Headshot of Dr. Nok.

Dr. Nok Shares Most Rewarding Part of His Job: Medical Staff Spotlight

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Alliance Spine and Pain Centers provides life-changing pain relief. Our best-in-class physicians help our patients live fuller, more functional, and fulfilling lives.

We believe Alliance is truly the “future of pain relief” because of the excellence, expertise, and dedication of our staff. This series is intended to give our patients a glimpse into the lives of these exceptional people. Keep reading to learn about Alliance physician Dr. Nok Keomahathai.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF PAIN MANAGEMENT?

My interest in neuroscience and musculoskeletal care led me naturally to pain management.

WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

 

I love seeing someone’s pain reduced after an injection or surgery. When they report on an improved function on a daily basis, I feel really fulfilled. Other things I find fulfilling are decreasing a patient’s dependency on pain medication and improving their mental alertness.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE HOPING TO WORK IN YOUR FIELD?

I would encourage them to be open-minded about different treatment options and to stay abreast of advancements in medications, injections, and surgeries. There’s no one tool to help treat the complexity of pain patients!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PAST-TIMES?

I enjoy listening to and playing music, golfing with friends, and attending sporting events. I especially enjoy the weekends with family and friends.

If you or a loved one are having issues with pain management, the experts at Alliance Spine and Pain are here to help you get back to what you love. Give us a call at 770-929-9033 or click here to schedule an appointment.

Photo of Dr. Nok golfing.

Photo of Dr. Nok at a concert.

Photo of Dr. Nok Traveling.

Photo of Dr. Nok golfing.

Dr. Gale (headshot) featured in The Daily Tribune News

Dr. Gale Featured in the Daily Tribune News

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On July 25, 2020, The Daily Tribune News featured Dr. David W. Gale as their “Bartow Bio,” highlighting his recent honor of being selected one of Atlanta magazine’s Top Docs.  

Dr. Gale practices out of Alliance’s Cartersville and Marietta locations. As Bartow County’s only daily newspaper, the feature in The Daily Tribune News shared with the local community Dr. Gale’s professional background and accomplishments. Dr. Gale is one of four Alliance physicians to receive this honor for the publication in 2020. He has been awarded the Top Doctors recognition in previous years.

Read  The Daily Tribune News “Bartow Bio” on Dr. Gale to learn more. 

Photo of Dr. Patterson with Vertiflex.

Dr. Patterson is Now Providing Vertiflex Procedure in Camp Creek

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Congratulations to Dr. Pickens Patterson for being the first physician in the Camp Creek area to offer Vertiflex for patients with chronic low back pain.  Vertiflex is a minimally invasive FDA approved procedure for patients living with pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis. Learn more about the Vertiflex procedure here. 

Alliance is proud of Dr. Patterson and his team for bringing new hope and real relief to our patients in the Camp Creek community. With innovative interventional pain treatments, our best-in-class physicians are leading the way to the future of pain relief.

Medical Staff Spotlight: Dr. David Gale (headshot)

Dr. Gale Explains What 20+ Years of Alliance Service Looks Like: Medical Staff Spotlight

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Alliance Spine and Pain Centers provides life-changing pain relief. Our best-in-class physicians help our patients live fuller, more functional, and fulfilling lives.

We believe Alliance is truly the “future of pain relief” because of the excellence, expertise, and dedication of our staff. This series is intended to give our patients a glimpse into the lives of these exceptional people. Keep reading to learn about Alliance physician Dr. David Gale.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING FOR ALLIANCE SPINE AND PAIN CENTERS, AND WHAT LED YOU TO THIS LINE OF WORK? 

20+ years. After medical school, I spent five years traveling the world in the US Air Force. I began my residency in anesthesiology afterwards. Pain medicine was in its infancy as a medical specialty during that time. Typically, it was taught through anesthesiology.  Once I spent a few months learning some of the tricks, I was hooked. I then spent an additional 12 months in a specialized pain management fellowship at the University of Texas before moving to Georgia.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF PAIN MANAGEMENT?

When I first chose to specialize in pain management, it was a very underserved population. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the growth of this wonderful specialty. 

WHAT ARE THE KEY CHALLENGES OF THIS FIELD OF MEDICINE?

