Garrick K. Kwok, M.D., an expert in physical medicine and rehabilitation, has joined the growing OrthoAtlanta team. Dr. Kwok is a fellowship-trained physiatrist who specializes in pain management and non-surgical orthopedic care.
Garrick K. Kwok, M.D. Joins OrthoAtlanta
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“Working together with patients in a holistic and multidisciplinary way leads to finding the best individualized treatment options for chronic, painful conditions, ” cites Dr. Kwok in the April 5, 2016 news release. “Pain management is oftentimes a misunderstood field. I enjoy both the science and art of practicing medicine and making a difference in the lives of my patients.”
According to the news release, areas of his practice “include interventional pain medicine, chronic pain management, and minimally-invasive interventional spine procedures. He is experienced in utilizing fluoroscopically-guided spinal injections, spinal cord stimulator trials, peripheral joint injections, intrathecal pain pump management, chronic opiate management and electro diagnostic studies.”
“Dr. Kwok brings exceptional credentials and training in pain management and care, ” stated Dr. Michael Behr, OrthoAtlanta Medical Director. “His training includes a fellowship with the National Pain Institute in Lady Lake, Florida. He was chief resident during his residency at the prestigious Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, in Wheaton, Illinois, outside of Chicago.”
Dr. Garrick Kwok, who is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine where he also completed a Preliminary Surgery Internship. Professional memberships include the American Medical Association. His research has been published and presented at professional meetings.
Dr. Kwok told OTW, “I am actively meeting with area physicians and local businesses in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia, to let them know about my new practice that is based in the OrthoAtlanta Piedmont office. I look forward to establishing a practice consistent with my philosophy of patient care, that of working one-on-one with patients to find the best individualized pain management treatment options.”
“I am most excited about joining OrthoAtlanta because it is a growing, dynamic, and well-run practice that is situated in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, a city where I grew up in and am proud to be taking care of its residents.”
As for why he chose this field of study, pain management and rehabilitation and physiatry, Dr. Kwok noted, “I enjoy working with patients in a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to find the best individualized treatment options for their chronic painful conditions. My compassion, dedication, and patience towards treating patients with chronic pain are important attributes for effectively practicing pain management, as pain medicine is a challenging and often misunderstood field.”
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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