Unlike many Nigerians eager to leave the country for greener pastures abroad, especially in the United States and Canada, Dr. Paul K. Oni, an accomplished orthopedic surgeon and educator at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, chose to return to his homeland to contribute to the advancement of the health sector.
After 25 years in the United States, where he held a prestigious position as a well-compensated surgeon at one of the top medical facilities in the world, Dr. Oni had every reason to continue his successful career abroad. However, driven by a strong sense of conviction, he believes that returning to Nigeria will ultimately serve him and the Nigerian people better.
Dr. Oni began his career as an Assistant Professor in 2016, quickly rising to Chair of the Orthopedic Surgery Diversity Council in 2019 before becoming the Director of Global Orthopedics at Johns Hopkins in 2020. In 2024, he was promoted to Associate Professor, earning recognition for his significant contributions to education, diversity, and global health.
In a viral video explaining his decision, Dr. Oni stated:”I reversed Japa from the US to Nigeria. Six weeks ago, I relocated to Nigeria from the US. I took a leave of absence from my job at Johns Hopkins, sold my house, sold my cars, packed my bags alongside my lovely wife and beautiful children, and made the move. After 25 years of living in the US, I know some of you may call me delusional or even crazy, but I am neither; I am just a man of conviction.
I am Dr. Julius Oni, Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and the CEO of Xsite Capital, a private equity multifamily real estate company. I happen to believe that Nigerian patients deserve great care too. As part of my mission, I have started DOC Medical Nigeria, which offers high-quality musculoskeletal care to the population. One of my goals is to provide access to care so that people do not have to travel to access top-notch orthopedic services. I am humbled to say that people are coming from near and far, from as close as Ghana and as far as the UK. Many patients who would have otherwise traveled now have access to quality orthopedic surgery right here.”
Dr. Oni did not return solely to establish a business; he is also committed to initiating a fellowship program aimed at training the next generation of joint replacement surgeons to serve the Nigerian population effectively. Through his efforts, he hopes to elevate the standard of orthopedic care in Nigeria while inspiring others to invest in their homeland’s future.
Academic Records.
Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
Research fellowships at the University of Iowa’s Department of Biochemistry and the NIH/National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD, both in 2002.
Howard University College of Medicine, where he earned his Medical Degree with the distinction of being inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
He then completed a rigorous residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases, further honing his skills in a highly competitive environment.
Dr. Oni’s commitment to advanced specialization took him to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where he completed an Adult Reconstructive Fellowship.
Executive Certificate in Business Communications from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and an Executive Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University,
Work Experience
He began as a Staff Physician with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Bayside High School Football in New York from 2008 to 2010, providing specialized care to high-performance athletes.
He served as a Clinical Instructor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, honing his teaching skills.
Dr. Oni was an Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia from 2013 to 2016,
He also held the position of Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University.
He join Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital in 2016 as an Orthopaedic Surgeon and took on the role of Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
positions he continues to hold today, contributing significantly to both patient care and the academic community.
