By Seyi Babalola
Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye gained international acclaim in 2016 for performing a groundbreaking in-vitro surgery, removing a tumour from a fetus.
Oluyinka is a notable Nigerian paediatric surgeon and medical researcher known for his groundbreaking work in foetal surgery.
He rose to international prominence in 2016 when he and his team successfully operated on a baby in utero, removing a life-threatening tumour and then returning the infant to the womb, where she continued to develop until birth.
Background
Olutoye was born on January 15, 1967, in Lagos, Nigeria, to a family with a long history in academia and the military from Idoani, Ose local government, Ondo State.
His father, Major General (retired) Olufemi Olutoye, was a well-known military commander and traditional leader, while his mother, Professor Omotayo Olutoye, was an academic.
Olutoye’s early desires to become a doctor were motivated by his upbringing in this setting, which instilled in him a strong drive for excellence.
Education
He completed his primary education at Lagos University Staff School before going on to King’s College, Lagos, for his secondary education. After that, he attended Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, where he obtained his medical degree (MBChB) and graduated as the class valedictorian in 1988.
Following his medical studies in Nigeria, Olutoye relocated to the United States to begin his postgraduate training in paediatrics at Howard University General Hospital and received his Ph.D. in Anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1996.
He then did his general surgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital before specialising in paediatric surgery during his fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania.
Career breakthrough
Professor Olutoye’s most renowned surgical achievement was the successful excision of a huge tumour known as a sacrococcygeal teratoma from a 23-week-old foetus.
He performed the challenging therapy, which included briefly taking the foetus from the womb, removing the tumour, and then returning the foetus to the womb to continue developing at Texas Children’s Foetal Centre.
Lynlee Boemer, the infant, was delivered via C-section several weeks later in good health.
His experience includes different speciality treatments for fetal and neonatal problems such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, lung abnormalities, chest wall deformities, omphalocele, gastroschisis, and challenging wound management.
Olutoye’s study focuses on inflammatory responses in foetal wound healing to develop strategies to improve the treatment of congenital defects.
His achievement has been recognised both in Nigeria and beyond. His alma mater, Obafemi Awolowo University, awarded him the prestigious Great Ife Alumni Award for Excellence in the Sciences and inducted him into the Hall of Distinction.
In 2025, he continues to inspire as a Nigerian medical pioneer, mentoring young doctors.
He navigated the competitive medical field as a Nigerian in the U.S., overcoming resource limitations in early education and succeeding in a high-stakes profession.
His story was widely shared on social media and news platforms, with renewed attention in 2025 as a symbol of Nigerian excellence, similar to Dada’s academic story.
Professor Olutoye is married to Professor Olutoyin Olutoye, and the couple has a daughter and a son. The family lives in the United States.