MAPS Centers for Pain Control

Bios

• 

  Darrel Saldanha, MD

  Co-Founder/CEO

  Dr. Saldanha is a co-founder and CEO of MAPS Centers For Pain Control.​ He is double-board certified in both anesthesiology and pain medicine. During his training at the University of Illinois, he was chief resident during his final year of residency. In addition, he was recognized with the Walter Kowalski achievement award for most outstanding new resident during his training. He has presented his research in numerous national conferences in the fields of neurobiology, chemistry, anesthesiology, and pain medicine. In addition to providing clinical care, Dr. Saldanha has an interest in developing innovative models for healthcare delivery. He has an extensive background in healthcare management and administration. He is also the founder of the Hyde Park Surgical Center, a state-licensed, multi-specialty outpatient surgical center focused on the care of work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Dr. Saldanha is a compassionate physician who is driven to provide healthcare to patients, regardless of background. He founded a free healthcare clinic serving patients in underserved areas in Chicago which has since provided care to thousands of patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

  Link: Darrel Saldanha, MD

• 

  Thomas Pontinen, MD, LCP-C

  Co-Founder/Physician

  Dr. Pontinen is a double-board certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine specialist, and co-founder of MAPS Centers For Pain Control. In addition to training under some of the nation’s top experts in anesthesiology and pain medicine, he has also undergone formal training as a resident in general surgery, which allows him to perform the most innovative procedures in pain medicine safely and skillfully. Dr. Pontinen has published multiple journal articles, written textbook chapters, and has presented at international conferences in the fields of surgery, anesthesiology, and pain medicine. His research on chronic wound pain was featured in Pain Medicine News, the nation’s top source of information in the field of pain medicine for healthcare professionals. He has also received multiple awards from organizations such as US News & World report and WebMD as a top provider in his field. 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 also is a certified life care planner (LCP-C) which allows him to help patients more effectively with a catastrophic injury or illness and project future medical and non-medical needs. Dr. Pontinen also volunteers with various international organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, the world’s largest and most important health care related volunteer organization. Through them, he can travel to the most unstable parts of the world, providing medical care to those most in need. He is also an avid snowboarder, mountaineer, skydiver, scuba diver, motorcyclist, and drummer.

  Link: Thomas Pontinen, MD, LCP-C

• 

  Andrei Rakic, MD

  Dr. Rakic is double-board certified in both anesthesiology and pain management. He was a professor at the University of Illinois, specializing in general anesthesia, regional anesthesia and pain management. He published several papers on pain management in challenging clinical situations and also worked with the surgical and wound care staff on using pain control techniques normally used in the hospital for outpatient applications. He is interested in spine and orthopedic pain, cancer pain, as well as neuropathic pain conditions. Most recently, Dr. Rakic helped found MAPS Centers For Pain Control. Along with his partners, he aspires to bring a university medical center quality of care to his patients in the setting of a private practice that offers a more personal and responsive service for his patients that larger institutions cannot provide.

  Link: Andrei Rakic, MD

• 

  Mark Farag, MD

  Dr. Mark Farag is a double-board certified and fellowship-trained anesthesiologist and interventional pain management specialist. He completed his undergraduate education as a four-year Edmund J. James Scholar at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his medical degree from Rush University where he served as co-president of his class and was selected by his peers to give the graduation valediction. He then attended the University of Illinois at Chicago for his anesthesiology residency and interventional pain management fellowship. Dr. Farag loves his job. He has always been highly reviewed by those who trained him, his colleagues, and, most importantly, his patients. He and our other doctors are trained to treat all types of pain using the most advanced technology and minimally-invasive techniques. He is compassionate, intelligent, and always dedicated to giving his patients the highest quality of care. He focuses on using a multi-modal approach (procedures, medications, physical therapy, and other therapies) to treat the pain at its source, and help his patients resume a fulfilling personal, professional, and social life.

  Link: Mark Farag, MD

• 

  Adarsh Shukla, MD, LCP-C

  Dr. Shukla is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation pain management. He completed both his residency and fellowship at the Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center. In fellowship, he served as the chief fellow of his program. During his time at Penn State he submitted publications to the Pain Journal and presented at several national conferences. Dr. Shukla has a strong commitment to serving his home community in the Chicagoland area. His training in physical medicine & rehabilitation gives him a unique perspective into musculoskeletal evaluation and management as well as extensive experience in electrodiagnostics and the diagnosis of nervous system and spinal disorders. He focuses on improved quality of life for his patients above all. In his leisure time, Dr. Shukla enjoys exploring all that Chicago has to offer. He particularly enjoys live music concerts, experiencing new restaurants, and taking walks with his dog, Zoey.

  Link: Adarsh Shukla, MD, LCP-C

• 

  David Kang, MD, LCP-C

  David Kang, MD, LCP-C is board-certified in Family Medicine and has extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of various vein diseases and related disorders. He completed his medical training in Chicago at Amita Saint Mary’s and Elizabeth Medical Center. He’s dedicated his career to providing compassionate medical care through both in-person treatment and telemedicine throughout the country. He’s treated hundreds of patients suffering from vein-related conditions through non-invasive, cutting-edge treatments that restore and enhance his patients’ quality of life.

  Link: David Kang, MD, LCP-C