Chukwuemeka Obiora,MD

Chukwuemeka “Emeka” Obiora, MD, joined City of Hope in May 2022. As a Surgical Oncologist at City of Hope Atlanta, Dr. Obiora works with a multidisciplinary team to evaluate and treat a wide range of cancer types. He has extensive experience in general surgery and specialized expertise in hepatobiliary, pancreatic, upper (including esophageal) and lower gastrointestinal malignancies. He also has expertise in the use of cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies. His surgical expertise also includes treatment for cutaneous malignancies, sarcomas, thyroid and parathyroid tumors and the use of minimally invasive and robotic surgery procedures as part of the treatment arsenal for appropriate patients. It’s important to Dr. Obiora to build trust with his patients and provide the information necessary for them to make the informed decisions about their care.

Dr. Obiora was drawn to medicine after witnessing the impact a physician had on his uncle, who was diagnosed with hepatocellular cancer. This experience led him to choose a career in surgery because of the immediate impact he can make on patients. Dr. Obiora pursued surgical oncology specifically because he was drawn by the long-lasting relationships he could build with patients. This is also what brought him to City of Hope, where he feels he can build those strong connections, both with his patients and his colleagues on the multidisciplinary team.

“Having that connection with my patients is the biggest reason I do what I do,” says Dr. Obiora. “My career in medicine has made me a better, more emotionally intelligent person who is able to truly listen to and learn from others.”

After earning his medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Obiora completed a general surgery internship at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went on to complete a residency in general surgery at St. Luke’s University Health Network/Temple University St. Luke’s School of Medicine in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he served as chief resident in his final year. He then completed a fellowship in complex general surgical oncology at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Outside of City of Hope, Dr. Obiora loves to travel, having visited many locations in the Caribbean. He's also a sports fan, from playing soccer to watching hockey, basketball and baseball. He also loves music, Broadway shows and incorporating fitness and wellness into his regular routine with healthy eating and an active lifestyle.