Biographical summary
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.
Conditions treated
Procedures performed
- Ablation therapy
- Botox injection
- Cancer treatment
- Celiac plexus block
- Dorsal root ganglion stimulator implantation
- Epidural blood patch
- Epidural steroid injection
- Fluoroscopy
- Fluoroscopy-guided biopsy
- Hospice care
- Injection
- Intrathecal baclofen pump implantation
- Intrathecal morphine pump implantation
- Intrathecal pump implantation
- Joint injection
- Lumbar sympathetic block
- Medial branch block
- Nerve block
- Pain management
- Peripheral nerve block
- Peripheral nerve stimulation
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Radiofrequency neurotomy
- Spinal cord stimulator insertion
- Spinal injection
- Spine procedure
- Stellate ganglion block
- Sympathetic nerve block
- Trigger point injection
- Ultrasound
- Ultrasound-guided cortisone injection
- Ultrasound-guided injection
Interests
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
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2016
FellowHospice & Palliative Care Medicine, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2015
FellowPain Medicine, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2014
Chief ResidentPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2014
ResidentPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2011
Residency - Internal Medicine and PediatricsUniversity of Utah School of Medicine
- 2009
MPHDes Moines University, College of Health Sciences
- 2009
Doctor of Osteopathic MedicineDes Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
- 2004
BAUniversity of Minnesota
- 2001
AALawrence University
- 2000
AAUniversity of St. Thomas
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2016
Hospice & Palliative MedicineAmerican Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- 2015
Physical Medicine & RehabilitationAmerican Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- 2015
Pain MedicineAmerican Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Awards and honors
- 2014
G. Keith Stillwell Memorial Award for Outstanding Resident ResearchDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- 2013
Chief Resident, Physical Medicine and RehabilitationDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- 2010
Excellence in Research Writing Award, Best PaperAssociation of Academic Physiatrists
- 2008
Arnold P. Gpold Humanism Honor SocietyDes Moines University
- 2006
Sigma Sigma Phi, National Osteopathic Honor SocietyDes Moines University
- 2006
Kloetsky M.P.H. Scholarship RecipientDes Moines University
Professional memberships
- 2023 - 2025
Question writerAmerican Board of Anesthesiology
- 2020 - 2024
Board ExaminerAmerican Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- 2019 - 2025
Member - Education CommitteeAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine - Education and CME Oversight Committee
- 2018 - 2020
At Large MemberMayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
- 2018 - present
FacultyMayo Clinic Cancer Center - Rochester, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
- 2017 - 2024
ChairPain Medicine Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- 2017 - 2024
Chair, Program Education CommitteePain Medicine Fellowship, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- 2017 - 2024
Associate Program DirectorPain Medicine Fellowship, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- 2017 - 2024
Associate DirectorPain Medicine Fellowship Selection Committee, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- 2016 - 2017
MemberPain Medicine Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- 2015 - present
MemberNorth American Neuromodulation Society (NANS)
- 2015 - 2018
MemberAmerican Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)
- 2014 - present
MemberInternational Neuromodulation Society (INS)
- 2013 - 2014
Chief ResidentMayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Physicial Medicine & Rehabilitation
- 2013 - present
MemberAmerican Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
- 2012 - 2014
MemberMayo Clinic, Physicial Medicine & Rehabilitation, Resident Education Committee
- 2012 - 2014
MemberMayo Clinic, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Morbidity and Adverse Events Committee
- 2012 - 2016
MemberAmerican Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP)
- 2012 - present
MemberAmerican Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM)
- 2011 - 2016
MemberMayo Fellows Association
- 2011 - present
MemberAmerican Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- 2009 - 2011
MemberUniversity of Utah, School of Medicine, Internal Medicine & Pediatric Resident Education Committee
Publications