Hi my name is John Obi I am from Jacksonville, Florida. I was actually born at St. Vincent’s Hospital and pretty much lived here all my life accept for the times that I was either away in school or away in training. Being from Jacksonville I attended the parochial schools locally and graduated from Bishop Kenny and after that went to Mercer University in Macon, GA where I received a Bachelor of Science degree with a Major in Chemistry.
After that I had the opportunity to teach high school in Georgia while awaiting entrance into medical school the following year. I attended Tulane University School of Medicine and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree in November 1974. I began my General Surgery training at what is now Shands Hospital of Jacksonville – then known as University Hospital – and spent four years in training prior to my specialty training at the University of Miami in Plastic Surgery. I was very fortunate to be selected for the University of Miami program as it was one of the top in the country and was headed by the renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr. D. Ralph Millard, Jr.. Upon completion of my Plastic Surgery residency training I returned home to Jacksonville and began my private practice in Plastic Surgery on January 1, 1981 and have remained in private practice since that time. I do have a faculty appointment with The University of Florida School of Medicine related to my work with The Jacksonville Cleft Lip, Palate and Craniofacial Clinic.
The Road to Becoming a Physician and Specializing in Plastic Surgery
While I was in high school I realized I wanted to be a physician and actually was very fortunate to narrow my choices down to Cardiovascular Surgery or Plastic Surgery. I felt at that early age that Plastic Surgery would be a better fit because I enjoy working with people and being able to make a difference in their lives. It has been the most rewarding field that I had hoped for and has been an incredible experience both professionally and personally.
Making Definite Changes In People’s Lives is My Passion
Being a practicing Plastic Surgeon affords the opportunity to make definite changes in people’s lives on a daily basis and this is perhaps the most rewarding aspect of what we do in this field. Fortunately in the practice of Plastic Surgery there are no two days that are alike because of the diversity of the field and the many different areas in which Plastic Surgery can make a difference in patient’s lives – literally from birth throughout life.
My Family of Six
If I had to say that I had a favorite past time when outside the office or the Operating Room it would be spending time with my family. My wife and I have been married since 1983 and have four wonderful children that we are very proud of who we feel will not only be contributing members to society but hopefully make a difference in people’s lives. My wife is a Critical Care Nurse by training and subsequently she has evolved into an Aesthetic Specialist with nonsurgical treatments. Although we are both in Medicine, we have not tried to coach our children into medicine. Our oldest son had chosen medicine and will soon graduate from The Georgetown University School of Medicine and begin his specialty training. Another son is a Financial Advisor and our daughter will soon graduate from the University of North Florida with a degree in Business and Marketing. Our youngest son is in his senior year in high school and hopes to attend the University of Florida as did his older brothers.