Professor Oritsejolomi Horatio Thomas (1917–1979), was a Nigerian medical pioneer specialising in facial reconstructive and

plastic surgery Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery includes craniofa ...

. In this latter discipline he trained as an assistant to the wartime legend, Sir

Archibald MacIndoe Sir Archibald Hector McIndoe (4 May 1900 – 11 April 1960) was a New Zealand plastic surgeon who worked for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He improved the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned aircrew. Early life Archi ...

. Professor Thomas was educated at Methodist Boys' High School

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

and Birmingham University England. He was a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

academic and pioneer provost of the College of Medicine University of Lagos and the first Nigerian to be admitted to the

Royal College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations a ...

of England. He was also the first head of the University's Teaching Hospital,

LUTH Luth, Lüth or LUTH may refer to: People *Erich Lüth (1902–1989), German writer and film director. *Tom Luth (born 1954), comic series colorist *Wolfgang Lüth (1913–1945), German U-boat commander of World War II. Other uses * Leatherback se ...

. He was a Senior Lecturer and

surgeon In modern medicine, a surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery. Although there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon usually is also a licensed physician or received the same medical training as ...

at the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 196 ...

, at the institution's inception to 1962 before proceeding to Lagos. He was an editor of the West African Medical Journal and was a member of the

Federal Electoral Commission The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established in 1998 and is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria. History Regulation and administration of elections The administration of democratic elections in Nige ...

in 1958. He was the chairman of the advisory committee for the establishment of the Midwestern Medical Centre (now

University of Benin Teaching Hospital University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) is a premier and multi-specialty healthcare service provider in West Africa. The hospital is located in Ugbowo, Benin City and was established on May 12, 1973 following the enactment of an edict ...

) in the middle of 1969.

References

*http://medicalnigeria.net/press_release_bashorun_j_k_randle.htm 1917 births 1979 deaths University of Ibadan faculty University of Lagos faculty Nigerian plastic surgeons Methodist Boys' High School alumni 20th-century Nigerian medical doctors Vice-Chancellors of the University of Ibadan 20th-century surgeons {{Nigeria-academic-bio-stub