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Halena M. Gazelka, M.D.

  1. Anesthesiologist

Location

  1. Rochester, Minnesota

Languages

English

Dr. Gazelka practices Pain Medicine and Palliative Medicine in Rochester, MN. She treats patients in the Pain Clinic and performs a wide array of interventional procedures related to pain. In the hospital setting, Dr. Gazelka sees patients in consultation for both the Pain Medicine Service and the Palliative Medicine Service.

She served for multiple years as a Mayo Clinic Associate Hospice Medical Director.

Dr. Gazelka particularly enjoys and is active in education of medical students, residents, and fellows as well as Co-Directing the annual Mayo Clinic Opioid Conference.

Dr. Gazelka chairs the Mayo Clinic Enterprise Opioid Stewardship Program and speaks and works nationally on opioid related topics. Much of her research is focused on opioids and their management. She has served on the HHS Pain Management Task Force and currently serves on the Minnesota Opioid Epidemic Response Team.

She enjoys her role as the Medical Director for the Department of Public Affairs and serves on the Mayo Clinic Executive Operations Team.

  1. Back pain
  2. Chronic pain
  3. Pain NOS
  1. Ablation
  2. Cancer treatment
  3. Celiac plexus block
  4. Epidural blood patch
  5. Epidural steroid injection
  6. Fluoroscopy
  7. Fluoroscopy-guided biopsy
  8. Hospice care
  9. Injection
  10. Joint injection
  11. Lumbar sympathetic block
  12. Medial branch block
  13. Pain management
  14. Palliative care
  15. Radiofrequency ablation
  16. Radiofrequency neurotomy
  17. Spinal injection
  18. Spine procedure
  19. Stellate ganglion block
  20. Sympathetic nerve block
  21. Trigger point injection
  • Comprehensive pain management
  • Cancer pain management
  • Palliative medicine
  • Hospice medicine
  • Clinical ethics
  • Management of spine pain
  • Acute and chronic pain management
  • Interventional pain management
  • Neuromodulation
  • Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation
  • Intrathecal drug delivery system implantation and management
  • Opioid Stewardship
  1. 2015
    FellowPalliative Medicine Fellowship Program, Mayo School of Graduated Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Enterprise
  2. 2015
    FellowHospice & Palliative Care Medi, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  3. 2011
    ResidentPain Medicine, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  4. 2011
    FellowPain Medicine Fellowship Program, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  5. 2010
    ResidentAnesthesiology Residency Program, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  6. 2010
    ResidentAnesthesiology, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  7. 2006
    MDUniversity of Minnesota Medical School
  8. 1998
    BS - BS in Physician Assistant StudiesUniversity of Wisconsin
  9. 1996
    BS - BS in cell and Molecular biology and minor in biochemistryWinona State University

Certifications

  1. 2016
    Hospice & Palliative MedicineAmerican Board of Anesthesiology
  2. 2013
    Pain MedicineAmerican Board of Anesthesiology
  3. 2011
    AnesthesiologyAmerican Board of Anesthesiology

Awards and honors

  1. 2021
    2020 National Health Information Award of MeritNational Health Information Awards
  2. 2020
    National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Midwest Emmy Award for "The Opioid Fix, Epidsode 1" DocuseriesNational Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
  3. 2020
    Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Award: Outstanding Innovation in Service Systems Engineering Award - First PlaceInstitute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
  4. 2020
    Charles Kuntz Scholar Award: "Impact of Opioid Prescribing Guidelines on Postoperative Narcotic Prescriptions Following Elective Spine Surgery"American Association of Neurological Surgeons
  5. 2020
    Outstanding Digital EducationMayo School of Continuous Professional Development, Department of Education Administration
  6. 2018
    Excellence Award for Quality & Safety and Patient-centered Care for The Mayo Clinic’s approach to reviewing and improving opioid prescribing practices for surgical patientsInternational Hospital Federation
  7. 2018
    The Chitranjan S. Ranawat, MD AwardKnee Society
  8. 2012
    Anesthesiology Resident to Consultant Excellence in Teaching AwardMayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  9. 2012
    Commitment to Education AwardDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  10. 2009
    Educational Scholarship, Resident Section Committee Member-At-LargeAmerican Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Professional memberships

