Chicago,
IL - Thomas Pontinen, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as
a Lifetime Achiever in the Medical field and in
acknowledgment of his work at Midwest Anesthesia Pain Specialists (MAPS).
Thomas
Pontinen, MD, is a Medical Professional with over ten years of experience in
clinical practice, research, and teaching. He is the Co-Founder of MAPS –
Midwest Anesthesia Pain Specialists, with locations in Chicago, Des Plaines,
Franklin Park, Hazel Crest, and Woodridge, IL. He is a Staff Member at Advocate
South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, IL, and AMITA Health Alexian Brothers
Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, IL.
To
begin his education, Dr. Pontinen attended the University of St. Thomas in St.
Paul, MN. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Business Management and Advertising in 2003. He then completed a medical degree
at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine in 2008. To gain further
experience, he completed a General Surgery Internship at Albert Einstein
Medical Center from 2008-2010. Dr. Pontinen next took on an Anesthesiology
Residency from 2010-2013 and a Pain Management Fellowship from 2013-2014 at the
University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, IL.
Throughout
the course of his education, Dr. Pontinen trained with leading US experts in
Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology. He also completed residency training in
General Surgery, giving him the ability to perform innovative pain medicine
procedures for his patients. As a result of his education and training, Dr.
Pontinen has been double board-certified in Anesthesiology and Interventional
Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology since 2014. The American
Board of Anesthesiology certifies Anesthesiologists who have completed
residency training in their field of expertise as a branch of the American
Board of Medical Specialties.
To
begin his career, Dr. Pontinen started working as an Anesthesiologist at St.
Francis Hospital in Litchfield, IL in 2014. He joined Saint Anthony Hospital in
Chicago, IL, that same year. In August 2014, along with his friend and
partner, Dr. Darrel Saldanha, he co-founded Midwest Anesthesia and Pain
Specialists, which is currently the largest interventional pain
practice in Chicago.
Outside
of his clinical work, Dr. Pontinen has been published numerous times in
articles, medical journals, and textbook chapters. He gives public speaking
engagements at international conferences - his recent topics covered surgery,
anesthesiology, and pain medicine.
Dr.
Pontinen is a Principal Investigator on several ongoing FDA trials for
medications and treatments. He is passionate about his work and strives to
continuously advance the field of pain medicine so that his patients can
receive the best care possible for their medical conditions. Dr. Pontinen’s
research on chronic wound pain was featured in Pain Medicine News, a
publication known to be a leading information source for pain medicine
healthcare professionals.
He has
been acknowledged for his exceptional practice by the official website of
Accident Treatment Centers. It states, “Aside from his research, he is a
compassionate Physician who works daily to help his patients regain their lives
and get back to doing the activities they love. He is passionate about treating
the most complex pain cases in a comprehensive integrative and holistic
approach, combining multiple treatment modalities with the most innovative
minimally invasive procedures.”
He is a
member of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, NANS
(North American Neuromodulation Society), and the
American Society of Anesthesiologists. He loves to volunteer and works with
multiple organizations. Dr. Pontinen is involved with Médecins Sans
Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, providing medical care to underserved
groups worldwide. His work with MSF has taken him to unstable areas to serve
people who need critical care. Dr. Pontinen loves snowboarding, heliboarding, mountaineering, and playing drums when he isn't working.
He
would like to dedicate this honorable recognition to his family, including his
parents, Paul and Linda, and Dr. Charles Laurito, his mentor and the
best physician he's ever known.
For
more information, visit https://www.mwpain.com/doctors/.
