Faculty Biographies

Abram Burgher, MD

Dr. Burgher was born in Minneapolis and spent much of his childhood in Duluth, Minnesota. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Minnesota, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor of science and with AOA honors in medical school. He went on to complete residency in anesthesiology and specialty training in pain management at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Burgher believes strongly that good doctors continue to seek out new opportunities to learn even after advanced training and that the best teachers are patients.

Dr. Burgher is actively involved in clinical research to improve safety and quality of care for patients with chronic non-cancer pain or cancer pain. He has been the lead author of numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and a co-lead investigator of a human clinical trial funded through support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His current main research interests are focused on investigating the use of implanted pain therapy devices to improve function of patients with peripheral nerve pain and survival of patients with certain cancers.

Having provided care to underserved populations in foreign countries, Dr. Burgher understands the value of the doctor-patient relationship. He has delivered health care in Central America while assisting a non-governmental organization based in the United States to develop a small primary care network. He has also provided anesthesia at a major hospital in Mexico City to further his clinical skills, learn the culture and language and help develop an educational partnership with Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Burgher’s interests outside of clinical care of patients at CPSC include skiing, SCUBA diving, travel, bicycling, camping and hiking with his wife and puppy, and spending time with his family.

Allen W. Burton

Dr. Allen W. Burton is the Chairman of the Department of Pain Medicine and Professor of Pain Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in Houston TX, where he has practiced and led the pain program since 2000. He is the Immediate Past-President of the Texas Pain Society and is an active member of numerous pain societies, including serving on the several boards, scientific boards, and editorial boards.  Dr. Burton obtained his Bachelor of Science at the University of Notre Dame, Medical Doctorate at Baylor College of Medicine, and completed anesthesiology residency at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School serving as the Chief Resident.  He is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiologists, with subspecialty certification in Pain Management.  He is also board certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine, in addition to being a Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice from the World Institute of Pain. Dr Burton has trained more than 25 fellows in pain medicine, lectured and presented at numerous national and international meetings.  He has written 2 textbooks and has numerous peer-reviewed publications in pain medicine.  Dr Burton has received numerous awards for teaching and research including the B.Braun/American Society of Regional Anesthesiology Fellow in Pain Management research award.  His practice includes the use of pharmacologic and interventional pain management techniques such as neuromodulation, neurolytic blocks, vertebro- and kyphoplasty.  Dr Burton holds 4 US patents and recently co-founded an early stage start-up pharmaceutical  company. Dr Burton lives in Houston, Texas with his wife of many years and three sons.  

Dr. Burton would like to make the following disclosures:  He has a research grant from Medtronic, Inc and is a consultant for te Al Mann Foundation and Boston Scientific.  Dr. Burton would also like to disclose that he receives royalties and has stock ownership in Vapogenix, Inc.

Keri L. Fakata Kasun, PharmD

Dr Fakata received her doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and completed her general pharmacy practice residency and pain management and palliative care post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Utah. After her fellowship she joined a private practice, Lifetree Pain Clinic and Clinical Research where she provided include comprehensive medication evaluations with the goal of providing cost-effective drug therapy for pain. This includes screening for drug-drug interactions and managing drug-related side effects. She specialized as well in intrathecal drug delivery in this practice. An experienced clinical researcher, Dr. Fakata partnered with the clinic’s other physicians to provide patients access to investigational treatments for pain. Dr Fakata joined on with Elan Pharmaceuticals in 2007 and has transitioned with the ziconotide intrathecal therapy medical and sales team to Azur Pharmaceuticals INC. Here she serves as a Senior Medical Science Liaison to educate physician and company the best practices of delivering ziconotide intrathecal therapy.