  1. 2022 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Customer Service (CX) Executive Sponsor Team
  2. 2022 - present
    Interim Chief Communications OfficerMayo Clinic Executive Operations Team, Mayo Clinic Committees, Mayo Clinic
  3. 2022 - present
    Interim Chief Communications Officer, ex-officio participantMidwest Executive Operations Team
  4. 2022 - present
    Interim Chief Communications Officer, memberPeople and Culture Committee, Mayo Clinic Board of Governors, Mayo Clinic Committees
  5. 2021 - present
    ChairMedication Diversion Prevention Subcommittee - Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Clinical Practice Committee, Mayo Clinic Committees
  6. 2020 - present
    MemberAssociation of University Anesthesiologists
  7. 2020 - present
    BloggerMayo Clinic Social Media Influencer Program (MCSMIP)
  8. 2020 - present
    HostMayo Clinic Q and A Podcast
  9. 2020 - 2021
    2021 Annual Meeting Co-ChairProgram Committee, American Academy of Pain Medicine
  10. 2020 - present
    Board of DirectorsAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine
  11. 2020 - present
    Co-ChairAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine 2021 Annual Meeting Program Committee
  12. 2019 - 2022
    Subcommittee MemberMayo Clinic Marketing Committee, Mayo Clinic Committees
  13. 2019 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Executive Operations Team, Mayo Clinic Committees, Mayo Clinic
  14. 2019 - present
    MemberDiversity & Inclusion Committee
  15. 2019 - present
    Medical Director, Communications DepartmentMayo Clinic Executive Operations Team, Mayo Clinic Committees, Mayo Clinic
  16. 2019 - present
    ChairQuality Management Services, Administration
  17. 2019 - 2022
    Member representing the MN Medical AssociationMN Opioid Epidemic Advisory Council
  18. 2019 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
  19. 2019 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Pharmaceutical Formulary Committee
  20. 2018 - present
    Member, Nominating CommitteeAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine
  21. 2018 - 2022
    MemberAmerican Academty of Pain Medicine Nominating Committee
  22. 2018 - 2019
    MemberU.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  23. 2018 - present
    Co-ChairAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine Opioid Task Force
  24. 2017 - present
    MemberHospice Medical Directors Certification Board
  25. 2017 - 2022
    MemberPalliative Medicine Fellow Selection Committee
  26. 2017
    JudgeMidwest Anesthesia Residents Conference
  27. 2017 - 2021
    ChairAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine, Opioid Advisory Committee
  28. 2017 - present
    MemberInstitute for Clinical Systems Improvement Opioid Task Force
  29. 2017 - present
    MemberPain Medicine Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  30. 2017 - 2022
    Member, and Mayo Clinic representativeInstitute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) Opioid Task Force
  31. 2016 - present
    MemberAccreditation and Regulatory Operations Workgroup, Mayo Clinic Rochester Workgroups
  32. 2016 - present
    MemberSafety and Quality Forum, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  33. 2016 - present
    MemberEmployee and Community Health, Controlled Substance Advisory Group
  34. 2016
    JudgeMidwest Anesthesia Residents Conference
  35. 2016 - 2019
    ChairMayo Clinic Clinical Practice Committee Opioid Stewardship Program
  36. 2016 - 2019
    MemberNorth American Neuromodulation Society, Website Committee
  37. 2016 - 2018
    Co-ChairInternational Neuromodulation Society Women in Neuromodulation
  38. 2016 - 2017
    SecretaryWomen in Neuromodulation(WIN) Committee, North American Neuromodulation Society
  39. 2016
    MemberPCA Crisis Work Group
  40. 2016 - present
    MemberAnesthesia Clinical Practice Committee, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  41. 2015 - 2018
    Vice PresidentNorth American Neuromodulation Society Women in Neuromodulation Section
  42. 2015 - 2020
    Medical DirectorMayo Clinic Hospice
  43. 2015 - 2017
    MemberClinical Ethics Consult Service
  44. 2015 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Midwest Specialty Ethics Committ
  45. 2015 - present
    MemberPalliative Medicine Education Committee
  46. 2015 - 2017
    MemberInternational Neuromodulation Society (INS)
  47. 2015
    Vice ChairNorth American Neuromodulation Society, Women in Neuromodulation Section, Education
  48. 2015 - present
    MemberCancer Pain Research Consortium
  49. 2015 - present
    MemberAmerican Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  50. 2014
    Vice ChairExercise Booth Committee, North American Spine Society
  51. 2014
    ParticipantAmerican Board of Anesthesiology, ABA Standard Setting for BASIC Exam
  52. 2014 - present
    MemberRochester Ethics Committee
  53. 2013 - present
    RepresentativeInpatient Pain Service, Multidisciplinary Pain Workgroup, Division of Pain Medicine
  54. 2013 - present
    Member, Ethics CommitteeAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine
  55. 2013 - present
    MemberAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine Ethics Committee
  56. 2013 - 2017
    RepresentativeAnesthesiology/Pain Management, Spine Manage to Reimbursement (MTR) Project, Spine Clinic
  57. 2013 - 2019
    DirectorInpatient Pain Medicine Services, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  58. 2012 - 2013
    MemberAbstract Review Committee, NASS Summer Spine Meeting 2013, North American Spine Society
  59. 2012 - 2013
    MemberAbstract Review Committee, NASS 28th Annual Meeting Section-Injections and Interventions, North American Spine Society
  60. 2012 - 2013
    MemberAbstract Review Subcommittee on Chronic Pain and Cancer Pain, American Society of Anesthesiologists
  61. 2012 - 2015
    DirectorNP/PA Program, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  62. 2012 - 2022
    MemberNorth American Neuromodulation Society
  63. 2012 - 2014
    MemberExercise Committee, North American Spine Society
  64. 2011 - present
    MemberDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  65. 2011 - present
    MemberDivision of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  66. 2011 - present
    ExaminerResident Oral Exam Simulation, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  67. 2011 - 2015
    MemberSelection Committee for Pain Medicine Fellowship, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  68. 2011 - 2015
    MemberNorth American Spine Society
  69. 2010 - present
    MemberAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine
  70. 2009 - 2019
    MemberSociety for Education in Anesthesia
  71. 2009 - present
    MemberInternational Association for the Study of Pain
  72. 2007 - present
    MemberAmerican Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
  73. 2006 - present
    MemberMayo Fellows Association, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
  74. 2005 - present
    MemberAmerican Society of Anesthesiologists
  75. 2005 - present
    MemberMinnesota Society of Anesthesiologists
  76. 2004 - present
    MemberWomen in Neuromodulation(WIN) Committee, North American Neuromodulation Society
  77. 2002 - present
    MemberAmerican Medical Association
  78. 2002 - present
    MemberMinnesota Medical Association
  79. 2002 - present
    MemberZumbro Valley Medical Society, Minnesota Medical Association

Publications

Research activities

See a description of research activities.