Nigeria’s Dr. Uchechi Iweala has set a medical record in Maryland, United States as one of the first spinal surgeons to perform a successful navigated lumbar spinal fusion using a robot.
Uchechi is the son of the Director-General, World Trade Organization, WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Okonjo-Iweala disclosed the good news on her Twitter handle on Thursday.
She said she was proud to be Uchechi’s mother and urged him to keep it going.
She wrote: “Congratulations Dr. Uchechi Iweala, on being one of the first spinal surgeons in Maryland to perform a successful navigated lumbar spinal fusion using a robot! So proud to be your Mum! Keep it going!”
Dr. Uchechi Iweala is a board-eligible, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in spine surgery.
His specialties include: Robotic Spine Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Cervical and Lumbar Disc Replacement, Spinal Fusion/Arthrodesis, Nerve Releases, Spinal Injections, Spinal Deformity, Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Spondylolisthesis and Trauma and Fracture Care.
Dr. Iweala grew up in Maryland and attended St. Albans in DC. He earned his Bachelor’s degree with honours at Harvard College, and received his MD/MBA from Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School.
Dr. Iweala returned to the DC area to complete his residency training in orthopaedic surgery at George Washington University. Following residency, he completed a fellowship in spine surgery at New York University.
He has published numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed academic papers, including in the International Journal of Spine Surgery and the Journal of Orthopaedics.
His research interests include minimizing re-operation after spinal fusion, limiting the use of narcotics in spine surgery, and maximizing the efficiency and value of care for spine surgery patients.
