Find a Top Physiatrist Near Me in Lauderhill, FL – Book an Appointment Instantly

Marcie A. Merson, MD, is board-certified in pain medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. Her practice, Palm Beach Pain Institute, located in Delray Beach, Florida, conveniently provides pain management in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and surrounding cities. 

Dr. Merson earned her Doctor of Medicine in 1995 from the University of Miami School of Medicine. She completed her internship at North Shore University Hospital/Cornell University Medical College and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 

Subsequently, Dr. Merson completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, New York, and The Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio. She then completed advanced fellowship training in pain medicine, spine, sports, and musculoskeletal medicine at Georgia Pain Physicians, an Emory University Affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Merson is a member of national organizations including the North American Spine Society, the International Spinal Intervention Society, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Dr. Merson also co-authored a chapter in the publication, Interventional Sympathetic Blockade, in Physiatric Procedures in Clinical Practice by Lennard T.

If you’re in need of a pain doctor in Delray Beach, call Dr. Marcie A. Merson at Palm Beach Pain Institute. 

Adam E. Shestack, MD, is the medical director at Florida Pain Management Institute in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida. Dr. Shestack is dual board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine with advanced expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of low back and neck pain, musculoskeletal and nerve pain disorders, cancer pain, sports injuries, CRPS/RSD, and chronic pain syndromes. He offers innovative medical solutions and a comprehensive approach to pain management.​ 

Dr. Shestack earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin. He went on to complete his pre-medical training in the post-baccalaureate program at Columbia University in New York. Dr. Shestack received his Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine, where he graduated with high honors. He completed his internship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, followed by a residency in Anesthesiology at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. He then completed an interventional pain medicine fellowship at the Tri-Institutional Pain Medicine fellowship program at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, Hospital for Special Surgery and Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

Prior to becoming the medical director at Florida Pain Management Institute, Dr. Shestack was the director of outpatient pain medicine services at the Syosset and Plainview Hospitals and was a pain management specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.​ He developed and implemented ketamine infusion therapy protocols for the outpatient treatment of chronic neuropathic pain syndromes and for inpatient acute postoperative pain management. He also developed the Outpatient Pain Management Mental Health Center in conjunction with psychiatry and addictionology services for the management and treatment of addiction in the setting of chronic pain.​ 

Dr. Shestack has worked with The New York Times for articles on comprehensive pain management and with The Doctors Company for articles on the current opioid crisis. He has also been interviewed for radio broadcasts.​ He is an active member of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, American Pain Society, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Florida Medical Association.

Cy Blanco, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist specializing in interventional pain management at Florida Pain Management Institute in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida. Dr. Blanco earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, before graduating with a master’s degree in biology from New York University. He went on to complete his medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. 

After graduating, Dr. Blanco completed his internship at Beth Israel Medical Center and his residency in anesthesiology at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. He then furthered his training with a fellowship in pain management at the Manhattan Center for Pain Management through St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital.

In addition to his medical training, Dr. Blanco has been extensively published in various medical journals and given presentations on subjects in his field. He is fluent in Spanish, has a working knowledge of French, and enjoys treating patients of all backgrounds. Dr. Blanco is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists.

Dr. Scott M. Kowalski, DO, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) and interventional pain management. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Kowalski is dedicated to helping patients reduce pain, enhance mobility, and improve quality of life. He currently serves at Medicus Spine & Joint in Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida, as well as Brunswick and Savannah, Georgia  where he provides expert care in pain management and rehabilitation.

Education and Training

Dr. Kowalski earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, following a Bachelor’s in Biology from Alma College, where he graduated magna cum laude. His postdoctoral training includes a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency, where he served as Chief Resident, and an Interventional Pain Management Fellowship at Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center.

Practice History

Dr. Kowalski brings valuable experience from his previous roles at reputable institutions, including:

• Coastal Spine & Pain in Jacksonville, FL, specializing in PM&R and pain management
• Orthopedic Associates of Port Huron in Michigan, where he practiced for over eight years
• Michigan Neurology Associates, where he provided neuromuscular and pain management care

Specialized Procedures and Skills

Dr. Kowalski is skilled in various interventional pain management techniques, including:

• Spinal Injections
• Nerve Blocks
• Radiofrequency Ablation
• Neuromodulation

He combines these techniques with a holistic approach to care, addressing each patient’s unique needs to restore function and reduce pain effectively.

Professional Affiliations

Dr. Kowalski is an active member of several professional organizations, including:

• American Osteopathic Medical Association
• American Academy of Pain Medicine
• North American Neuromodulation Society
• Florida Medical Association

Credentials and Licenses

Dr. Kowalski holds active licenses in Florida and Georgia, with an NPI number and extensive certifications that reflect his dedication to excellence in PM&R and pain management.

For appointments with Dr. Kowalski at Medicus Spine & Joint, please contact [Medicus Contact Information]. Dr. Kowalski is committed to providing compassionate, personalized care to help patients manage pain and reclaim their quality of life.

South Florida Interventional Orthopedics and Spine has one office in Davenport, Florida, and another in Miami. Led by double board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Seth Kaufman, DO, he and his team focus on using conservative treatments to help their patients avoid surgery unless it’s absolutely necessary. The practice provides the local communities with accurate diagnosis and high-quality treatment.

