Dr. Shaan Sudhakaran, MD

Chronic pain is a journey and Shaan Sudhakaran, M.D., aims to work together with patients to figure out the best treatment plan. “I enjoy getting to know my patients and not only sharing the successes in treating pain but also helping them cope with the difficult times.”Dr. Sudhakaran joined NSPC in summer 2018 after completing a chronic and interventional pain fellowship at the University of Chicago Hospitals. The Illinois-based facility was also the site for Dr. Sudhakaran’s anesthesiology residency and internship.During medical school, Dr. Sudhakaran’s mentor noted ’99 percent of the time, you can make a diagnosis by just listening to the patient.’ These are words Dr. Sudhakaran has taken to heart regarding patient-centered care. “(I) strive to keep open ears and an open mind when talking with my patients. I will always do my best to listen.”Dr. Sudhakaran chose to pursue anesthesiology because the field provided the opportunity to take care of the sickest and most vulnerable …patients. “I had a strong focus on patient safety and data-driven medicine during my training and this led me to dedicate my life to those suffering from chronic pain.”The field of pain management is rapidly evolving to offer more effective alternatives to harmful chronic opioid therapy. Dr. Sudhakaran notes minimally invasive interventions have become a safe and superior alternative to addictive pain medications.The fight against chronic pain requires multiple fronts, according to Dr. Sudhakaran. “Pain affects us in many ways including physically, socially and psychologically. In addition to physical medicine, interventional therapy, and cognitive therapy, I believe that adjunctive medications can play a significant role in a multimodal approach to pain relief.”Dr. Sudhakaran spends time away from the office jogging, playing tennis and basketball, weightlifting and spending time with a new edition — a whippet puppy.