Dr Bennet Omalu Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

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Dr Bennet Omalu Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

Our Biography of Dr Bennet Omalu tells you facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Family, Parents, Wife, Children, Lifestyle, Religion, Net Worth, and Personal Life.

in a nutshell, we’ll break down his journey through the survival from the Nigerian civil war to how he made a Historic Medical discovery in the NFL.

Yes, you and I know Dr. Bennet Omalu would forever be remembered as the Physician who discovered CTE in NFL Players. However, many of his benefactors only have little knowledge of his Bio.

Thus, we present you his comprehensive Life Story from when he was a humble town boy to when he became a revered doctor. Without delay, let’s begin with his Early Days.

Dr Bennet Omalu Childhood Story:

For Biography starters, his full names are Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu.

Dr Omalu was born on the 30th day of September 1968 to his parents, Mr and Mrs John Donatus Amaechi Omalu, in Nnokwa, Anambra State, Nigeria.

He is the sixth child of seven children born to his mother, a seamstress, and his father, a retired civil mining engineer.

Do you know?… The circumstances surrounding his birth were quite dangerous.

Unfortunately, little Omalu did not get the appropriate rest that children enjoyed at birth. Because he was born during the disastrous Nigeria Civil War that claimed the life of many Nigerians.

Indeed, Bennet spent the first two years of his Childhood running helter-skelter with his family who fled from their homes to avert the claws of death.

In spite of being less conscious of the war, Omalu would forever be reminded of how he survived the darkest days in Nigerian History.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Family Origin:

The award-winning Doctor, like Dr Stella Immanuel, hails from West Africa.

Do you know?… The surname of Bennet – Omalu – was actually shortened from the name ‘Onyemalukwube’ which means; he who knows, speaks.

His surname speaks much about his Nigerian Igbo heritage. Hence, it will always stand as a trademark of his family origin.

Interestingly, the Igbos are one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Indeed, they were greatly affected by the aftermaths of the Nigerian Civil War.

Notwithstanding, Omalu still grew up to learn about the customs and traditions of his ancestors. Thus, he learned how to fluently speak his home dialect – Igbo.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Family Background:

The future physician hails from a middle-class Family Background. Even in the days of adversity, his family continued to thrive for their survival.

At the end of the war in 1970, Omalu’s family returned to their homeland and prepared to start up a new life.

Unfortunately, all the survivors had to rebuild their homes and businesses from scratch.

With Consistency and positive affirmations, the Omalu’s family recovered from the war’s aftermath and resumed their normal lifestyle.

Growing Up Days:

While Dr Bennet was living as a child in Enugu, he recalls having a cheerful life. Back then, Bennet would spend most of his time playing with other kids.

Back then, the young lad patiently awaits the dawn of several auspicious festivity dates. During each festival, he usually drenches himself in the euphoria of dancing and eating very delicious meals.

Furthermore, Omalu’s siblings also played an important role in his upbringing. Truth is, they were one of the basic reasons he enjoyed a cheerful life.

Aside from his neighbourhood friends, Omalu’s brothers and sisters were extremely lively and expelled boredom from their home.

Dr Bennet Omalu Education:

The medical journey of the Nigerian physician began when he enrolled to study at a primary school located within his neighbourhood.

Can you believe it? The young lad started attending primary school at the age of three. Truth be told, only a few Nigerians had the privilege of enrolling in a primary school at such an early age.

Following the completion of his primary education, Omalu gained entrance into the Federal Government College Enugu. There, he acquired his secondary education and developed the dream of becoming one of the most revered doctors in Nigeria.

Do you know?… Bennet Omalu was quite intelligent during his days in secondary school.

And as it is customary, most of the brilliant students in various science classes always develop an interest in medical studies. On this note, Omalu soon enrolled to study medicine and surgery at the age of 16.

Early Career Life:

In no distant time, Bennet graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) in the year 1990.

Subsequently, he went on to complete his compulsory internship. Meanwhile, most medical graduates in Nigeria do not face any difficulty in getting a good job. Hence, Omalu started his early career life as a physician in Jos, Nigeria.

After three years of hard work, the novice physician became discouraged by the Nigerian political system. He recalled being irritated by the rigging of the 1993 presidential elections.

Back then, the election was declared inconclusive, thereby hindering the winner, MKO Abiola from being sworn in as Nigeria’s first democratic president.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Biography – Road to Fame Story:

Knowing fully well that he could no longer work in a country that is full of deception, Omalu sought opportunities to further his studies abroad.

Fortunately, the young physician migrated to the U.S. in the year 1994. There, he completed his fellowship in epidemiology at the University of Washington.

Gradually and at a consistent pace, Dr. Bennet Omalu climbed up the ladder of fame in the medical world.

