K. Azuka Okpor, M.D., FCCP
LICENSURE’S & BOARD CERTIFICATION
- Tennessee, Mississippi
- Board Certified Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine
EDUCATION & TRAINING
- University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, M.B.B.S
- Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, Internal Medicine Residency
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship
AREAS OF INTEREST
- Endobronchial Ultrasound
- Lung Cancer
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Asthma
- Sepsis
- ARDS
- Noninvasive Ventilation
PROCEDURES
- Interventional Bronchoscopy
- Navigational Bronchoscopy
- Endobronchial Ultrasound
- APC Laser
- Therapeutics
- Lung Biopsy
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- American Thoracic Society
- American College of Chest Physicians
- Society of Critical Care Medicine
BIO
Dr Okpor was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He decided to pursue a career in Medicine after his mother almost died twice from asthma attacks. He studied Science at the Government College Lagos and did his Advanced levels at St Gregory’s College Lagos. While in school, he was deputy senior prefect and general secretary of the science club and represented his school in various science competitions. He then went on to the University College Hospital Ibadan were he studied Medicine and Surgery and graduated in 1992. He then spent the next 4 years working at the Lagos University Hospital, National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi and First Consultants Medical Center in the Surgery Department.
In 1996, he immigrated to the USA. While in New York City, a close friend in Nashville informed him the weather in Tennessee was hot like in Nigeria, so he came south. He did his Internal Medicine residency at the Meharry Medical College where he was the Chief Resident. His prior surgical experience and interest in the high pressure cooker environment of the intensive care unit led to an interest in Pulmonary and Critical Care. He was particularly interested in the multitude of procedures done in this speciality and the huge impact that could be made in looking after the sickest patients. This lead to Memphis for his fellowship at the University of Tennessee were he finished as the Chief Fellow in his division in 2003.
Dr Okpor primarily works at Baptist Memphis and Baptist Desoto hospital.
Interest outside medicine:
- Modern Abstract art, African american art
- American History
- Rock Music (U2, The Boss, Led Zeppelin)
- Jazz (Coltrane, Miles, Monk)
- Riding his bicycle on the green line
