history of the American Board of Internal Medicine. How did you achieve this feat?

First, I will like to acknowledge the grace and blessings of my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Like you said, I am a Nigerian, an indigene of Ondo town, in Ondo State. I attended primary and secondary schools in Ondo town. I went to St. Joseph’s College, Ondo and later Special Sixth Form, Ikare, which was changed to Ondo State College of Arts and Science. Then, I went to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. It was and, I believe, is still the best medical school in Nigeria. It provided the foundation for whatever professional status I have attained today and the post I am occupying presently.

You appear to be fond of the University of Ibadan…

Honestly, the atmosphere that we enjoyed in UI was excellent. We had a great teaching hospital [UCH], excellent and dedicated teachers, well equipped laboratories and a stimulating educational environment. It is regrettable that there has been infrastructural decay over the years but it is still a good medical school. I am also grateful that while many of my colleagues in the United States incurred substantial loans, up to $300,000 or more in some cases, to pay for their medical education, the Nigerian government paid me bursaries while I was in medical school and my tuition was modest.

When last did you visit the University of Ibadan?

I have never really been disconnected from the school. In fact, I was the president of UI Alumni Association in North America from 2004 to 2005. During that time, I personally directed the setting up of the first CPR/ACLS training programme at the College of Medicine, which was certified as an American Heart Association-accredited CPR/ACLS training programme (one of only two with this designation in sub-Saharan Africa). It is in operation till today.

What did you do after leaving the University of Ibadan?

I did my youth service at the Military Hospital, Odogbo and subsequently left for the United States for residency training. I did my Internal Medicine residency training at Nassau University Medical Centre, State University of New York at Stony Brook. I completed my cardiology fellowship training at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York. After completing my fellowship, I was retained on the faculty of Columbia University initially as an instructor and subsequently as Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, from 1995 to 2000. While at Columbia University, I did a Master’s in Public Health and another Master’s in Business Administration at Columbia Business School. I spent about eight years at Columbia University. I subsequently left there for St. Francis Heart Centre where I served as the Director of Nuclear Cardiology. I moved from Saint Francis Heart Centre to New York Hospital, Queens, to serve as Director of Cardiac Research and Imaging and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Cornell University. In 2007, having gone through the furnace of academic medicine, I left full-time academia to set up Laurelton Heart Specialist PC/Queens Heart Institute in Rosedale, Queens (by JFK Airport), New York.

All along I remained involved in healthcare at the national level here in the US. I was the National President of the Association of Black Cardiologists in the US from 2012 to 2014. Subsequently, I began my term on the International Board of Governors of the American College of Cardiology as the designated liaison for Africa. In this role, I served as the bridge between the American College of Cardiology and many African cardiology societies. Three years ago, I was appointed to the Cardiovascular Disease Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Any history of an African or black chairman of the board before you?

There are 12 of us from all over the country on the board.  I am the only African or black member. Up till a few months ago, Professor Marielle Jessup of the University of Pennsylvania was the chair of the board. Her term ended and I was appointed chairman of the board. My tenure is three years and it commenced in March 2017. I am not aware of any prior African or black chairperson of the board.

What were the variables that led to your election? Is it your accomplishments in the field of medicine, your activities as a member of board or your social standing and political activities as past president of the Association of Black Cardiologists in the US?

I think it is a combination of all the above. The American system is based on merit and has a benchmark for excellence. To be appointed to the cardiovascular disease board, you must have an impressive professional and practising record, unblemished integrity and be internationally renowned as a leader in the field of cardiology.

Immediately you were elected, what came to your mind as being responsible for your election, your background as a Nigerian or your longstanding practice in the US health arena?

It is a combination of the two. Look, foundation is essential. If your foundation is faulty, whatever you build on it will collapse. I stand on the shoulders of the giants who built my foundation. I cannot but give kudos to my parents, my family and my siblings who greatly influenced me.

As a globally recognised cardiologist, have you taken time to review the status of cardiology and cardiovascular challenges in your country Nigeria?

Of course, I am a Nigerian. I never lost my bearing when it comes to my country. I stay in touch with Nigerian cardiologists. I was an invited to speak at the national meeting of the Nigerian Cardiac Society in Abuja July last year. Furthermore, I have worked hard for over the years in my role as the liaison for Africa on the International Board of Governors of the American College of Cardiology, to network the Nigeria Cardiac Society and other cardiac societies in Africa with the American College of Cardiology. Because of these efforts, the Nigerian Cardiac Society is now an international chapter of the America College of Cardiology. This was achieved through a collaborative effort with the leadership of the Nigerian Cardiac Society. This affiliation provides access for members of the Nigerian Cardiac Society to the many educational resources that the American College of cardiology provides.

In terms of professional competence, how do you rate Nigerian cardiologists?

Nigerian cardiologists are competent. The problem with the practice of cardiology in Nigeria is not about professional competence or qualification; rather it is the lack of facilities and tools for cardiologists to do what they need to do.

What is your tenure?

It is three years

What are your plans?

My primary role as chairman of the board is to ensure that we have a fair and reliable way of ensuring that practising cardiologists in the United States are keeping up with the rapidly expanding body of knowledge in the field. Unfortunately, many cardiologists in the US are protesting what they perceive as high-handedness of the board. My hope is to work with my board to steady the ship and come up with an effective system of verifying the competence of cardiologists in the US that is not unduly burdensome.

When you were just a board member, you did well for Nigeria Cardiac Society. Now that you are the chairman, what should be expected from you?

The Cardiovascular Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine is focused mainly on the training and certification of competent cardiologists in the United States. However, I still wear the hat of the liaison for Africa on the International Board of Governors of the American College of Cardiology. In this role, I will continue to encourage the emergence of cardiology societies in Africa and establish platforms for networking and cross-fertilisation of ideas between cardiology societies in Africa and the American College of Cardiology.

What do you think are the challenges battling cardiologists globally?

We are in the throes of a rapidly expanding global epidemic of cardiovascular diseases. I am deeply troubled by the high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, strokes, heart attacks and heart failure in Nigeria. I noticed that there is a lot of emphasis in the country on building cardiac catheterisation laboratories and open-heart surgery programmes which I think is laudable. However, we cannot forget about prevention. We must continue to develop prevention programmes to combat the building blocks of cardiovascular disease, which are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, dietary indiscretion, stress, physical inactivity, and cigarette smoking through robust public health measures. This has been shown to be the most cost-effective approach to the epidemic.