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Ogonna Kenechi Nwawka, MD

Radiology
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About Dr. Nwawka

Dr. Nwawka completed her fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging at HSS after which she joined the Radiology and Imaging Department as an assistant attending radiologist. As a fellow, Dr. Nwawka participated in numerous research projects which have gone on to produce multiple publications in the radiology and orthopedic surgery literature. She continues to present her research at national and international meetings and has been invited to lecture on topics including nerve imaging musculoskeletal ultrasound and quantitative imaging techniques. Trained in all realms of musculoskeletal interventions and imaging including MRI, CT and ultrasound, Dr. Nwawka is particularly interested in nerve imaging and musculoskeletal ultrasound. She is the principal investigator of several grants awarded by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), General Electric Healthcare (GEHC), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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Departments

Special Expertise

Peripheral nerve imaging
Brachial Plexus ultrasound
Ultrasound-guided botox injections
Perineural injection techniques

Patient Stories

Insurance

If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.

Credentials

Appointments

Chief, Division of Ultrasound, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Attending Radiologist, Hospital for Special Surgery
Director, Division of Ultrasound Research, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College

Affiliations

Radiological Society of North America (RSNA): Faculty, Moderator, Presenter
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM): Faculty, Presenter
American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS): Faculty, Reviewer
American College of Radiology (ACR): Preceptor
American Board of Radiology (ABR): Diagnostic Radiology Certification Subcommittee (musculoskeletal)
European Society of Radiology (ESR)
New York Roentgen Ray Society (NYRRS): Faculty Moderator, Award Committee Chair
Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU)
Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR): Faculty, Presenter, Mentor
Association of University Radiologists (AUR)

Certification

American Board of Radiology, 2013

Awards

Best Paper, 2019 American Society of Hand Therapists. “Clinical Assessments of Hand Function in First Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis: Do They Correlate with Radiographic Findings?” Nwawka OK, Weinstock-Zlotnick, Lin B.
2019 African Americans in Medicine Award, Harlem Fine Arts Show
Featured Cover Illustration, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine Nov 2017, Vol 36;11
Young Investigator Travel Award, Society of Skeletal Radiology, March 2017
Top 10 Most Read Articles, Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology, June-August 2016
Featured Cover Illustration, American Journal of Roentgenology Sept 2016, Vol 207;3, 2016
Reviewer Recognition, Elsevier, 2016
Distinguished Reviewer, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 2016
First Place Musculoskeletal Radiology Exhibit Award: Ultrasound-Guided Interventions for
Shoulder Pathology: A Pictorial Review and Technical Guide. American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine, 2015
Education Exhibit Certificate of Merit Award: Ultrasound-Guided Interventions for Shoulder
Pathology: A Pictorial Review and Technical Guide. American Roentgen Ray Society, 2015
Fellowship Research Award: Musculoskeletal Radiology Hospital for Special Surgery, 2014
Intern of the Year University of Chicago - Weiss Memorial Hospital, 2009
Research Honors University of Texas Medical Branch, 2008

Education

MD, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2008

Internship

Transitional Medicine, University of Chicago-Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, 2009

Residency

Diagnostic Radiology, Boston University Medical Center/Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 2013

Fellowship

Musculoskeletal Radiology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, 2014

State Licensure

Languages

English

Publications by Dr. Nwawka

Professional Education

Selected Journal Articles

Casaletto E, Lin B, Wolfe SW, Lee SK, Sneag DB, Feinberg JH, Nwawka OK. Ultrasound imaging of nerves in the neck: Correlation with MRI, EMG, and clinical findings. Neurol Clin Pract Oct 2019, 10.1212.

Nwawka OK, Casaletto E, Wolfe SW, Feinberg JH. Ultrasound imaging of brachial plexus trauma in gunshot injury. Muscle Nerve. 2019;59(6):707-711.

Nwawka OK. Ultrasound Imaging of the Brachial Plexus and Nerves About the Neck. Ultrasound Q. 2019;35(2):110-119.

Nwawka OK, Meyer R, Miller TT. Ultrasound Guided Subgluteal Sciatic Nerve Perineural Injection: Report on Safety and Efficacy at a Single Institution. J Ultrasound Med. 2017. Nov;36(11):2319-2324.

Nwawka OK. Update in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Research. Sports Health. 2016 Sep;8(5):429-37.

Nwawka OK, Miller TT. Ultrasound Guided Peripheral Nerve Injection Techniques. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2016 Jun 24:1-10.

Nwawka OK, Endo Y. US-guided midfoot and forefoot injections. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2016 Apr;20(2):214-23.

Nwawka OK, Miller TT, Jawetz ST, Saboeiro GR. Ultrasound-guided perineural injection for nerve blockade: Does a single-sided injection produce circumferential nerve coverage? J Clin Ultrasound. 2016 Oct;44(8):465-9.

Nwawka OK, Kabutey N, Locke CM, Castro-Aragon I, Kim D. Ultrasound-Guided Needle Localization to Aid Foreign Body Removal in Pediatric Patients. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2014. 53(1):67-70.

Nwawka OK; Konin GP; Sneag DB; Gulotta LV; Potter HG. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Shoulder Arthroplasty. HSS J. 2014 Oct;10(3):213-24.

Editorial Appointments

Reviewer, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine
Reviewer, Sports Health Journal
Reviewer, Radiology
Reviewer, Skeletal Radiology
Reviewer, British Journal of Radiology
Reviewer, European Radiology
Reviewer, Clinical Imaging

Research

Research Interests

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Peripheral Nerve Imaging

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

Below are the healthcare industry relationships reported by Dr. Nwawka as of March 24, 2023.

  • Samsung - Consultant

HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.

Patients should feel free to ask their HSS physicians questions about these relationships.

Dr. Nwawka in the News