After living on four continents Dr. Sunit Sebastian, was eager to become an American.

“It’s been a fantastic ride,” Sebastian said shortly after taking the oath of allegiance to the United States along with 54 other immigrants from 26 counties Friday in the shadow of the USS Cairo at Vicksburg National Military Park.

The diagnostic radiologist originally from Pune, India, was one of the first to arrive for the naturalization ceremony. He sat in the front row, and when Immigration Services field office director Stanley Crockett asked if any of the newly minted Americans had public comments he gestured toward Sebastian.

“I know you have something you want to say. We’ve already talked about it” Crockett said after welcoming the new citizens to what he called “the American gumbo.”

After practicing medicine around the globe, Sebastian arrived in the U.S. 11 years ago as a result of a fellowship at Harvard University Medical School.

“It is undoubtedly the greatest nation in the world and the best place to work,” Sebastian said, later adding, “You have to travel the world to know that undoubtedly this is the place where talent and hard work come together.”

After stints at Harvard and Emory University in Atlanta, Sebastian came to Jackson to practice at University of Mississippi Medical Center where he has published a number of papers on cancer research.

“I had heard such crazy things about Mississippi, but this is the best place I have lived in my life,” Sebastian said.

He recently left UMMC to follow the American Dream.

Sebastian founded HealPal Inc. in Austin, Texas, and the company will use teleconferencing to provide affordable cancer treatment to patients around the world, Sebastian said.

“This is the only country where I can be a citizen of the globe,” he said.

Sebastian’s wife became a citizen a few months ago, and they have an 8-year-old son who was born a citizen.

The naturalization ceremony is the third to take place at Vicksburg National Military Park, Superintendent Mike Madell said.

“I’m personally proud to count you as fellow Americans,” Madell told the group after leading them in the pledge of allegiance.

The naturalization ceremonies are frequently held in New Orleans, Crockett said, but VNMP is schedule to host another ceremony in 2015.