Current Research and Scholarly Interests
1. Acute and Chronic Pain Management: Focused Ultrasound for Peripheral Neuromodulation
Poorly controlled acute and chronic pain are common and significant sources of patient morbidity. Inadequate control of postoperative pain is a risk factor for worsened patient outcomes, and 5% to 80% of patients will develop chronic pain after surgery. Novel, safe, and effective methods to improve and prevent acute and chronic pain are needed. Focused ultrasound (FUS) can modulate central and peripheral nervous system structures.
2. Pediatric Perioperative Outcomes
Chronic pain and opioid use are major public health issues in the United States and internationally. Those who use opioids chronically and patients with chronic pain are more likely to have worsened health and require more medical care. Both adults and children who undergo surgery are at increased risk of prolonged opioid use after surgery and chronic post-surgical pain.