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Personal profile
Research Interests
Chronic pain has negative effects in every domain of life. Treating pain before it becomes chronic is critical. My interests in the management of pain symptoms vary greatly, as there is an incredible amount of new technology emerging now that improves patient outcomes, limits disability, and when introduced appropriately, is cost effective. My research interests include non-surgical methods of treating knee pain from osteoarthritis, namely, with nerve ablation procedures and regenerative treatments like stem cell injections and autologous platelet rich plasma. Chronic low back pain is another major clinical interest, for which we have a variety of evidence based treatments to improve pain, and to avoid the long term use of opioids with the ultimate goal of improving patient function and quality of life. Treatments include image-guided steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation procedures of the spinal facets and sacroiliac joints, spinal cord stimulation, and now, dorsal root ganglion stimulation. In addition, cancer survivorship issues, like chronic nerve pain and side effects from cancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, hormone treatments like tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors) encompasses a huge population in the U.S. and is of great interest to me. Vasomotor symptoms (commonly known as hot flashes) have a tremendous negative effect on women with natural or surgical menopause, those patients on tamoxifen or other aromotase inhibitors and men with prostate cancer on anti-testosterone therapy. Men with prostate cancer who are on androgen deprivation therapy also suffer from this side effect of treatment. This is an active area of research in my practice, including research funded by the National Institute on Aging.
Treatment of degenerative spine disorders including facet arthropathy, sacroiliac joint pain, chronic pain after spine surgery, knee pain from osteoarthritis, non-opioid management of chronic pain, with advanced interventions: radiofrequency ablation, chemical neurolysis, spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation and regenerative treatments (platelet rich plasma, stem cell injections, amniotic stem cell injections). Treatment of knee pain from osteoarthritis and pain following joint replacement surgery.
Certifications and Licenses
Anesthesiology | |
Pain Medicine |
Training Experience
1997 | Residency, Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center (Northwestern Memorial Hospital) |
1998 | Fellowship, Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center (Northwestern Memorial Hospital) |
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
MD, Medicine, Wayne State University
… → 1993
Research interests keywords
- Back / Spine
- Cancer Survivorship
- Menopause
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Pain
- Pain Management
- Regenerative Medicine
- Sports Medicine
- Stem Cells
- Translational Research
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Prot#1010-01: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Ascending Dose Escalation Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of SL-1002 Injectable for Treatment of Knee Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis
Saol International Development Ltd.
8/16/22 → 8/16/25
Project: Research project
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Effects of Stellate Ganglion Block on Vasomotor Symptoms in Hispanic Women with Breast Cancer
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
9/1/16 → 8/31/20
Project: Research project
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The Effectiveness of Fluoroscopically Guided Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Chronic Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review
Fogarty, A. E., Burnham, T., Kuo, K., Tate, Q., Sperry, B. P., Cheney, C., Walega, D. R., Kohan, L., Cohen, S. P., Cushman, D. M., McCormick, Z. L. & Conger, A., May 1 2022, In: American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 101, 5, p. 482-492 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
2 Scopus citations -
A Proposed Protocol for Safe Radiofrequency Ablation of the Recurrent Fibular Nerve for the Treatment of Chronic Anterior Inferolateral Knee Pain
Sperry, B. P., Conger, A., Kohan, L., Walega, D. R., Cohen, S. P. & McCormick, Z. L., May 1 2021, In: Pain Medicine (United States). 22, 5, p. 1237-1241 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
Open Access4 Scopus citations -
Factors Associated With Implantable Pulse Generator Site Pain: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Choi, H., Gaiha, R., Moeschler, S. M., Bendel, M. A., McCormick, Z. L., Teramoto, M., Rosenow, J. M., Kielb, S., Avram, M. J. & Walega, D. R., Dec 2021, In: Neuromodulation. 24, 8, p. 1351-1356 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus citations -
Response to 'Effect of low-dose lidocaine on objective upper extremity strength and immediate pain relief following cervical interlaminar epidural injections: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial'
McCormick, Z. L., Burnham, T. & Walega, D. R., Dec 1 2021, In: Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. 46, 12, p. 1114 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
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Technical considerations for genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation: Optimizing outcomes
McCormick, Z. L., Cohen, S. P., Walega, D. R. & Kohan, L., Jun 1 2021, In: Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. 46, 6, p. 518-523 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
18 Scopus citations