Anthony Olushegun Oloni was born on October 17, 1964 in ECWA Hospital, Egbe, Kogi State Nigeria to the family of Chief James Bolaji Oloni of Akitipa Compound, Ejiba in Yagba West L.G.A. in Kogi State, Nigeria, and Mrs Deborah Funmilayo Oloni (Nee Olayemi-Moody) of ECWA Church Compound, Oke-Egbe in Yagba West L.G.A. Kogi State, Nigeria.
At 10 months old, he moved with his parents to Oxford in England where they went for further studies and later worked.
He attended Pinner Primary School in Northwood Middlesex England up until 1973 when the family (which by now included sister Doris Olushola and brother Adebisi John) moved back to Nigeria.
He continued primary school at St. Joseph’s Nursery and Primary School in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria finishing in 1974. He attended Federal Government College Ilorin from 1974 to 1979.
He was very passionate about how things work and are put together, hence his desire to study Engineering in University. However his father who was an accomplished specialised nursing professional prevailed on him to study medicine, which he started in The University of Ilorin’s Faculty of Medicine in 1979, graduating in 1987.
After his Medical “Housemanship”, Anthony served Nigeria in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1987 to 1988 with the Military Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
Thereafter he rigorously pursued specialisation in Public Health and worked in a variety of positions from 1988 up on till 1992 when he moved to the USA.
Dr. Oloni had always been drawn to what he described as extraordinary adventures in healthcare. This was initially exemplified by his participation in invitro-fertilization experimental treatment of infertile women while the science was still generally in its infancy.
As part of a team of medical researchers at the University of Lagos Medical School, he helped produce Nigeria's (Africa’s) first invitro-fertilized (test-tube) baby.
Apart from receiving a medical degree from the University of Ilorin's College of Medicine, Dr. Anthony Oloni received a Graduate Certificate of Public Health Informatics and a Masters of Public Health in Informatics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Having initially not been able to pursue his dream of becoming a mechanical engineer, he has since being able to merge the best of both his worlds by combining the science of the practice of medicine with computer engineering and information technology – Public Health in Clinical and Health Informatics).
As one of the pioneering clinical Informatics professionals, he has been able to combine academics with professional practice and consulting, holding faculty positions at Walden University’s Doctor of Nursing (DNP) program and a Healthcare Informatics Course lead position at Kaplan University.
Past positions include – Public Health Consultant and Specialist, Philadelphia Dept of Public Health (1997-2000); Clinical Informatics Specialist, Georgia Poison Center (Grady Health System, 2007-2012), and Clinical Informatics Specialist and College Professor at EDMC.
In addition to his positions in the academia, Dr. Oloni is the Chief Medical Information Officer for the PHICON Corporation's Public Health Informatics Consultants, Atlanta where he conceptualizes, develops, implements and consults in the area of clinical and health Informatics.
Dr. Oloni was the Director for Health & Clinical Informatics and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the United States Air Force, a position he held from August 2012 until his death.
Olushegun was a strong member of various professional academic and social bodies
1. American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
2. Public Health Informatics Consultants, Atlanta (PHICON)
3. Georgia Medical Association
4. Member, University of Ilorin Medical Student Alumni Association (ILUMSA).
5. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Chicago.
He was passionate about personal development and mentoring and he did this corporately in his professional capacity, in church groups and on one-to-one basis, helping many to attain their potential, with a pragmatic problem-solving approach.
He has won various awards in recognition of his work and professional achievements including the ‘UJAMA AWARD’ - given by the Mayors Office of Community Services and the Future Leaders of the World Program - City of Philadelphia.
He was aged 49, and is survived by a wife – Winifred and two children – a girl – Oluwatosin, 5 and a boy Olushegun Jnr. 3.
He died on December 25, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
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