Biography

Dr. Bharat Kumar Puchakayala (Dr Kumar), taking inspiration from his physician father, earned his medical degree from the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, India. Thereafter
in pursuit of higher education and training, he completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the esteemed Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, lacrosse, Wisconsin followed by clinical
experience as a traditional internist at a Community hospital in Illinois. With a deep commitment to specialization, he then moved to NYC to pursue research and fellowship in general gastroenterology and hepatology at the prestigious NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Park Slope Brooklyn. Following his successful completion of training, he spent the next two years
working in the suburbs of south Atlanta, where he gained expertise in treating hemorrhoids in addition to General Gastroenterology practice. His family decided to relocate to Houston in 2019
and he worked till early 2023 as a very successful hard-working private Gastroenterologist. His commitment to education and passion for teaching alongside excellent professionalism led him
to join the prestigious team at iGUT as an assistant professor.

Board-certified in Internal medicine and Gastroenterology, Dr. Kumar Puchakayala’s clinical interests include general gastroenterology and hepatology. He performs procedures such as
endoscopy colonoscopy, hemorrhoid banding placement of stomach feeding tubes, removal of polyps in the stomach and intestine, and detecting cancer and precancerous lesions. He brings in a
unique experience having worked at various locations successfully with a focus on high quality such as Adenoma detection rate and emphasis on making his patients formulate personalized
care through clear understanding. He is proud to be part of iGUT and firmly believes in the highest patient care value through access to timely procedures and expert care using the latest
technology.

He treats adult patients 18 years and older and speaks other dialects, such as Hindi and Telugu fluently. Dr Puchakayala and his family reside in Sugarland and in his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, watching movies, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. He does community service by volunteering at blood drives and religious events.

Education

Medical School
Armed Forces Medical College Pune
Residency in Internal Medicine
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation
Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

Dr Kumar Puchakayala’s clinical interests include heartburn, acid reflux, stomach ulcers, stomach polyps, Barrett esophagus, celiac disease, esophageal varices, esophageal stricture, colon polyps, Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, treatment of hemorrhoids, constipation, diarrhea, IBS, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and placement of stomach feeding tubes.

His goal is to provide excellent timely Gastroenterology care with procedures such as colonoscopy and endoscopy and treatment for hemorrhoids non invasively in office and work in collaboration with surgeons for treatment of anorectal disorders and offer hepatology care much needed in the community currently. He looks forward to collaborating in clinical research and educating fellows in his present role at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights and is accepting new patients at the Greater Heights location.

Publications

PEER REVIEW PUBLICATIONS:
Newaz Hossain, Puchakayala B, et al. “Risk Factor Analysis Between Newly Screened and Established Hepatitis C in GI and Hepatology Clinics.” Dig Dis Sci. 2017 Nov;62(11):3193-3199.

Puchakayala B, et al. “Histopathological differences utilizing the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score criteria in diabetic (type 2 diabetes mellitus) and non-diabetic patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.” World J Hepatol. 2015 Nov 8; 7(25): 2610-2618.

NON PEER REVIEW PUBLICATIONS:
Michael J. Henry, Meghana Raghavendra, Bharat Puchakayala, Michelle A. Mathiason. “Oral versus Intravenous Proton Pump Inhibitors in Patients with Bleeding Peptic Ulcers: A Retrospective Analysis and Review of the Literature.” Gundersen Medical Journal Volume 8, Number 1, April 2014. ISSN 2324-9897.

ABSTRACT PUBLICATIONS:
Puchakayala B, et al. “Birth Cohort and Risk Factor Based Screening for Hepatitis C Infection: A Case-Control Study.” Gastroenterology. 2014:146(1Suppl):s1040 Henry MJ, Puchakayala B, et al. “Retrospective Comparison of Oral vs Intravenous Proton Pump Inhibitor therapy in Patients with Acute Peptic Ulcer Bleeding and High-Risk Endoscopic Stigmata.” Gastroenterology. 2009:136(5Suppl):s608

Puchakayala B. The Clot is Just the Beginning of the Plot! Proceedings from the 2007 Annual Meeting of the ACP, Wisconsin Chapter. Wisconsin Medical Journal.2008.Volume 107, No.5 Page 254.

SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS:
Siddharth Verma, Puchakayala B, et al. Hepatitis C: An Additional Risk Factor for Poor Bowel Preparation, A Prospective Study. Accepted Poster Presentation, American College of Gastroenterology, Hawaii (10/2015).

Puchakayala B, Hossain N et al. “Birth cohort and risk factor based screening for Hepatitis C infection: a case-control study.” Accepted Poster Presentation, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, IL (05/2014).

Hossain N, Puchakayala B, et al. “Birth cohort and risk factor based screening for Hepatitis C infection: a case-control study – Updated Data.” Accepted Poster Presentation, AASLD, Boston, MA (11/2014).

Verma S, Puchakayala B, et al. “Effects of Additional Risk Factors on the Histopathological Progression of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.” Accepted Poster Presentation, American College of Gastroenterology Conference, San Diego, CA (10/2013).

Olosunde A, Sharma P, Hallak N, Puchakayala B, et al. “Effectiveness of birth cohort screening for hepatitis C – an inner city experience.” Accepted Poster Presentation, American College of Gastroenterology Conference, San Diego, CA (10/2013).

Henry M, Puchakayala B. “Retrospective Comparison of Oral vs Intravenous Proton Pump Inhibitor therapy in Patients with Acute Peptic Ulcer Bleeding and High-Risk Endoscopic Stigmata.” Accepted Poster Presentation, Digestive Disease Week. Chicago, IL (06/2009).

Puchakayala B, Pearson S. “The Clot is the beginning of the Plot – Calciphylaxis in the possible setting of Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.” Accepted Poster Presentation, American College of Physicians National Meeting. Washington, DC (05/2008).