Dr. Michael Mueller, MD, MPH

Dr. Michael Mueller’s primary objective when treating patients is improving their function. Instead of patient barely able to walk one block in pain, his goal is to have the individual live an active life including taking a mile leisurely stroll. “For all treatments, the goal is to determine the optimal therapy for each patient based on their other medical history, goals and available treatments,” he said. After completing a chronic pain fellowship at Allegheny Health Network’s Department of Anesthesiology in Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Mueller joined the National Spine and Pain Centers in summer 2021. West Virginia University serves as the site for his Doctor of Medicine and Masters in Public Health with a concentration in health policy, management and leadership. An anesthesiology residency followed at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine in Hershey, PA. Dr. Mueller was first drawn to the pain management/anesthesiology fields because …he enjoys finding the ideal match between a treatment and patient. “This requires knowing the patient in a variety of ways - not just causes them pain but what activities they want to engage in, how their pain is affecting their life and if they wish to try or avoid particular treatments,” he said. Neuromodulation, which is a procedure using electrical current to alter or block pain, is an area of expertise for Dr. Mueller. He is excited about the significant advanced in the field leading to increased pain relief and patient function. “These improvements will continue to take place in the future and allow for smaller devices, longer battery life and reduced impact on the patient’s daily life,” he said. “…By having a variety of therapeutic options, we can match a patient’s pain generator with the treatment that works best for them rather than a one size fits all approach.”