Biography
Dr. Okechukwu Mgbemena is the founder of Hope Cardiology, where he provides expert cardiovascular care grounded in compassion, integrity, and trust. With advanced training in cardiology and interventional cardiology, Dr. Mgbemena brings a depth of clinical expertise while never losing sight of what matters most—the person behind the diagnosis.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mgbemena has cared for patients with complex heart conditions across a wide range of settings. He is known for his thoughtful approach, clear communication, and commitment to helping patients truly understand their heart health.
He believes that the best outcomes come not only from advanced medical care, but from listening carefully, educating patients, and partnering with them in every decision.
Dr. Mgbemena founded Hope Cardiology to create a practice where patients feel seen, supported, and empowered. He takes pride in delivering personalized care—never rushed, never impersonal—and in building lasting relationships based on trust. His mission is simple: to restore hope, strengthen hearts, and help patients live fuller, healthier lives.
Education & Training
2010-2014
MD, University of Alabama School of Medicine
2014-2017
Residency, Internal Medicine, Emory University
2020-2023
Fellowship, Cardiology, University of Florida, Jacksonville
2023-2024
Fellowship, Interventional Cardiology, Dartmouth Medical Center
Research Publications
Jul 2023 Rathore A, Mgbemena O, Adrover Lopez P, et al. (July 06, 2023) Recovery of Transient High-Grade Atrioventricular Block Managed With Corticosteroid Therapy Without Device Implantation in Newly Diagnosed Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Case Report. Cureus 15(7): e41481. doi:10.7759/cureus.41481
Feb 2023 Mgbemena, O., Becoats, K., Tfirn, I., Sadic, E., Rathore, A., Antoine, S., & Velarde, G. Improving Access to Cardiovascular Care Through Telehealth: A Single-Center Experience. Cardiology Research, 14(1), 63-68
Mar 2023 Lavanya K, Mgbemena O N, Keim S G (March 01, 2023) Atrio-Ventricular Dyssynchrony After Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: An Unusual Contributor to Heart Failure Symptoms. Cureus 15(3): e35661. doi:10.7759/cureus.35661
Jan 2023 Rathore, A., Katta, L., Mgbemena, O., Keim, S. Successful response to corticosteroid therapy in newly diagnosed cardiac sarcoidosis with high-grade atrioventricular block in a middle-aged adult: a case report. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 365 (2023): S62-S63. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9629(23)00125-8
Sept 2021 Thaer Musa, MD, Okechukwu Mgbemena, MD, Francesco Franchi, MD. De-Escalation of P2Y12 Inhibiting Therapies to Reduce the Risk of Bleeding After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Published, ACC. https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2021/10/06/17/50/de-escalation-of-p2y12-inhibiting-therapies-to-reduce-the-risk-of-bleeding-after-pci
Jan. 2015 Meggo D, Bowen L, Otusanya O, Mgbemena O, Ather S, Aggarwal H, Bajaj N, Ahmed M, Sasse M, Leesar M, Alli O. Predictors for Adverse Outcomes after Tricuspid Valve Surgery. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015; 65(10_S) doi: 10.1016/S0735-1097(15)62016-2
Oct 2021 Zhang Y, Verdecia J, Mgbemena O, Ravi M, Sands M. Bartonella Endocarditis: A Missed Diagnosis in Medical Practice. Cureus. 2021 Nov 6;13(11):e19309. doi: 10.7759/cureus.19309. PMID: 34900484; PMCID: PMC8647862.
May 2021 Mathews, R; Al-Turk, B; Mgbemena, O. A Case of new dynamic Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction due to Systolic Anterior Motion Of Mitral Valve after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021 May, 77 (18_Supplement_1) 2463. doi: 10.1016/S0735-1097(21) 03818-3
May 2019 Mgbemena O, Njoku C, Sears I, Okoroafor C, Wedd J. A single-center study: Predictive accuracy of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) stress testing for ischemic cardiac complications in liver transplant patients. Edorium J Cardiol 2019;5:100011C03OM2019.
