Dr. Charles Otu-Nyarko is an experienced board-certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist (American Board Pediatrics) who has served Louisiana as well as its surrounding communities, including parts of Texas and Arkansas, since 2010. He is the senior consultant and the interventional endoscopist of the WK Pediatric Center for Gastroenterology. He is double fellowship trained, completing both Pediatric Gastroenterology and Advanced Interventional Endoscopy fellowships. He is one of the very few fellowship-trained pediatric advanced endoscopists in the United States. With this dynamic and captivating expertise, he uses innovative endoscopy machines for diagnosis and intervention of complicated pediatric GI problems that would otherwise have required surgery. Dr. Otu is dedicated to children, adolescents and young adults with gastrointestinal diseases and disorders with a primary interest in pediatric pancreaticobiliary disease. He is a member of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Academy of Pediatrics and the Northwest Louisiana Pediatric Society. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology. He continues to serve as a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center.

Approach and Philosophy

Dr Otu has a unique individualistic medical practice philosophy. His great bedside manner eases every child and parent visit. He is honest, altruistic, and detail-oriented in his practice. He uses a comprehensive evidence-based approach to provide the care his patients need. This care includes the timely involvement of other providers such as specialized clinical psychologists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and social workers who have a particular interest in pediatric gastrointestinal problems.

Training and Education

A rich diversity in medical training characterizes Dr. Otu academic experiences, having cared for patients in Ghana, England and the United States. He completed his General Pediatric residency at the Sinai Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center in Chicago. While there he became interested in gastrointestinal conditions and was accepted by Dr. Paul Hyman, a world-renowned gastroenterologist and motility expert, for a gastroenterology fellowship program. He completed his Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health Science Center. As a way of giving back to the field of medicine, he served as one of the initiators in designing a curriculum aimed at providing efficiency in fellows’ endoscopy training during his Gastroenterology fellowship. After a few years of practicing pediatric gastroenterology and impacting clinical pediatric education, Dr. Otu was accepted into Baylor College of Medicine-Children's Hospital of San Antonio and the University of Texas Health Science Center; University Hospital where he completed a one-year fellowship training in Advanced Endoscopy and Pancreaticobiliary Disease.

Skills and Procedures

Dr. Otu-Nyarko is pleased to offer all patients his unique techniques and skills, developed through years of extensive training and practice. During his Advanced Endoscopy fellowship training, he had the honor of working with both Dr. Adam Noel and Dr. Sandeep Patel, both world renowned experts in Pediatric Pancreatobiliary disease as well as Pediatric and Adult Advanced Endoscopy. There, he performed over 500 pediatric and adult advanced endoscopic procedures using minimally invasive techniques. As a result of being trained under all these experts, he brings with him a significant skill set in evaluating and managing children, adolescents and young adults with gastrointestinal, nutritional, hepatic and pancreaticobiliary diseases. In addition, his in-depth awareness of pediatric motility disorders enables timely referral to appropriate centers for full motility evaluation as should be required for patients. Dr Otu also has a natural inclination for teaching, an attribute that is evident to his colleagues, referring physicians, fellows, residents and patients.

Research

With a strong grounding in academics, Dr. Otu-Nyarko believes clinical research is a vital link in the advancement of child and adolescent healthcare. He is passionate about patient education and has been involved in several clinical and pharmaceutical pediatric research studies. He has presented findings at national and international forums and has co-authored articles in peer reviewed journals. His attendance and participation in conferences and workshops ensures his patients receive the benefits of the most up-to-date knowledge and skills. His research interests pediatric pancreaticobiliary diseases and includes choledochal cyst, anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction, chronic pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Outside the Hospital

When not in his professional capacity, Dr. Otu enjoys being a father and a husband. He loves to spend time with his beautiful family, especially family road trips. He also enjoys bike riding, gardening, and playing the bass guitar. He is interested in growing beyond a base level golfer and also wants to learn how to fish and hunt.