JEFFERSON, Iowa – He grew up in Lagos, studied medicine in the Caribbean, trained across several U.S. hospitals and completed his residency in Arkansas. Now, Dr. Columba Chukwuka (CHUCK-woo-kah) is ready to put down roots in Iowa and is looking forward to meeting the people who live here.
Known to many as Dr. Chiby, Chukwuka has joined the medical staff at Greene County Medical Center’s Family Medicine Clinic and will begin seeing patients in September.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Chukwuka to Greene County and to the Greene County Medical Center Team,” said CEO, Chad Butterfield. “Recruiting and retaining quality providers in rural areas is incredibly important to the future of health care in the communities we serve, and we believe Dr. Chukwuka will be a wonderful addition to our Team.”
Chukwuka earned his medical degree from Richmond Gabriel University in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. His clinical training included rotations at hospitals in Maryland, Georgia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines before he completed residency training at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he served as resident physician.
His medical interests and experience have been shaped by a wide range of clinical settings, but his reason for becoming a physician is remarkably simple. His grandfather is a retired physician and two of his aunts and uncles are doctors. As a child, he often stayed with his grandfather and watched him care for patients. “I always wanted to wear a white coat,” he said.
As he grew older, he found that medicine suited both his personality and the way he thinks. He enjoys the challenges, but what keeps him fulfilled is the opportunity to connect with people and make a difference in their lives. His approach to patient care is straightforward: get to know the person first. “Everyone should be treated as special because they are special, Chukwuka said. “I like to make sure to connect with a person’s story. To connect with a person for the person.”
That philosophy carries beyond the exam room. Chukwuka and his wife, Sohani, are eager to become part of the region. “I’m really looking forward to fully embracing this area,” he said. For him, that means showing up. He is excited about community events, outreach opportunities and the chance to meet people outside the hospital and clinic setting. He is also interested in opportunities to mentor, speak with community groups and simply get to know the people who call Greene County home.
That openness is part of what Chukwuka hopes to bring to his role as a family practice physician. He sees his work as extending beyond diagnoses and treatment to the relationships that make healthcare personal. “Sometimes you might come into the office, and you just want to chat,” he said. “I’m here for that too.”
Outside of medicine, Chukwuka enjoys soccer, weight training and music. He is also a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas and the Association of Black Family Medicine Physicians.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Chukwuka, contact the Family Medicine Clinic at 515-386-0500.