Africans in diaspora, fueled by a passion to succeed, make a global impact; and the inherent resilience in them continue to record phenomenal successes; on an international scale in a wide range of fields. And of such Pathfinders is Professor Iyalla Peterside, a Nigerian-born medical doctor has been named one of America’s Best Physicians; for the year 2020 by the US National Consumer Advisory Board and Todaysbestphysician.com.
Dr Peterside is a Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical school; and a Consultant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia considered one of the best Children’s Hospitals in the world; where he has worked for over 20 years. He was until recently the Medical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital; and the President of the Philadelphia Perinatal society. He is a recipient of many awards from his colleagues and professional associations in the US.
His area of expertise is in the care of complex surgical neonates, infants needing extracorporeal support; and babies with Chronic lung disease. He graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1985 and has practiced medicine in four continents of; Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America.
Professor Iyalla Peterside is among Nigerian professionals who constitute the most celebrated diaspora community in the US. Nigerians are top on the table of the most highly educated of all diaspora groups in the US; with 61 per cent holding at least a bachelors degree compared with 31 per cent of the total foreign-born population and 32 per cent of the US-born population, according to 2017 data from the Migration Policy Institute.