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Thomas P. Pittelkow, D.O.

  1. Physiatrist
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Departments

Location

  1. Rochester, Minnesota

Languages

English

Existing patients

Thomas P. Pittelkow, D.O., M.P.H. is a triple-boarded physician in the disciplines of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. His primary specialty interest is cancer pain and advanced interventions for refractory pain syndromes.

His clinical focus includes:

  • Expertise in treating chronic spine and nerve pain with the newest technologies in neuromodulation (spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation and intrathecal targeted drug delivery)
  • Skilled comprehensive management of cancer-associated pain
  • Advocate for aggressive quality focused interventions
  • Competence with advanced management of complex spine pain
  • Proficiency with sonographically-guided interventions for nerve and musculoskeletal pain
  • Innovative strategies to achieve individual functional goals using comprehensive pain treatments

In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Pittelkow is active in education and research, providing direct mentorship to multiple residents and fellows. He has lectured nationally and internationally on the topics of advanced interventions in pain medicine and contributes to the growing field of pain medicine by publishing in scientific medical journals.

Dr. Pittelkow serves as the Associate Program Director of the Mayo Clinic Pain Medicine Fellowship in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.

  1. Arthritis
  2. Cancer-related pain
  3. Chronic pain
  4. Complex regional pain syndrome
  5. Failed back syndrome
  6. Failed total hip replacement
  7. Failed total knee replacement
  8. Nerve irritation
  9. Neuropathic pain syndrome
  10. Neuropathy
  11. Spinal pain
  12. Spinal stenosis
  1. Ablation therapy
  2. Botox injection
  3. Cancer treatment
  4. Celiac plexus block
  5. Dorsal root ganglion stimulator implantation
  6. Epidural blood patch
  7. Epidural steroid injection
  8. Fluoroscopy
  9. Fluoroscopy-guided biopsy
  10. Hospice care
  11. Injection
  12. Intrathecal baclofen pump implantation
  13. Intrathecal morphine pump implantation
  14. Intrathecal pump implantation
  15. Joint injection
  16. Lumbar sympathetic block
  17. Medial branch block
  18. Nerve block
  19. Pain management
  20. Peripheral nerve block
  21. Peripheral nerve stimulation
  22. Radiofrequency ablation
  23. Radiofrequency neurotomy
  24. Spinal cord stimulator insertion
  25. Spinal injection
  26. Spine procedure
  27. Stellate ganglion block
  28. Sympathetic nerve block
  29. Trigger point injection
  30. Ultrasound
  31. Ultrasound-guided cortisone injection
  32. Ultrasound-guided injection

Cancer pain management

  • Advanced interventions
  • Nerve blocks
  • Intrathecal pain pumps

Neuromodulation for the treatment of chronic pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), spine pain and nerve pain syndromes (e.g. neuropathy)

  • Spinal cord stimulation
  • High frequency spinal cord stimulation
  • Dorsal root ganglion stimulation
  • Intrathecal targeted drug delivery

Medical education

  • Communication of complex information
  • Innovation and discovery of new learning techniques
  1. 2016
    FellowHospice & Palliative Care Medicine, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  2. 2015
    FellowPain Medicine, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  3. 2014
    Chief ResidentPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  4. 2014
    ResidentPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  5. 2011
    Residency - Internal Medicine and PediatricsUniversity of Utah School of Medicine
  6. 2009
    MPHDes Moines University, College of Health Sciences
  7. 2009
    Doctor of Osteopathic MedicineDes Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
  8. 2004
    BAUniversity of Minnesota
  9. 2001
    AALawrence University
  10. 2000
    AAUniversity of St. Thomas

Certifications

  1. 2016
    Hospice & Palliative MedicineAmerican Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  2. 2015
    Physical Medicine & RehabilitationAmerican Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  3. 2015
    Pain MedicineAmerican Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Awards and honors

  1. 2014
    G. Keith Stillwell Memorial Award for Outstanding Resident ResearchDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  2. 2013
    Chief Resident, Physical Medicine and RehabilitationDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  3. 2010
    Excellence in Research Writing Award, Best PaperAssociation of Academic Physiatrists
  4. 2008
    Arnold P. Gpold Humanism Honor SocietyDes Moines University
  5. 2006
    Sigma Sigma Phi, National Osteopathic Honor SocietyDes Moines University
  6. 2006
    Kloetsky M.P.H. Scholarship RecipientDes Moines University

Professional memberships

  1. 2023 - 2025
    Question writerAmerican Board of Anesthesiology
  2. 2020 - 2024
    Board ExaminerAmerican Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  3. 2019 - 2025
    Member - Education CommitteeAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine - Education and CME Oversight Committee
  4. 2018 - 2020
    At Large MemberMayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  5. 2018 - present
    FacultyMayo Clinic Cancer Center - Rochester, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
  6. 2017 - 2024
    ChairPain Medicine Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  7. 2017 - 2024
    Chair, Program Education CommitteePain Medicine Fellowship, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  8. 2017 - 2024
    Associate Program DirectorPain Medicine Fellowship, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  9. 2017 - 2024
    Associate DirectorPain Medicine Fellowship Selection Committee, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  10. 2016 - 2017
    MemberPain Medicine Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
  11. 2015 - present
    MemberNorth American Neuromodulation Society (NANS)
  12. 2015 - 2018
    MemberAmerican Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)
  13. 2014 - present
    MemberInternational Neuromodulation Society (INS)
  14. 2013 - 2014
    Chief ResidentMayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Physicial Medicine & Rehabilitation
  15. 2013 - present
    MemberAmerican Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
  16. 2012 - 2014
    MemberMayo Clinic, Physicial Medicine & Rehabilitation, Resident Education Committee
  17. 2012 - 2014
    MemberMayo Clinic, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Morbidity and Adverse Events Committee
  18. 2012 - 2016
    MemberAmerican Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP)
  19. 2012 - present
    MemberAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM)
  20. 2011 - 2016
    MemberMayo Fellows Association
  21. 2011 - present
    MemberAmerican Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  22. 2009 - 2011
    MemberUniversity of Utah, School of Medicine, Internal Medicine & Pediatric Resident Education Committee

Publications