Godwin Maduka

Godwin Maduka
Born	1959 Nkerehi, Orumba South, Anambra State, Nigeria
Occupation(s)	Physician, entrepreneur, benefactor
Known for	Founder of the Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Center; renaming Nkerehi to Umuchukwu

Godwin Maduka (born 1959) is a Nigerian-American physician, entrepreneur, and benefactor. He is the founder of the Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Center. In 2008, he played a key role in changing the name of his birthplace from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu.

Early life and education

Maduka was born in Nkerehi, located in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. His early education took place at Nawfia Comprehensive Secondary School and All Saints Grammar School in Umunze. Although accepted to study Medicine at the University of Port Harcourt, financial difficulties prevented his enrollment. Through the assistance of his cousin, Prof. Dr. Richard Igwike, Maduka obtained a scholarship covering half of his tuition fees at Rust College. Additional family support allowed him to relocate to the United States in 1982. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in chemistry from Rust College in 1984, followed by earning a pharmacy degree from Mercer University in 1988. After working as a pharmacy technician, he received a full scholarship to pursue medical studies at the University of Tennessee, where he completed his internship and graduated in 1993. By 1997, he had finished postgraduate training and residency programs specializing in anesthesiology, critical care, and pain management at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Career

Following the completion of his studies in 1997, Maduka relocated to Las Vegas with an initial job offering an $8,000 advance. He practiced as an anesthesiologist at Desert Spring United Methodist Church along with other hospitals throughout Nevada before establishing his own clinic within Red Rock Medical Group. In 1999, he launched the Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Center, which later grew to include six more branches throughout Southern Nevada.

Maduka holds positions as a clinical faculty supervisor and adjunct professor specializing in pain management and anesthesiology at Touro University Nevada, as well as serving as a clinical assistant professor of surgery at UNLV School of Medicine.

Personal life

Maduka's mother was engaged in farming and trading activities, whereas his father was a practitioner of traditional herbal medicine.