Thomas Pontinen, MD, LCP-C
Co-Founder/Physician
Dr. Thomas Pontinen is a double-board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine specialist and co-founder of MAPS Centers for Pain Control, the largest private pain management practice in Illinois. He completed residency training in anesthesiology and fellowship training in interventional pain medicine and also trained as a resident in general surgery, giving him a strong procedural foundation for advanced interventional pain treatments. Dr. Pontinen has been in clinical practice since 2014, when he founded MAPS.
Dr. Pontinen has authored peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed to textbook chapters, and presented at international conferences in the fields of surgery, anesthesiology, and pain medicine. His research on chronic wound pain has been featured in Pain Medicine News, a leading publication for pain medicine professionals. He has also received recognition from organizations including U.S. News & World Report and WebMD as a top physician in his field.
Dr. Pontinen is passionate about helping patients with complex pain conditions regain function and return to the activities they enjoy. His approach to pain management focuses on comprehensive, individualized care that integrates multiple treatment modalities with advanced minimally invasive procedures.
Dr. Pontinen also holds the Life Care Planning–Certified (LCP-C) credential and the Certified Health Professional Life Care Planner (CHLCP) credential, which provide specialized training in evaluating patients with serious injuries and projecting future medical needs.
Outside of his clinical work, Dr. Pontinen volunteers with international humanitarian medical organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), providing medical care in underserved regions of the world. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding, mountaineering, skydiving, scuba diving, motorcycling, and playing drums.
Media & Publications
Dr. Pontinen has been cited as a medical expert in more than 100 national and international publications discussing pain management, medication safety, sleep health, and musculoskeletal conditions.
His expert commentary has appeared in publications including:
- Forbes
- Yahoo Lifestyle
- MSN
- Verywell Health
- Health.com
- EatingWell
- GQ
- Best Life
- U.S. News / Money
- Authority Magazine
- First for Women
- Woman’s World
- Sleepopolis
- HelpGuide
- The Strategist (New York Magazine)
These publications frequently feature Dr. Pontinen’s insights on topics such as chronic pain treatment, medication safety, sleep and spinal health, and minimally invasive pain management techniques.
View Dr. Thomas Pontinen’s WebMD profile:
WHAT SETS US APART
Our Level of Dedication And Excellent Patient Advocacy
At Centers for Pain Control,
Our Patients Are Our Priority
WHAT SETS US APART
Our Level of Dedication And Excellent Patient Advocacy That Our Patients Have Come to Know and Expect
At MAPS, Our Patients Are Our Priority
Recognition and acknowledgment – What sets us apart from other clinics is our level of dedication and excellent patient advocacy that our patients have come to know and expect. We work with most major insurances (including Medicaid) and have processes in place that expedite paperwork – meaning we have more time to dedicate in person when assessing and treating our patients.
We Are Here For You – Let Us Help Relieve Your Pain Today
Whether a patient has already received knee replacement surgery, has tried another treatment method, or simply has been suffering for years without any relief, our double-board certified and fellowship-trained physicians are uniquely positioned to treat your knee pain with a world-class level of excellence.
With 7 convenient locations, our team is ready to help you take your first step towards a pain-free life. Schedule your consultation now.
773-917-8400
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