Pain Management Physicians
Interventional Pain Management Providers
Meet Our Paincare Florida Doctors
Welcome to Paincare Florida, where our expert team of doctors is devoted to delivering superior pain management solutions. You’ll be treated by experienced medical professionals who specialize in relieving and managing pain, ensuring each patient receives personalized, compassionate care. Our doctors address a wide range of pain-related conditions, providing relief and enhancing our patients’ well-being.
Ramon "Ray" Alvarez, MD
President
Dr. Alvarez is one of the founding physicians of Paincare Florida. He commenced his medical training with internships at Grady Memorial Hospital and Southwestern Community Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, before completing his anesthesia and pain management residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He was instrumental in establishing Paincare Florida, and has over 28 years of experience treating patients. Dr. Alvarez offers a wide range of pain management services and is well-regarded for his expertise, advanced skills and personalized approach. He is dedicated to relieving pain so his patients can resume a normal life.
Marc I. Levine, MD
CEO and Medical Director
Dr. Marc I. Levine is the medical director of Paincare Florida. He is an accomplished University of Miami School of Medicine graduate. He completed his internship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, NY. Dr. Levine also completed his residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York. With board certifications in Anesthesiology from the American Board of Anesthesiology and Pain Management from the American Board of Pain Medicine, Dr. Levine is an active member of several prestigious medical associations, including the Florida Society of Anesthesiology, the Florida Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Society of Anesthesiology.
Loel Warsch, MD
Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Loel Warsch, double board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine, adopts a comprehensive, multimodal, multidisciplinary approach to treat chronic pain effectively, blending medication with minimally invasive procedures and surgeries. He is known for his compassionate care and for personalizing each treatment plan to align with his patients’ individual goals. Dr. Warsch is particularly interested in neuromodulation techniques, such as spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation, and is a recognized speaker on these subjects locally and nationally. His contributions extend to being a published researcher, an educator to Pain Medicine trainees at the University of Miami, and an active member of several distinguished anesthesiology and pain medicine societies.
Gazelle Aram, MD
Dr. Gazelle Aram is a double board-certified Anesthesiologist and Pain Management Specialist who combines compassionate care with a holistic, wellness-focused approach. A top graduate of Albany Medical College, she completed her residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital and a Pain Management fellowship at UC San Diego. Dr. Aram has served as faculty at top institutions and is recognized as a rising leader in her field. Now practicing at Expert Care Center in Delray Beach, she helps patients achieve lasting relief through advanced, individualized pain management solutions.
Nomen Azeem, MD, FAAPMR
Dr. Nomen Azeem, MD, FAAPMR, is a double board-certified interventional pain physician and a recognized leader in pain management and advocacy. He earned his undergraduate degree from James Madison University and his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. Dr. Azeem completed his internship at MedStar Harbor Hospital Center and his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where he served as chief resident. After joining the Georgetown faculty as a musculoskeletal medicine specialist, he completed an interventional pain fellowship at Temple University Hospital under Dr. Frank J.E. Falco. He has held key leadership roles in New Orleans and later founded Sarasota’s first non-opioid-based interventional pain clinic.
Dr. Azeem continues to contribute to clinical research and serves as President of the Florida Society of Pain & Neuroscience, Chair of Strategic Development for the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience, and as a board member of the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Foundation.
Gregory Benedict, MD
Dr. Gregory Benedict MD, is a double board-certified physician in Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He graduated from The University of Michigan before completing medical school and residency at The University of Toledo, and subsequently completing his Pain Medicine fellowship in Pittsburgh.
He has been successfully treating patients in South Florida since 2020 with a wide-range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for all parts of the body with particular specialties in minimally-invasive spine procedures and regenerative medicine. Dr. Benedict works closely with patients to ensure a clear understanding of their condition and available treatment options including physical therapy, medications, and image-guided interventions. His other contributions include many national and international research publications and has been a recognized speaker at multiple national professional societies.
Kevin Chaitoff, MD
Dr. Kevin Chaitoff, a highly esteemed physician, has been serving Palm Beach County since 1990, with a particular focus on managing acute, chronic, and cancer-related pain. He holds a board certification in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine from the American Board of Anesthesiology and earned his medical degree from Wright State University School of Medicine in 1984. Dr. Chaitoff’s extensive training includes a residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and fellowships in Pediatric and Cardiothoracic Anesthesia at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh & Presbyterian University Hospital, alongside active memberships in several prestigious pain management and anesthesiology societies.
Edward Chen, MD
Dr. Edward Chen, an esteemed physician in pain management, began his academic journey with an undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by research at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He earned his medical degree from Temple University Medical School, then completed his internship and residency in Anesthesiology at The Weill Cornell Medical College/New York Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, where he further specialized in Pain Management at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, serving as Chief Fellow. Now based in Clearwater, Florida, Dr. Chen, who is Board Certified in Anesthesiology with a Sub-specialty in Pain Management and a licensed medical acupuncturist from UCLA School of Medicine, is renowned for his work in interventional chronic pain management, especially in back and cancer pain, and is a respected publisher and international speaker in the pain management sector.
Kelly DeSouza Gaddy, MD
Dr. Kelly DeSouza Gaddy, a double board-certified Interventional Pain Specialist and Anesthesiologist, leads Elite Relief MD in Davie, Florida, where she provides innovative and compassionate care for chronic pain patients. Under her expert guidance, the clinic offers cutting-edge treatments and a holistic approach, tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Elite Relief MD is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients by empowering them with effective pain management solutions in an environment focused on healing and wellness.
