V.K.PuppalaMD

Summary

• Dr. Puppala, a double board-certified anesthesiology pain specialist, studied at the world-renowned Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, founded by Nobel laureate Dr. Leon Lederman. He graduated from the University of Illinois with honors in less than twelve months and earned his medical degree from the nationally topranked Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Puppala’s interest in pain medicine was sparked when he received a student grant from the National Institutes of Health to conduct research on the effects of peripheral nerve thermocoagulation under the mentorship of Chief of Plastic Surgery Dr. Susan MacKinnon, who performed the world’s first nerve transplant. Following medical school, he trained in anesthesiology and pain medicine at Illinois Masonic Medical Center under the tutelage of Dr. Kenneth Candido, an internationally-renowned thought leader who himself trained under Dr. Alon Winnie, who originated many of the interventional techniques used by pain physicians today. While in training, Dr. Puppala won the Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists award for best original research with the world’s first report of successful treatment of HIV-related polyneuropathy using spinal cord stimulation. He also received the Illinois Masonic Medical Center award for best resident research in recognition of his efforts to advance the field of pain medicine. He has expertise in the treatment of a variety of chronic painful conditions including neck and low back pain, intractable neuropathic pain, joint pain, headaches, myofascial pain syndrome, and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS/RSD). He is exceptionally skilled in a variety of minimally invasive techniques including ultrasound-guided injections, epidural injections, joint injections, diagnostic nerve blocks, radiofrequency denervation, intrathecal pump implantation, spinal cord stimulation, and kyphoplasty. He is dedicated to achieving superior pain relief and functional restoration outcomes.