Dr. Saurav Pokharel, a physician specializing in pulmonary and critical care medicine, has joined Central Carolina Pulmonary Care, a new practice located at 1139 Carthage Street next to Central Carolina Hospital. He began his role on September 2.
Dr. Pokharel previously worked at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory and the Heart & Lung Clinic at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck, North Dakota, where he also served as Medical Director of the Pulmonary Function Testing laboratory. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Pokharel was a preceptor for the Physician Assistant program at Lenior Rhyne University from 2019 to 2023 and served on Lenoir Rhyne’s PA Advisory Board as well as the Clinical Advisory Board at Athena Health from 2022 to 2023.
Originally from Nepal, Dr. Pokharel earned his MBBS degree from Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Medicine in Kathmandu in 2004. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he also served as Chief Resident. His training includes a fellowship in pulmonary disease at Interfaith Medical Center and another fellowship in critical care medicine at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of both the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society.
Dr. Pokharel will provide care for adult patients with conditions such as lung nodules and lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, COPD and asthma, chronic cough, hypoxemia, and unexplained shortness of breath. He has experience performing bronchoscopy and lung biopsy procedures and plans to introduce robotic and navigation bronchoscopy services locally.
“Dr. Pokharel is a welcome addition to the medical staff at Central Carolina Hospital,” said Dave Santoemma, CEO of CCH. “His expertise in lung diseases and critical care medicine will be invaluable in the care of Sanford area patients.”
