Dr. Ajay Kandra MD

Dr. Krishna Siva Sai Kakkera MD

About Dr. Krishna Siva Sai Kakkera MD

Dr. Krishna Kakkera, M.D., is a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care physician based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with over a decade of clinical experience in respiratory and critical care medicine. He specializes in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of pulmonary conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep-related breathing disorders, and respiratory failure. Dr. Kakkera earned his medical degree from Osmania Medical College under NTR University of Health Sciences, India. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine, followed by fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Central Arkansas Veterans Health System.He is affiliated with UAMS Medical Center, White River Medical Center, and CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, where he provides comprehensive, patient-centered care. Dr. Kakkera is recognized for his expertise in managing complex pulmonary conditions and his commitment to evidence-based treatment and improving patient outcomes."

Certifications / Awards / Recognitions

Best poster award winner
American College of Chest Physicians annual meeting CHEST, Los Angeles (2016)
Best poster award
American College of Physicians Arkansas chapter annual meeting (2016)
Selected for oral presentation
American Thoracic Society annual meeting, Washington D.C (2017)

Professional Experience

Institution Location Duration Position
CHI St. Vincent's Medical Center Little Rock, Arkansas Present Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician, Director of ICU services
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, Arkansas 9/2021 – 9/2023 Assistant Professor of Pulmonary/Critical Care and Internal Medicine
White River Health System Batesville, Arkansas 7/2018 – 9/2021 Pulmonary Critical Care Physician, ICU Director, Core Faculty
Mercy Hospital Mercy Hospital 9/2020 – 3/2021 Part-time Consultant Pulmonary Critical Care Physician

Education & Training

Institution Location Year Program
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Little Rock, Arkansas 7/2015 – 6/2018 Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Little Rock, Arkansas 7/2013 – 6/2015 Residency in Internal Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Little Rock, Arkansas 7/2012 – 6/2013 Internship in Internal Medicine
Osmania Medical College Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India 2004 – 2010 MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery)

Research & Publications

Pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: current understanding knowledge gaps and future directions
Authors: Atchley WT, Kakkera TK.
Curr Opin Pulm Med • 2024
Ageing and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: interrelationships
Authors: Kakkera K, Atchley WT, Kodali M, et al..
Curr Opin Pulmon Med • 2023
Association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with mild cognitive impairment and dementia
Authors: Kakkera K, Padala KP, Kodali M, Padala PR.
Curr Opin Pulmonary Medicine • 2018
Prospective Open‐label Trial of Early Concomitant Vasopressin and Norepinephrine Therapy versus Initial Norepinephrine Monotherapy in Septic Shock
Authors: Hammond DA, Ficek OA, Painter JT, McCain K, Cullen J, Brotherton AL, Kakkera K, Chopra D, Meena N.
Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy • 2021
National Trends (2009-2013) for Palliative Care Utilization for Patients Receiving Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation
Authors: Chatterjee K, Goyal A, Kakkera K, Harrington S, Corwin HL.
Critical Care Medicine • 2018
National Trends (2007-2013) of Clostridium difficile Infection in Patients with Septic Shock: Impact on Outcome
Authors: Kshitij Chatterjee MD, Abhinav Goyal MD, Krishna Kakkera MD, Aditya Chada MD.
Choosing Wisely®: Things We Do for No Reason • 2017
Central Venous Line Insertion Revealing Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return: Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Alzghoul B, Innabi A, Chada A, Tarawneh AR, Kakkera K, Khasawneh K.
Case Reports in Critical Care • 2017
Etiology of malignant pleural effusion and utilization of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures: a nationwide analysis
Authors: Chatterjee K, Goyal A, Kakkera K, Meena N.
Journal of Bronchology & Interventional Pulmonology • 2017
Contemporary national trends of cystic fibrosis hospitalizations and co-morbidities in the United States
Authors: Chatterjee K, Goyal A, Shah N, Kakkera K, Jagana R, Anderson P.
Advances in Respiratory Medicine• 2016
Successful Management of Neobladder Variceal Bleeding
Authors: Atwal D, Chatterjee K, Osborne S, Kakkera K, Deas S, Li R, Erbland M.
Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology• 2016
Identifying asymptomatic health care workers with COVID-19 in a community hospital: An institution’s experience
Authors: Neal Mehta, Krishna Kakkera, Roy Kamoga.
Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives• 2020
Not all that shines on PET scan is cancer: Silicone induced granuloma masquerading as malignancy
Authors: Krishna Vedala, Philip Sobash, Krishna Kakkera.
Clinics and Practice• 2020
A rare case of Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis triggered by sepsis from MRSA bacteremia
Authors: Mitchell Keel, Krishna Vedala, Krishna Kakkera.
Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports• 2020