Nancy Erickson, DO
Dr. Nancy Erickson, DO, is a board-certified anesthesiologist and board-eligible pain management physician with a distinguished 20-year career in pain management. She obtained her medical degree from the Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in North Miami Beach, Florida. Dr. Erickson completed a comprehensive residency program that included Osteopathic Anesthesia at Allegheny General Hospital, Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and Anesthesiology at Metropolitan Hospital in Pennsylvania. She is an esteemed member of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the American Board of Pain Management.
Demetrios Kaiafas, MD
Dr. Kaiafas, originally from northwest Indiana, completed his undergraduate studies at Indiana University in Bloomington in 1989, graduating with Phi Beta Kappa honors. His medical journey continued at Indiana University Indianapolis, where he graduated in 1993, followed by an internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis and an Anesthesiology Residency at the same university, completed in 1997. After finishing a Pain Management Fellowship at the University of Cincinnati in 1998.
Jay Kuchera, MD, FASAM
Dr. Jay Kuchera, an alumnus of the University of Florida School of Medicine, completed his internship at the University of Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital. He has achieved board certification in Anesthesiology from the American Board of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine from the American Board of Pain Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Kuchera is board-certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Addiction Medicine and maintains active memberships in both the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Society of Anesthesiology, as well as the American Academy of Pain Management.
Hicham Merheb, MD
Dr. Hicham Merheb, MD is an Interventional Pain Medicine specialist serving North Miami Beach, offering advanced, minimally invasive treatments for chronic and complex pain. He is known for his compassionate, personalized approach, creating tailored treatment plans based on each patient’s condition and goals. Fluent in English, French, and Lebanese, Dr. Merheb is committed to serving a diverse community with effective, evidence-based care. He is currently accepting new patients and providing cutting-edge pain management solutions.
Edward Podgorski, III, MD
Dr. Edward M. Podgorski III, MD, is a distinguished interventional pain medicine physician, dual board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine subspecializing in oncology pain management and intrathecal drug delivery. He founded Hawthorne Oncology Pain Experts (HOPE) with the mission to restore quality of life for patients battling cancer-related pain, complex chronic pain, and spasticity. His dedication to alleviating suffering was inspired by patients during his volunteer work at a hospice in Philadelphia, where he witnessed the profound impact of effective pain management on cancer patients.
Humberto L. Porrata, MD
Dr. Humberto L. Porrata, MD, is a highly respected physician with dual board certifications in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. After completing his medical degree, internship, residency, and fellowship in Interventional Pain Management at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York, he has been practicing since 2001. His expertise spans from simple procedures like trigger point injections to complex treatments, including various spinal injections and nerve blocks, and he has successfully treated thousands of patients in Palm Beach County. Dr. Porrata’s commitment to individualized care ensures that each patient receives a tailored treatment plan designed to improve their quality of life.
Javier E. Sanchez, MD
Dr. Sanchez is a board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain management physician with advanced training in diagnosing and treating complex pain conditions. Originally from Puerto Rico, he was raised in a family of engineers and earned his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He went on to earn his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Alan Siegel, MD
Dr. Siegel graduated summa cum laude from Tulane University, where he majored in biology. He earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine. Post-graduate training included surgery at Harvard Medical School and anesthesiology at Emory University, where he received specialty training in pain management plus cardiothoracic and pediatric anesthesia. Dr. Siegel’s approach to treatment includes a thorough assessment of each patient using innovative and evidence-based treatment strategies that offer effective pain relief and improved quality of life.
Wayne Weidenbaum, MD
Dr. Wayne Weidenbaum exhibits a profound interest in advanced interventional pain management techniques, including radiofrequency lesioning, spinal cord stimulation, kyphoplasty, and programmable pump implantation. He is board-certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine and the American Board of Anesthesiologists, having earned his medical degree and completed his residency in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the S.U.N.Y. Health Science Center at Syracuse. Additionally, Dr. Weidenbaum is an active member of various professional organizations, including the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, American Board of Pain Medicine, and American Society of Anesthesiologists, among others.
Matthew C. Voelker D.O.
Andrew Wondra, MD
Andrew Wondra, MD is an interventional pain medicine physician at Wondra Spine & Pain, committed to helping patients reduce pain and restore function through minimally invasive, evidence-based care. He specializes in treating a broad spectrum of pain conditions, including spine-related pain (neck, mid-back, low back), sciatica, facet-mediated pain, joint pain, neuropathic pain, and complex regional pain syndrome. Dr. Wondra works closely with each patient to develop personalized care plans that align with their goals at home, work, and play.
His clinical approach emphasizes accurate diagnosis, movement-based rehabilitation, and careful medication stewardship. Dr. Wondra offers a variety of treatment options, such as fluoroscopy-guided epidural and facet injections, medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablation, ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks, sacroiliac joint procedures, and spinal cord stimulation trials. He collaborates with referring providers—including primary care physicians, surgeons, and therapists—to ensure coordinated, whole-person care.
Dr. Wondra received his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, completed a residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at MedStar Georgetown/National Rehabilitation Hospital, and went on to complete an ACGME-accredited Pain Medicine Fellowship at VCU Health.
Robert Ycaza, MD
Dr. Robert Ycaza is a Board-Certified Anesthesiologist and Interventional Pain Management Specialist committed to advanced pain relief. He trained at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Michigan and completed his Anesthesiology residency at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. With extensive experience in chronic pain management, he utilizes both medication-based therapies and interventional procedures, staying at the forefront of innovative treatments to provide personalized patient care.