In due time, the Nigerian physician began to train in several advance medical programs. He did his residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at Columbia University’s Harlem Hospital Center.

Dr Bennet Omalu Biography – Rise to Fame Story:

In the nick of time, Omalu acquired seven advanced degrees and a board of certifications. Over the years, his medical expertise saw him serving as the chief medical examiner of San Joaquin County, California.

The Nigerian physician has made a lot of medical accomplishments since his Rise to Fame. Rising to the prime of his medical career, Bennet Omalu was graced with the privilege of serving as the professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of California.

Like many other world-renowned doctors- eg; the like of Dr Anthony Fauci, Omalu was moved by the ardent desire of exploring his medical expertise.

Am sure he was aware that his medical research was not going to be easy. One of the basic determinants of the line of Research taken by Omalu was his curiosity that arose after examining Mike Webster’s body in 2002.

Infamous CTE Research:

It is no longer news that Bennet Omalu made a revolutionary discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

As a matter of fact, every American football lover would forever be grateful to the Nigerian doctor for achieving a medical breakthrough in the NFL.

Prior to his research, many NFL players had lost their lives to the cold hands of death in a sudden and unexpected way. However, after several observations, Omalu came up with the discovery of CTE.

With utmost sincerity and commitment, he strives to create an awareness of the disease through paper publication. However, his efforts were met with several oppositions and challenges.

In a nutshell, Omalu’s discovery started to come to fruition after seven years of his research. Subsequently, he like Dr Ben Carson has received recognition and awards for his selfless efforts. The rest, as they say, is history.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Wife and Children:

The famous Nigerian forensic pathologist is married at the time of writing this Biography. Am sure you may be wondering who the lucky woman is.

To satisfy your curiosity, Omalu’s wife is Prema Mutiso, a national of Kenya.

Oftentimes, the talented doctor has been seen taking pictures with his wife and children. However, he seldom talks about them.

As a result, not much information is known about his wife. Subsequently, the wedding solemnization of the lovebird led to the birth of their daughter, Ashly, and son, Mark.

Dr Bennet Omalu Family Life:

It would go against the traditions and customs of Bennet Omalu’s ancestors if we exclude details about his family members from his Life Story.

Hence, below is comprehensive information about Omalu’s Family Life and how each member of his household has influenced his achievements thus far.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Mother:

The fact that Bennet Omalu’s mom did not stay idle is enough reason for him to grow up into a hard-working man.

Although her name has not been mentioned anywhere on the internet, she is however famous for working as a seamstress while raising her children.

If you ever wonder where the veteran medical practitioner got his sense of humour and responsibility from, then be rest assured that it’s from his mom.

As a matter of fact, Omalu feels indebted to his mother who always encouraged him throughout the difficult phase of his life.

Thanks to her advice, he has turned out to become a successful man in recent times.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Father:

One can hardly imagine the level of sacrifices that Bennet Omalu’s dad makes in order to cater for his family’s needs. Being the father of seven children, John Donatus Amaechi Omalu worked tirelessly as a civil mining engineer to make ends meet.

Without Omalu’s father, What would have become of Bennet? What would have become of the NFL players’ mysterious deaths?

All these questions keep coming to mind because the father of the Nigerian physician was the major sponsor of his medical education. Qudos to Bennet Omalu’s dad for raising such an amazing doctor.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Siblings:

Even though he does not constantly mention their names, Omalu has six siblings. Throughout his growing-up years, Omalu’s brothers and sisters have always watched out for him. In fact, his elder siblings played a vital role in enhancing his chances of survival during the civil war.

About Bennet Omalu’s Relatives:

Following the official acceptance and recognition of Omalu’s research, the great news did not delay in reaching his homeland.

Rather, it spread across his country like wildfire. Omalu’s achievements became a source of jubilation for his paternal grandparents as well as his maternal grandfather and grandmother.

You can imagine the euphoria that befalls his uncles and aunts when they heard the good news. Without any doubt, Dr. Omalu’s nephews, nieces, and other family acquaintances must have been inspired by his career achievements.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Personal Life:

It would be disrespectful to think that Omalu’s personal life has not been greatly influenced by his medical endeavours.

Truth be told, Dr Bennet has only pushed for fame in order to gain the attention of the world so as to communicate his findings on the dangers involved in playing football. Only a few persons are willing to go that far for the good of others.

His spirit of not giving up as well as his curious nature of looking at a situation from a different point of view is evident in his Horoscope.

Exhibiting the traits of Libra Zodiac sign, Omalu has not really concerned himself with talking about his hobbies. Rather, he seizes every available opportunity to warn against the side effect of American football.