May. 2014 Bhatia V, Bajaj NS, Deedwania P, Mgbemena O, Prabhu S, Fonarow G, Adampoulous C, Nanda N, Aronow W, Ahmed A. Atrial fibrillation and the risk of incident heart failure in community-dwelling older adults: findings from a propensity-matched cohort of a prospective population study. European Journal of Heart Failure 16, 15-15
Aug 2021 Okechukwu Mgbemena, Kyeesha Becoats, Ian Tfirn, Gladys R Velarde. Cardiology and Telehealth in the Pandemic. https://doi.org/10.1161/circ.144.suppl_1.10852Circulation. 2021;144:A10852
Sept. 2017 Njoku C, Mgbemena, O, Wedd J. Short-term prognostic accuracy of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) stress testing for post-operative cardiac complications in liver transplant patients. Intern Med 2017, 7:4 (suppl). DOI: 10.4172/2165-8048-C1-005
Oct 2021 Mgbemena O, Zhang Y, Velarde G. Role of Diabetes Mellitus in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Review Article. Cureus. 2021 Nov 9;13(11):e19398. doi: 10.7759/cureus.19398. PMID: 34926000; PMCID: PMC8654084
Oct 2021 Karan A, Mgbemena O, Guo H, et al. A tale of two waves: refractory t wave oversensing leading to multiple inappropriate shocks. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022 Mar, 79 (9_Supplement) 2563. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(22)03554-9
Sept 2021 Karan A, Gidla D, Mgbemena O, et al. Thrombosis or hemorrhage: cardiac catheterization in a patient with hemophilia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022 Mar, 79 (9_Supplement) 2964. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(22)03955-9
Aug 2021 Karan A, Mgbemena O, Rollini F, et al. Percutaneous ecmo-associated harlequin (north-south) syndrome following v-a ecmo initiation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022 Mar, 79 (9_Supplement) 2700. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(22)03691-9
Aug 2021 Mgbemena O N, Sears I, Levine B (August 27, 2021) Augmenting Traditional Cardiac and Medical Care in Africa via Telemedicine: A Pilot Study. Cureus 13(8): e17483. doi:10.7759/cureus.17483
Aug 2018 Aug 2018 Okoroafor C, Obadina C, Njoku C, Mgbemena O. A peculiar bilateral adrenal tumor: A case of asymptomatic left adrenal myelolipoma with right adrenal adenoma. Int J Case Rep Images. 2018;9:100944Z01CO2018.
Sept 2017 Mgbemena O, Serota D, Kumar S, Wozniak J, Weiss D, Kempker R. Peculiar Purulence: Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Causing Pyomyositis. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2017.09.030
Mar. 2017 Pillai, AA; Maheshwari, R; Vora, R; Norvell, JP; Ford, R; Parekh, S, Cheng, N; Patel, A; Young, N; Spivey, JR; Mgbemena, O; Wedd, JP. Treatment of HCV Infection in Liver Transplant Recipients with Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir without Ribavirin Alimentary pharmacology and Therapeutics, Accepted 03/2017
June 2016 Wedd J, Ford R, Norvell J, Parekh S, Cheng N, Young N, Patel A, Maheshwari R, Vora R, Mgbemena O, Spivey J, Pillai A. Large Single-Center Experience of Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir Therapy for the Treatment of Post-Liver Transplant Patients with Hepatitis C Virus. Am J Transplant. 2016;16 (suppl 3).
Mar. 2015 Paluri RK, Morgan CJ, Mooney DJ, Mgbemena O, Yang ES, Wei S, Kouba E, Naik G, E Mouallem NR, Poston T, Jones B, Nix J, Bolger GB, Deshazo M, Sonpavde G. Effect of African-American Race on Tumor Recurrence After Radical Cystectomy for Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder. Clinical Genitourinary Cancer 03/2015; DOI:10.1016/j.clgc.2015.02.010. PMID: 25868964
Jul 2014 Mgbemena O, Westfall A, Hicks J, Saag M, Ritchie C, Raper J, Overton T, Merlin J. Preliminary Outcomes of a Pilot Physical Therapy Program for HIV-infected Patients with Chronic Pain. AIDS Care. 2014 Jul 25:1-4. DOI:10.1080/09540121.2014.940272
Jan. 2014 Paluri R, Mooney D, Mgbemena O, Wei S, Naik G, Morgan CJ, Nix J, Sonpavde G. Impact of African-American (AA) race on outcomes with radical cystectomy (RC) for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2014 ASCO.Vol 32, No 15_suppl (May 20 Supplement), 2014: e15503
Jan. 2014 Willey C, Crowley M, Anderson JC, Mgbemena O, Chen D, Crossman D, Naik G, Grizzle W, Sonpavde G. High-throughput kinomics and RNA-sequencing of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) to identify potentially actionable therapeutic targets. J Clin Oncol 32:5s, 2014 (suppl; abstr 4553)
Board Certifications
1. Interventional Cardiology, 2024
2. General Cardiology, 2023
3. Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI), 2023
4. Board Certification in Adult Echocardiography, 2022
5. Board Certification in Nuclear Cardiology, 2022
6. Internal Medicine, 2017