Initially, back pain is simply treated with time, rest, and some basic therapy. Sounds simple, right? Our challenge is when people aren’t better after 6-8 weeks. We need to dig deep and find out which of the many structures are involved with their current pain issues. 

WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

As physicians, we all go into this field with the idea of helping people. After 20 years, I know I cannot help everyone. For those I am able to help and for those who do get at least 50 percent of improvement in their existing pain, I share in some of their joy. My partner, Dr. Nok, and I truly understand how important it is to help someone who is recovering from pain after an injury or pain from our body’s natural aging process. As today’s population is living longer, it is important to treat our patients’ pain to allow them to maintain their independence. We help them be more productive at home and provide for their families.

In addition, most doctors don’t fully understand the details involved in back pain. However, we specialize in this issue and can offer solutions for the vast majority of the patients we see. 

WHAT DOES YOUR DAILY ROUTINE LOOK LIKE?

I spend half of my day seeing new patients and follow up visits. The other half of my day I perform highly specialized injection procedures in our Ambulatory Surgery Center in order to treat my patient’s pain problems. 

WHAT ARE SOME MOMENTS THAT HAVE STOOD OUT FROM YOUR WORK? 

I love when happy patients share some of their homegrown tomatoes or bring in a German chocolate cake!

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST PROFESSIONAL AND/OR PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT? 

I flew over 200 missions with high-performance aircraft (mainly F-16’s) during my time as a US Air Force flight surgeon. While most of it was during peacetime, the values that were instilled will continue to be carried with me for the rest of my life.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU LEARNED YOU WERE CONSIDERED ONE OF CASTLE CONNOLLY’S TOP DOCTORS AND WAS GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED IN ATLANTA MAGAZINE’S JULY ISSUE?

Honestly, I blushed at first. Knowing that this honor came from votes from my fellow physicians is very special to me.

IF YOU WERE NOT IN YOUR LINE OF WORK, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? 

My undergraduate degree at Purdue University was biomedical engineering. During my senior year, I was involved in some very basic, early research that ultimately has grown into implantable cardiac defibrillator units (AICD) that many patients walk around with today. So most likely, it would be in that field. I really wanted to be a center fielder for the Braves. However, I was not fast enough and could not hit a curveball for the life of me. 

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?

Never let someone else be the judge of your own self-worth.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PAST-TIMES?

I spent 13 years in the US Air Force. Therefore, I thoroughly enjoy reading any Military history or “Black Ops” novels. I also love to cook steaks on the grill and follow my Falcons—Rise Up!!

If you or a loved one are having issues with pain management, the experts at Alliance Spine and Pain are here to help you get back to what you love. Give us a call at 770-929-9033 or click here to schedule an appointment. 

Medical Staff Spotlight: Dr. Preeti Narayan (headshot)

Dr. Narayan Shares What She Loves About Working at Alliance: Medical Staff Spotlight

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Alliance Spine and Pain Centers provides life-changing pain relief. Our best-in-class physicians help our patients live fuller, more functional, and fulfilling lives.

We believe Alliance is truly the “future of pain relief” because of the excellence, expertise, and dedication of our staff. This series is intended to give our patients a glimpse into the lives of these exceptional people. Keep reading to learn about Alliance physician Dr. Preeti Narayan.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF PAIN MANAGEMENT?

Many people are living in pain, because they haven’t received the level of care they deserve. I want to fix their pain, which is exactly why I decided to come into this field. Through medically monitored pain management, minimally invasive surgery, and several wellness solutions, we can help patients manage their pain so that they can start living! How awesome is that?

WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

Living with pain is hard. The most rewarding part of my job is when my patient tells me they are able to do things now that they were unable to do earlier because of their pain. I have patients who have started sleeping better, improved their relationships with their family and friends, started playing with their grandchildren, and returned to work to provide for their families. The list is endless.

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT HAS SURPRISED YOU ABOUT WORKING AT ALLIANCE SPINE AND PAIN?

We believe in treating the patient as a whole and not just their pain. We work with each patient on an individual basis and treat everyone as if they were our own family members.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PAST-TIMES?

I enjoy cooking, spending time with my husband and children, and traveling. I also practice yoga and meditation every day. I believe a healthy mind lives in a healthy body.

If you or a loved one are having issues with pain management, the experts at Alliance Spine and Pain are here to help you get back to what you love. Give us a call at 770-929-9033 or click here to schedule an appointment.