Dr. Bennet Omalu Parents had him on September 30th, which makes him a Libra. Here are some other celebrities who share the same zodiac sign as him:

Serena Williams (born September 26, 1981), Will Smith (born September 25, 1968), Hugh Jackman (born October 12, 1968), Cardi B (born October 11, 1992), etc.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Lifestyle:

With an average annual salary of over $250 thousand, Dr Omalu has amassed an estimated Net Worth which ranges between $1 Million – $5 Million. Worthy of note, the controversial Nigerian physician does not display any luxurious assets online.

Notwithstanding, he may probably have in his possession some expensive cars and house that he doesn’t want to show-off.

At the time of writing this bio, Dr Bennet Omalu lives together with his wife and two children in Elk Grove, California.

Dr Bennet Omalu Facts:

To round-up the Biography of the Nigerian forensic pathologist and neuropathologist, here are five facts about Dr Bennet Omalu that would help you grasp a complete knowledge of his Life Story.

Fact #1: Dr Bennet Omalu’s Religion And Citizenship:

Although the Igbo ethnic group has predominantly been affiliated with Traditional religion, Omalu, on the other hand, is a Christian.

Truth is, he does not joke with his Catholic faith and consistently makes out time to attend Sunday masses with his household.

Furthermore, The Nigerian national became a full-fledged American citizen in the month of February 2015. He acquired citizenship after meeting up to the required criteria for acquiring the U.S citizenship by naturalization.

Fact #2: Dr Bennet Omalu’s Books:

Due to continuous debate on the risk and statistics of CTE disease, the Nigerian doctor had to put together a book on the subject matter.

He published his first book titled, Play Hard, Die Young: Football Dementia, Depression, and Death in 2008.

After several disagreements with different medical authorities, Omalu decided to pen down another book.

This time around, he was bent on uncovering the truth behind the supposed lies of his medical counterparts. Hence, he published his second book titled; Truth Doesn’t Have a Side: My Alarming Discovery about the Danger of Contact Sports in August 2017

Fact #3: Bennet Omalu’s Movie:

Omalu’s Life Story would have remained estranged from the world if not for the production of the movie Concussion.

The film was produced based on Omalu’s life experience during his revolutionary research. More so, the movie featured veteran American actor Will Smith who portrayed Omalu’s character as a chief medical examiner.

Fact #4: Famous Quotes:

Take a look at a few of Dr Bennet Omalu’s most famous quotes below;

“All animals have shock absorbers built into their bodies. The woodpecker’s tongue extends through the back of the mouth out of the nostril, encircling the entire cranium. It is the anatomical equivalent of a safety belt for its brain. Human beings? Not a single piece of our anatomy protects us from collisions.”

And now here come his conclusive quotes;

“I solved the problem. All they have to do is put on the side of the helmet, ‘The Surgeon General has determined that playing football is hazardous to your health’.”

Fact #5: Trivia:

Do you know? During the U.S. presidential election campaigns in 2016, Omalu created a stir in social media. He tweeted that Hillary Clinton was possibly poisoned and recommended a toxicology analysis of her blood.

Still, on the matter, Omalu further tweeted that he did not trust Mr Putin and Mr Trump as everything is possible with them.

However, his suggestion did not captivate people’s attention, as they saw it as a political strategy in favour of Ms Clinton.

Dr Bennet Omalu’s Biography Summary:

Below is the wiki knowledge base of Dr Bennet Omalu. The table will help you find information about him concisely and efficiently. Find below.

Biography InquiriesWiki Answers
Full Name:Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu
Nick NameDr. Omalu
Date of Birth:30th September 1968
Place of Birth:Nnokwa, Anambra State, Nigeria
Parents:Mr. & Mrs. John Donatus Amaechi Omalu
Spouse(s):Prema Mutiso
Children:Ashly and Mark
Known For:The CTE discovery
Net Worth:between $1 Million - $5 Million
Average Annual Salary:$250 thousand
Occupation:Medical doctor, forensic pathologist, professor, and medical examiner
Zodiac Trait:Libra
Height:1.73 m - in meters
5' 7'' - in feet
Religion:Christianity
Nationality:Nigerian and naturalized U.S Citizen

EndNote:

Thanks for reading the Life Story of the Nigerian Physician and forensic pathologist. We hope you enjoyed the story.

Our team strives towards maintaining fairness and accuracy by carrying out compressive research while putting up this article.

However, if you find anything that doesn’t seem right on our Dr Bennet Omalu’s Biography, kindly reach out to us. Or give us feedback about your satisfaction in the comment box below.

Cole Daxton is a talented Childhood Biography Storyteller with a passion for uncovering the untold stories of some of the world's biggest celebrities. With a keen eye for detail, Cole Daxton has spent years delving into the Early Years and Success Stories of some of the most famous people in the world.

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