About Us
Brad Sorosky MD, Susan Sorosky MD, Tima Le DO, Arthur Hatch DO, Puneet Ralhan DO, Brent Page MD, Andrew Minkley MD, and Thai Vu DO of Desert Spine and Sports Physicians are board-certified physiatrists (fiz-ee-a-trists) or rehabilitation physicians who specialize in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). Physiatrists are experts at diagnosing and treating problems affecting the nerves, muscles, and bones. As “physicians of function,” rehabilitation physicians place an emphasis not only on relieving pain but also on restoring maximum function. Physiatrists do this by treating the whole person and not just the problem area. Rehabilitation physicians are also non-surgical specialists, an approach which makes sense because over 90% of orthopedic injuries do not require surgery! Finally preventing recurrent or chronic pain is a major goal for physiatrists who don’t just treat the symptom but treat the “why” behind each patient’s unique presentation.
How Do You Become a Physiatrist?
PM&R is one of the 24 medical specialties certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Physiatrists must complete a four year residency program in PM&R after medical school. Our physicians then went on to complete fellowships in Interventional Spine and Sports Medicine.
How Do Physiatrists Diagnose and Treat?
Physiatrists take the necessary time to accurately pinpoint the source of a problem. Their specific diagnostic tools include a detailed medical history and a complete musculoskeletal and neurological examination. Rehabilitation physicians are also trained in the interpretation of imaging studies such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. Finally, physiatrists perform electrodiagnostic testing (nerve conduction studies and EMG) to help diagnose certain nerve and muscle disorders. Once a correct pain generator is identified, a specific treatment plan can then be developed. This comprehensive program may include individually tailored physical therapy programs, interventional procedures such as fluoroscopically guided spine procedures and ultrasound guided joint and tendon injections, and when necessary, non-opiate medication management.
The Desert Spine and Sports Physicians Philosophy
The medical practitioners and staff at Desert Spine and Sports Physicians are dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of spine, sports, and musculoskeletal pain and injury. We use non-surgical treatments that are focused on the “whole person” and are specific for each patient so that if possible, recurrent or chronic pain can be avoided. Our goal is to relieve pain and maximize function in order to put people back into fully functional lives, often more functional than before. We are dedicated to helping patients stay as active as possible at any age with our comprehensive, compassionate, and innovative medical care.
Our Mission:
DSSP’s mission is to create an environment that empowers each patient to achieve a healthy lifestyle by delivering compassionate, innovative care with proven outcomes that focus on restoring function.
Our Vision:
To become the most trusted provider of interventional spine and MSK services, impacting the lives of millions of patients through our mission.
Our Values:
- We strive to always be a part of the solution.
- We are community providers with a commitment to academic rigor – we call it privademics.
- We actively foster a collegial culture where healthcare professionals are able to grow and thrive.
- We support and encourage our team members and seek to create an environment of trust and transparency.
- We are humble, ethical, and patient-centered in our work serving others.
- We are accountable for our actions and take responsibility for the quality of our work.
- We lead by example by pursuing active healthy lifestyles.