Dr. Saurav Pokharel, a specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine, has joined Central Carolina Pulmonary Care, a new practice located in the Medical Arts building at 1139 Carthage Street adjacent to Central Carolina Hospital, as of Sept. 2.

Dr. Pokharel has practiced previously at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory and the Heart & Lung Clinic at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck, ND, where he also served as the Medical Director of the Pulmonary Function Testing laboratory.

He has also served previously as a preceptor for the Physician Assistant program at Lenior Rhyne University from 2019 to 2023. He served on Lenoir Rhyne’s PA Advisory Board and as a member of the Clinical Advisory Board at Athena Health from 2022 to 2023.

A native of Nepal, Dr. Pokharel received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from the Institute of Medicine at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2004. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, where he also served as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine.

He completed his pulmonary disease fellowship at Interfaith Medical Center, followed by a critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. He is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society, and is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Pokharel will treat adult patients of all ages. His areas of specialization include lung nodules and lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, chronic cough, hypoxemia and unexplained shortness of breath. He also has extensive experience in bronchoscopy and lung biopsy and plans to bring robotic and navigation bronchoscopy services to our area.

“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.”