David Bandola, MD

Board Certified: Anesthesiology - General, Pain Medicine (subspecialty)

Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Anesthesiology Residency: Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons

Pain Medicine Fellowship: Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons

Dr. Bandola, a native to North Jersey, graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained both degrees in Medicine and Dentistry. He then completed an internship in General Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He received additional training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Campus, where he completed a residency in Anesthesiology and a fellowship in Pain Medicine. During his fellowship, Dr. Bandola was a visiting fellow at the MD Andersen Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, where he was able to expand upon his interventiorial skills and management of pain associated with malignant disease.

Dr. Bandola joined the faculty of the Division of Pain Medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Campus as an Assistant Professor in August of 2008 where he practices all aspects of Pain Medicine. He has a special interest in sports related pain syndromes as well as Interventional Procedures including Kyphoplasty, Intradiscal Procedures, and Implantable Devices and Spinal Cord Stimulators.

Participating Plans

• Aetna (HMO, POS, PPO)
• Aetna CSN (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Cigna (HMO, PPO, POS)
• Cigna CSN (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Empire BCBS (HMO/PPO/EPO/Senior Care)
• Empire BCBS NYPH (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (NYPH Employees Only)
• GHI
• HIP (HMO, POS, Medicare)
• Local 1199 (Welfare Fund)
• Medicare
• Oxford (Commercial, Medicare)
• Tricare United (HMO, POS, PPO)
• United POS (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Workers' Compensation

Anis Dizdarevic, MD

Board Certified: Anesthesiology - General, Pain Medicine (subspecialty)

Medical School: Harvard Medical School

Anesthesiology Residency: Harvard, Brigham & Women's Hospital

Interventional Pain Management Fellowship: Harvard, Brigham & Women's Hospital

Anis Dizdarevic, MD graduated from Hartwick College with a degree in Biochemistry. He then attended Harvard Medical School earning his MD, in June of 2003. He received additional training at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, completing a Residency in Anesthesiology and a Fellowship in Interventional Pain Medicine at the Brigham & Women's, Harvard University.

Dr. Dizdarevic joined the faculty of the Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine at Columbia University in August of 2008 where he is an Assistant Professor. He practices all aspects of Acute and Chronic Pain Medicine. He has a special interest in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Cancer Pain, Neck Pain/Radicular pain/Whiplash injuries, Cervicogenic Headache and Interventional Procedures including Radio- frequency Lesioning, Kyphoplasty, Discography, and Implantable Devices (pain pumps and spinal cord stimulators).

He also performs regional anesthesia in the orthopaedic and associated operating rooms.

Participating Plans:

• Aetna (HMO, POS, PPO)
• Aetna CSN (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Affinity (Medicaid/ Medicare HMO) Amerigroup/HealthPlus (Medicaid HMO)
• Amerigroup/HealthPlus (Medicaid HMO)
• Cigna (HMO, PPO, POS)
• Cigna CSN (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Empire BCBS (HMO/PPO/EPO/Senior Care)
• Empire BCBS NYPH (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (NYPH Employees Only)
• GHI
• Healthfirst (Medicaid/ Medicare HMO)
• HIP (HMO, POS, Medicare)
• Local 1199 (Welfare Fund)
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Medicare Railroad
• Neighborhood (Medicaid HMO)
• Oxford (Commercia" Medicare)
• Tricare
• United (HMO, POS, PPO)
• United POS (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Workers' Compensation

Leena Mathew, MD

Board Certified: Anesthesiology - General, Pain Medicine (subspecialty)

Medical School: Tirunelveli Medical College, Tamil Nadu, India

Anesthesiology Residency: Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons

Pain Medicine Fellowship: Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons

Leena Mathew, MD graduated from M.M. College of Architecture, Pune, India with a degree in Architecture. She attended Tirunelveli Medical College in India, earning her MD, in 1995. Dr. Mathew received additional training at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia Campus where she completed an internship in with the Department of Surgery. This was followed by a Residency in Anesthesiology and a Fellowship in Pain Medicine at the same institution.