Dr. Kaufman believes that a physiatrist (a doctor who specializes in medical solutions to musculoskeletal disorders) is the best person for patients to see before consulting an orthopedic surgeon. As he says, when patients have chest pain, they don’t go to a cardiothoracic surgeon but a cardiologist. 

Similarly, a patient with a headache would visit a neurologist rather than a neurosurgeon, while a person with stomach pain would go to a gastroenterologist before calling on a colorectal surgeon. Using this logic, it makes sense for patients to first see Dr. Kaufman for their neck, back, or sports injury pain before seeing an orthopedic surgeon.

Patients can be confident of the highest quality treatment. Dr. Kaufman has extensive experience and has undergone fellowship training. 

He has also worked extensively with some of the most highly trained spine surgeons in the world. Those surgeons included staff members at the Mayo Clinic (which has campuses in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona), Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

South Florida Interventional Orthopedics and Spine specializes in the nonoperative treatment of neck, lower back, and musculoskeletal pain. They use nonsurgical techniques to treat arthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, as well as neck, back, shoulder, hip, and knee pain. 

Treatments include epidural steroid injections, facet blocks, hyaluronic acid injections, rhizotomy (radiofrequency ablation), and precision medicine treatments like PRP (platelet-rich plasma). On the rare occasions that these treatments don’t work, Dr. Kaufman refers patients to the appropriate specialists.

South Florida Interventional Orthopedics and Spine is firmly committed to a patient-centered, conservative approach to treating musculoskeletal disorders. Call their Davenport or Miami office today or book an appointment online to benefit from their expertise.

Adam E. Shestack, MD, is the medical director at Florida Pain Management Institute in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida. Dr. Shestack is dual board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine with advanced expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of low back and neck pain, musculoskeletal and nerve pain disorders, cancer pain, sports injuries, CRPS/RSD, and chronic pain syndromes. He offers innovative medical solutions and a comprehensive approach to pain management.​ 

Dr. Shestack earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin. He went on to complete his pre-medical training in the post-baccalaureate program at Columbia University in New York. Dr. Shestack received his Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine, where he graduated with high honors. He completed his internship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, followed by a residency in Anesthesiology at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. He then completed an interventional pain medicine fellowship at the Tri-Institutional Pain Medicine fellowship program at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, Hospital for Special Surgery and Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

Prior to becoming the medical director at Florida Pain Management Institute, Dr. Shestack was the director of outpatient pain medicine services at the Syosset and Plainview Hospitals and was a pain management specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.​ He developed and implemented ketamine infusion therapy protocols for the outpatient treatment of chronic neuropathic pain syndromes and for inpatient acute postoperative pain management. He also developed the Outpatient Pain Management Mental Health Center in conjunction with psychiatry and addictionology services for the management and treatment of addiction in the setting of chronic pain.​ 

Dr. Shestack has worked with The New York Times for articles on comprehensive pain management and with The Doctors Company for articles on the current opioid crisis. He has also been interviewed for radio broadcasts.​ He is an active member of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, American Pain Society, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Florida Medical Association.

Cy Blanco, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist specializing in interventional pain management at Florida Pain Management Institute in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida. Dr. Blanco earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, before graduating with a master’s degree in biology from New York University. He went on to complete his medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. 

After graduating, Dr. Blanco completed his internship at Beth Israel Medical Center and his residency in anesthesiology at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. He then furthered his training with a fellowship in pain management at the Manhattan Center for Pain Management through St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital.

In addition to his medical training, Dr. Blanco has been extensively published in various medical journals and given presentations on subjects in his field. He is fluent in Spanish, has a working knowledge of French, and enjoys treating patients of all backgrounds. Dr. Blanco is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists.

Franz Jones, DO, is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who is fellowship-trained in interventional spine, sports, and regenerative medicine. He serves patients at his three practices located in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Gables, Florida. 

Currently, he proudly serves as the director of Regenerative Medicine at Comprehensive MD and treats patients who suffer from various musculoskeletal disorders including lower back and neck pain, as well as hip, knee, shoulder, and other joint pain and musculoskeletal problems. 

Dr. Jones completed his Undergraduate studies at South Carolina State University, where he graduated summa cum laude, prior to graduating with his Master’s degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He then went on to complete his medical degree at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency training at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, Illinois, where he proudly served as Chief resident in his final year.

After, he continued to follow his passion for medicine by completing a specialty fellowship in Interventional spine, sports, and regenerative medicine at Southwest Spine and Sports in Scottsdale, Arizona. There, he worked with Dr. Michael Wolff on innovative treatments to help relieve low back pain caused by degenerative disks and arthritis.

Dr. Jones is a proud diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is also a member of the American Academy of Physiatrists, the North American Spine Society, and the Spine Intervention Society. He has been involved in several clinical trials and has authored various case reports and papers. 

Additionally, he mentors medical students and works with various resident physicians and fellows from several programs in South Florida. He is also very active in the community, covering high school football games for several schools throughout Broward County.

His clinical interests include using various injection therapies to help alleviate painful spinal and joint disorders as well as other ligament, tendon, or muscle injuries. He is also very passionate about using regenerative medicine therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate or adipose tissue injections (often referred to as ortho-biologic or stem cell procedures) for healing and recovery.

On a personal note, Dr. Jones enjoys soccer and boxing. He also enjoys camping and outdoor activities and enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

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