OUR MISSION

To lead modern joint and pain treatments away from invasive surgeries and addictive opioids, and into the new frontier of safe and effective non-surgical treatments and stem cell therapies.

OUR STORY

For almost a decade our Chicago based team of double board – certified interventional pain physicians have been developing innovative ways to treat pain, osteoarthritis and chronic pain. In their multiple clinics throughout Chicago, witnessed far too many patients become dependent on opioids after surgery. They decided to create the most effective regenerative therapy treatment options for patients that did not rely on surgery and addictive opioids.

OUR STORY

For more than a decade Dr. Darrel Saldanha, and his Chicago based team of double board – certified interventional pain physicians have been developing innovative ways to treat joint pain, osteoarthritis and chronic pain. In their multiple clinics throughout Chicago, they saw far too many patients become dependent on opioids after surgery. In many cases these patients were coming to their clinics, not to find a solution to their pain, but to shop for pain medications. They knew something had to be done.

They decided to change the paradigm.

If they could work to lessen the number of unnecessary surgeries and encourage more non-invasive treatments for painful joint conditions, the problem of dependence on prescription medications could be reduced. By working to develop truly effective non-surgical protocols, they could give patients a real choice, and a real alternative to surgery.

They decided to change the paradigm.

If they could work to lessen the number of unnecessary surgeries and encourage more non-invasive treatments for painful joint conditions, the problem of dependence on prescription medications could be reduced. The number of unnecessary surgeries could be reduced. By working to develop truly effective non-surgical protocols, they could give patients a real choice, and a real alternative to surgery.

Their vision and years of research have come together under one name. OrthoGen.

MEET OUR DOCTORS

DARREL SALDANHA, MD

THOMAS PONTINEN, MD

ANDREI RAKIC, MD

MARK FARAG, MD

ADARSH SHUKLA, MD

Darrel Saldanha, MD

Dr. Saldanha is a founding member of OrthoGen Clinics. 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.

Thomas Pontinen, MD

Dr. Pontinen is a double-board certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine specialist, and co-founder of OrthoGen Clinics. 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.

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. 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 is able to travel to the most unstable parts of the world, providing medical care to those most in need. He is also an avid snowboarder, mountain climber, and drummer.

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 OrthoGen Clinics. 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. He is also fluent in both Spanish and Serbian, allowing him to treat a diverse patient population effectively. Finally, Dr. Rakic is an avid musician, finishing his undergraduate studies in music at DePaul University in Chicago. He also enjoys cooking and travels often to see his family in Serbia.

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.