Dr. Mathew joined the faculty of the Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine at Columbia University in August of 2003 upon completion of her fellowship training. She is the Associate Program Director for the Pain Medicine Fellowship and holds the academic title of Associate Professor of Anesthesiology. She practices all aspects of Acute and Chronic Pain Medicine. She has a special interest in all aspects of interventional pain medicine in the treatment of cancer and chronic pain including neurolytic procedures, Botox, Ultrasound guided peripheral nerve blockade, radiofrequency and cryoablation as well as implantable therapies. She is also interested in developing comprehensive treatment models for patients with Pelvic pain and headaches.

Dr. Mathew is board certified in: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and is certified in Medical Acupuncture. She also performs regional anesthesia in the orthopaedic operating rooms and is a member of the liver transplantation anesthesia team.

Participating Plans:

• Aetna (HMO, POS, PPO)
• Aetna CSN (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Affinity (Medicaid/ Medicare HMO)
• Amerigroup/HealthPlus (Medicaid HMO)
• Cigna (HMO, PPO, POS)
• Cigna CSN (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Empire BCBS (HMO/PPO/EPO/Senior Care)
• Empire BCBS NYPH (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (NYPH Employees Only)
• GHI
• Healthfirst (Medicaid/ Medicare HMO)
• HIP (HMO, POS, Medicare)
• Local 1199 (Welfare Fund)
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Medicare Railroad
• Neighborhood (Medicaid HMO)
• Oxford (Commercial Medicare)
• Tricare United (HMO, POS, PPO)
• United POS (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Workers' Compensation

Nomita Sonty, M.Phil, Ph.D

Postdoctoral Fellowship:  Pain Management and Behavioral Medicine.  St. Louis University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO.

Graduate Training: Ph.D in Clinical Psychology.  National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India

M.Phil in Medical & Social Psychology. National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India

MA in Applied Psychology.  SIET Women’s College, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India

Nomita Sonty, Ph.D is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialization in Pain Management and Behavioral Medicine.  She joined the faculty of the Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine in 1998, after having spent many years at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington DC.   She is the Associate Administrative Director at the Pain Management Center, the Program Director for the Psychology pain fellowship program and holds the academic title of Associate Clinical Professor.  She is also a member of the core faculty for the Psychology internship program at Columbia University and the ACGME approved Pain Medicine Fellowship. 

Dr. Sonty is experienced in evaluating and treating psychological aspects of many chronic pain conditions including headache disorders.  She performs pre-surgical behavioral evaluations for implantable devices.  She offers individual and couples psychotherapy for those suffering from chronic pain and other chronic medical illnesses.  Her theoretical orientation is CBT.  She is also experienced in using biofeedback for pain disorders. 

Participating Plans:

• Amerigroup/HealthPlus (Medicaid HMO)
• Healthfirst (Medicaid/ Medicare HMO)
• Local 1199 (Welfare Fund)
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Tricare
• Workers' Compensation
  

Michael Weinberger, MD

Board Certified: Anesthesiology - General, Pain Medicine (subspecialty); American Board of Internal Medicine - Internal Medicine

Medical School: Columbia University

Anesthesiology Residency: Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons

Pain Medicine Fellowship: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Dr. Weinberger graduated from Clark University with a BA degree in Biology. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree he attended The College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, earning his MD in 1983. He then completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center. Dr. Weinberger subsequently received training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Campus, where he completed a residency in Anesthesiology. This was followed by a Fellowship in Pain Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Weinberger is the Division Chief of Pain Medicine. He is the Director of the Pain Management Center as well as the Program Director for the Pain Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Weinberger holds the academic title of Associate Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology and has been with the department since 2001. He practices all aspects of Pain Medicine. He has a special interest in the spine, cancer pain, Palliative Medicine and Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

Dr. Weinberger is board certified in: Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Participating Plans:

• Aetna (HMO, POS, PPO)
• Aetna CSN (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Cigna (HMO, PPO, POS)
• Empire BCBS (HMO/PPO/EPO/Senior Care)
• Empire BCBS NYPH (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (NYPH Employees Only)
• GHI
• HIP (HMO, POS, Medicare)
• Local 1199 (Welfare Fund)
• Oxford (Commercial, Medicare)
• United (HMO, POS, PPO)
• United POS (Client-Specific-Network (CSN) (Columbia Employees Only)
• Workers' Compensation