Onuora Ibeabuchi
Onuora Ibeabuchi, MD
Primary Care Physician
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Belvis
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Priceless Moments with Patients
“I have to be honest,” says Dr. Onuora Ibeabuchi. “Becoming a doctor wasn’t some grand childhood dream or a deep calling from an early age.” But in 1970s Nigeria, “Smart kids were expected to study medicine. So, I chose to become a doctor by default. But something changed when I actually entered medical school. I started seeing medicine not just as an academic pursuit but as a profound opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives and have an impact on the world. That realization became a passion that drives me to this day.”
Dr. Ibeabuchi came to New York to complete his training in Columbia University medical school’s program with Harlem Hospital and joined Gotham Health, Belvis in 1993. He has been a deeply admired member of the primary care staff ever since, a doctor known for his tireless work ethic, meticulous attention to the care of everyone he sees and strong relationships with patients and colleagues alike.
From his earliest days at Belvis, Dr. Ibeabuchi grasped the unique impact he could have serving in New York City’s public healthcare system – and it did become his calling. “Every day I care for individuals who face significant health disparities,” he said. “Some have delayed care due to financial or systemic barriers and we are often the last line of defense for patients who have nowhere else to go. So, the challenges go beyond just medicine – it’s about understanding the socioeconomic and cultural factors that impact health outcomes and finding creative ways to provide high-quality care despite limited resources.”
The long hours and emotional weight of difficult cases can be overwhelming at times, he says. But if there’s one thing that always keeps him going it’s the moments when he realizes the difference he’s made in one person’s life.
“Seeing a patient regain their health – knowing that my attention to detail and commitment to their care led to a life-saving intervention – is an indescribable feeling. The gratitude in their eyes, the relief of their families – those moments are priceless, he says.