|
In the early 1980’s I saw many people that had
toothaches and headache pain with no apparent reason.
They saw many specialists both dental and medical and
were usually told that nothing could be done. Often
they were prescribed pain pills or medications for
anxiety. These pills did little to calm the pain. They
also received oral appliances (sometimes called retainers)
for jaw pain with no relief. Rarely was a diagnosis
made for the different types of pain and headaches
a person was experiencing. People with TMJ or Temporo-Mandibular
Joint pain (jaw joint pain) can also have migraine,
tension headaches, neuralgia, or neck aches. All of
these pains must be diagnoses and managed at the same
time for success.
At that time I also became aware of people suffering
from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (also called OSA). Apnea
is a condition that occurs when a person usually snores
loud and stops breathing a for a few moments many times
a minute while sleeping. I have been helping people
with OSA through the use of oral appliances worn during
sleep.
A person’s history and a thorough description
of the pain or sleep problem are an essential part
of an initial visit. I can’t tell you how many
times people have told me that they never fully described
their pain to their doctor and they were never fully
examined.
As I learned more about advances in pain management
new possibilities began to develop for these people.
Pain management is a new emerging field. Unfortunately,
there are still many doctors that do not keep up with
current medical literature. Another problem is that
many specialists do not incorporate treatment strategies
that are used by different types of specialists. This
became clear to me when I worked in pain and headache
centers in different hospitals.
After graduating New York University Dental School
in 1977 I attended a two year program in advanced training
in head and pain management at the University of New
Jersey Dental and Medical School in 1985-86 and in
1988-89.
I have been a member of the medical staff at the Yale
Medical School Pain Management Center in the Department
of Anesthesia, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Headache Center in the Department of Neurology) and
had an appointment as Instructor in Neurology at Harvard
Medical School. I also was a member of the dental resident
teaching staff at Mt. Sinai Hospital (Hartford.) I am currently a member of the medical staff at the Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital (Worcester), UMass Memorial Medical Center Headache Center and Sleep Disorders Center (Worcester), Instructor of Surgery at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. I am a consultant for several hospital
based sleep centers.
I am a member of several professional organization
dedicated to helping people with pain, headache and
sleep disorders. I am Board Certified by the American
Board of Orofacial Pain, a fellow of the Academy of
General Dentistry and a member of the American Headache
Society, the American Pain Society, and I am on the
editorial review Board of the American Journal of Pain
Management. I am a diplomate of the American Board
of Dental Sleep Medicine.
I see patients in several locations in central/eastern
Massachusetts and in central Connecticut.
Education
|
1973-77 D.D.S.
|
New York University
College of Dentistry
New York, New York
|
Postgraduate Certification
|
Certificate of 1985-86
Advanced Study 1988-89
|
Advanced Treatment Program on Craniomandibular
Pain and Dysfunction
University of New Jersey Medical and Dental School
Newark, New Jersey
|
School Appointments
|
1994
|
Instructor in Neurology
Harvard Medical School
|
1999 - Present
|
Instructor of Clinical Surgery
Univ. of Massachusetts Medical School
|
Board Certification
|
1995
|
Diplomate, American Board of Orofacial Pain
|
July 2000
|
Credentialed, Certification Board of the Academy
of Dental Sleep Medicine
|
Hospital Appointments
|
1995 - Present
|
The Rehabilitation Hospital of Connecticut
(Hartford) Consultant Staff
|
1995 - Present
|
Fairlawn Rehab Hospital, Worcester, MA, Consultant
Staff
|
1993 - Present
|
TMJ/Headache Center, Sleep Disorders Center
Active Medical Staff U Mass Memorial Medical Center
Worcester, MA
|
1993 - 1994
|
Headache and Facial Pain Center Brigham and
Woman's Hospital Department of Medicine Division
of Neurology, Active staff
Boston, MA
|
1994
|
Headache and Facial Pain Center Brigham and
Woman's Hospital Department of Medicine Division
of Neurology, Active staff
Boston, MA
|
1989 - 1993
|
Director, Pain Clinic, Active Staff Johnson
Memorial Hospital
Stafford Springs, CT
|
1989 - Present
|
Affiliated Medical Staff, Dept. of Dentistry
St. Francis Hospital
Hartford, CT
|
Other Professional Positions
|
1991 - 1993
|
T.M.J./Pain Clinic Team Member Department
of Oral Surgery
Univ. of Connecticut Medical and Dental School
Farmington, CT
|
Professional Awards
|
2000
|
Diplomate, American Board
of Dental Sleep Medinine
|
1997
|
Diplomate of the American Board
of Forensic Examiners
|
1990 - 1992
|
Diplomate of the American Academy
of Pain Management
|
1988 - Present
|
Fellow of the Academy of General
Dentistry
|
1986 - 1994
|
Fellow of the International College
of Craniomandibular Orthopedics
|
Editorials Review Boards
|
1991 - Present
|
Editorial Review Board American Journal of
Pain Management
|
|
