Obieze Nwanna-Nzewunwa, MD

Meet Obieze Nwanna-Nzewunwa, MD

Advanced Heart and Thoracic Surgery with a Broader Vision for Access to Care

Obieze Nwanna-Nzewunwa, MBBS, MS, is a cardiothoracic surgeon at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Heart & Vascular Institute in Longview, Texas. His extensive surgical training includes fellowships at the University of Texas Southwestern and Memorial Hermann, following his general surgery residency at Maine Medical Center and medical education at the University of Nigeria College of Medicine. Board certified in general surgery, Dr. Nwanna-Nzewunwa brings advanced cardiothoracic expertise to East Texas along with a career-long commitment to improving access to surgical care for patients and communities.

Career at a Glance

• Cardiothoracic surgeon at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Heart & Vascular Institute in Longview, Texas.
• Fellowship-trained at the University of Texas Southwestern and Memorial Hermann.
• Board certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery.
• Recipient of the 2015 UCSF Chancellor’s Award for Public Service.
• Published researcher in cardiothoracic surgery, trauma systems, global surgery and access to surgical care.

Clinical Role and Leadership

As a cardiothoracic surgeon in Longview, Dr. Nwanna-Nzewunwa provides specialized surgical care for complex conditions affecting the heart, lungs and chest. His advanced training encompasses both cardiac and thoracic surgery, including open, minimally invasive and robotic approaches. At CHRISTUS Good Shepherd, his expertise helps patients in East Texas access advanced cardiothoracic surgical care closer to home.

He provides specialized care for conditions such as:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve disease
• Aortic aneurysms
• Aortic dissections
• Lung cancer
• Mediastinal tumors
• Other complex conditions affecting the heart, lungs and chest

What You Can Expect from Care with Dr. Nwanna-Nzewunwa

For Dr. Nwanna-Nzewunwa, excellent surgical care extends beyond the procedure itself. His career has focused on understanding how patients access high-quality surgical treatment and how health systems can better serve people facing complex medical needs. His background in surgery, global health and clinical research brings a thoughtful, evidence-informed perspective to each patient's care, with treatment recommendations shaped by the individual diagnosis and the options available.

You can expect:

• A thorough evaluation of your cardiovascular or thoracic condition
• Clear discussion of available surgical treatment options
• An individualized approach based on your diagnosis and care needs
• Evidence-based care informed by current cardiothoracic research
• Consideration of open, minimally invasive or robotic approaches when appropriate

Advanced Surgical Innovation / Diagnostic Care

Dr. Nwanna-Nzewunwa has experience with open, minimally invasive and robotic surgical approaches, with clinical interests that include coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, aortic surgery, lung cancer surgery and mediastinal tumor resection.

Innovation has also played an important role throughout his career. During his training at Maine Medical Center, Dr. Nwanna-Nzewunwa helped develop Lediscan, a point-of-care medical device concept designed to improve access to cervical precancer evaluation and treatment. His work on the project included participation in the MaineHealth Innovation Cohort and MIT Innovation Corps and resulted in a published patent application. This experience reflects his broader interest in developing practical solutions to health care challenges, particularly where access to specialized care is limited.

Research, Clinical Insight, and Thought Leadership

Dr. Nwanna-Nzewunwa has contributed to peer-reviewed research spanning cardiothoracic surgery, surgical education, trauma care and global surgery. His cardiothoracic scholarship has explored complex mitral valve surgery, thoracic organ recovery, cardiothoracic surgical training and the development of nontechnical skills that support safe surgical care.

His broader research has examined trauma systems in underserved regions, geographic barriers to surgical treatment and the financial burden surgery can place on patients and families. His work has appeared in publications including Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, Journal of Surgical Education, World Journal of Surgery, Journal of Surgical Research, BMC Health Services Research and PLOS ONE.

Commitment to Public Health and Health Equity

Improving access to surgical care has been a consistent focus throughout Dr. Nwanna-Nzewunwa’s career. In addition to his surgical training, he earned a Master of Science in Global Health Sciences from the University of California, San Francisco. His work has addressed trauma-care capacity in Uganda and Cameroon, barriers to cardiothoracic surgical training in Nigeria, maternal health initiatives and the economic consequences of obtaining surgical care in resource-limited communities.

His dedication to service was recognized with the UCSF Chancellor’s Award for Public Service. Today, that background complements his work as a cardiothoracic surgeon in Longview, bringing together advanced surgical training, research and a longstanding focus on expanding access to high-quality care.