Dr. Christopher Opella, MD

A board-certified physician with broad experience across the spectrum of his family medicine specialty, Christopher Opella, M.D., is devoted to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness in his patients.Areas of Expertise- Metabolic syndrome — A group of conditions, including high blood pressure, high blood glucose, or sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels, that when occurring together raise the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.- Cardiovascular disease — Disorders of the heart and blood vessels, among them heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure (CHF) and heart arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat.- Gastrointestinal conditions — Disorders of the digestive tract, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and celiac disease.- Orthopedic conditions — Conditions involving the musculoskeletal system, including arthritis, back pain and overuse injury.- Preventive care — …Check-ups, immunizations, tests and screenings used to prevent serious diseases and medical conditions or to detect them before they become major problems.Video VisitsDr. Opella offers virtual visits for patients needing medication checks, standard chronic illness management, sick visits and follow up care for certain conditions. If interested, ask about the option when scheduling.BackgroundDr. Opella came to Beaufort Memorial in April 2022 after more than two decades as a clinician and a medical director at family medicine clinics and hospital emergency rooms in his native state of Texas, most recently Surepoint Family Medicine and Tarleton State University in Stephenville.
Dr. Opella joined Beaufort Memorial in April 2022 after more than two decades as a clinician and medical director at family medicine clinics and hospital emergency rooms in his native state of Texas, most recently at Surepoint Family Medicine and Tarleton State University in Stephenville.
With a medical residency that provided full-scope family medicine training, including emergency medicine and surgery, and subsequent practice in small-town and urban settings, Dr. Opella brings extensive knowledge of various specialties to patient care, including cardiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, orthopedics, dermatology, and emergency medicine.
He and his wife, Misty, an ICU nurse, have two children, a daughter and a son. In his free time, he enjoys golf, running, working out and playing the guitar.
"I am a country doctor, very old-school. Talking with my patients is essential to providing good care. I try to ignore the clock ticking on the wall when I walk into the exam room, and I give people all the time I can."