A native of Nigeria, Dr. Umar trained as a surgeon at the UniMaid College of Medical Sciences. Dr. Umar left his practice as a surgeon after 4 years to expand his knowledge of medicine in the United States. Dr. Umar completed his first residency training in Internal Medicine at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, New York leading to certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Umar's work and research in the field of infectious disease was recognized with a first place award from the Long Island Infectious Diseases (LIDS) fellows' competition and invitation to present at the 1998 International AIDS conference in Geneva, Switzerland . He was again honored to chair a session at the International AIDS conference in Durban South Africa in July 2000.