Dr. Luis L. Gonzalez, Jr., M.D., FACP, FAAHPM

Dr. Luis L. Gonzalez, Jr., M.D., FACP, FAAHPM, CMD is board certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and has added qualifications in Geriatrics.  He is certified as a medical director for Long Term Care by the American Medical Directors Association.  He has fellowship status with the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  He attended medical school at the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine (1978-1982) and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas (1982-1985).  He is a national medical director for Odyssey HealthCare as well as the medical director for the Phoenix Odyssey hospice program.  He has practiced office medicine, home care, hospital, assisted living and nursing home care since he moved to Phoenix in 1985.  Since 2000 his practice has concentrated on hospice, palliative care and geriatrics.  Presently, he is the medical director for four nursing facilities, Arizona Grand, Grace Healthcare, Vi at Silverstone and the Vi at Grayhawk.  He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Medical Directors Association and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine professional organizations. 

Dr. Gonzalez would like to disclose that he is employed as the Medical Director for Odyssey HealthCare and Odyssey Hospice.  He has no other relevant disclosures.

Michael Gordon

Michael S. Gordon, M.D., a medical oncologist, is currently President and CEO of Pinnacle Oncology Hematology. Dr. Gordon is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and is actively engaged in the education of medical students. Dr. Gordon’s principle interests have been in the development of new cancer therapies with a focus on targeted therapies as well as drugs that affect angiogenesis (tumor blood vessel supply). His disease focuses include kidney cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and ovarian cancer.

Dr. Gordon received his B.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Sophie Davis School for Biomedical Education at the City College of New York and his M.D. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine. Following his graduation from medical school Dr. Gordon performed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics from 1985 through 1988. After completing his fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 1991 he accepted a position at the Indiana University School of Medicine as a faculty member in the Section of Hematology/Oncology. During nine years on the faculty at Indiana University, Dr. Gordon played integral roles in the development of the Indiana University Cancer Center’s Biologics and Developmental Therapeutics Program, the Leukemia Program, Clinical Research Office, and the Scientific Review Committee.

In 2000 Dr. Gordon re-located to Phoenix to become the Associate Dean for Research for the Phoenix Campus of the University of Arizona College of Medicine and subsequently founded the Arizona Cancer Center’s Drug Development Program in Scottsdale. Dr. Gordon led the Arizona Cancer Center’s activities in the greater Phoenix area until November 2005 when the Drug Development Program was converted to Pinnacle Oncology Hematology as a free-standing research practice.

Dr. Gordon’s hobbies include running and cycling.

Marc A. Huntoon, MD

Dr. Huntoon is a native of Michigan, where he attended the Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine in Detroit.  After his internship at the Detroit WSU Medical Center, he entered the United States Navy to begin fulfilling the terms of the Armed Forces Health Profession Scholarship Program. He was initially stationed at the Admiral Joel T Boone Medical Clinic in Norfolk, Va as a general medical officer in 1986, and later functioned from 1987-1988 as the Head of the Urgent Care Clinic, Director of the Ambulance Response Team and Mass Casualty program. In 1988, Dr. Huntoon began his Anesthesiology training at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, and was honored as the Outstanding Graduate Resident in 1991. While in the Navy, Dr. Huntoon did pain research and advanced training at Wake Forest University, working with Dr. James Eisenach studying the novel epidural administration of clonidine as an analgesic. Dr. Huntoon subsequently became the first pain fellow to ever train in the Navy from 1991-1992. After leaving the Navy, Dr. Huntoon joined the Medical College of Ohio (University of Toledo) as Pain Medicine Division Chair from 1993-1997, and served as Chairman and Program Director of Anesthesiology from 1997-2001. In 2001, Dr. Huntoon left Toledo to become Chairman of the Division of Pain Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN through 2008. Since he stepped down as division chairman, he has focused on his research in novel spinal biologic therapies and peripheral neuromodulation, while continuing to mentor younger members of his division.

He served as the President of the Association of Pain Program Directors between 2007-2009, and is the Chairman of the Education Committee and on the Board of Directors at ASRA. Dr. Huntoon was promoted to the academic rank of Professor in 2009. His major clinical and educational interests are in neuromodulation, particularly peripheral nerve stimulation, novel pharmaceutical therapies for pain, cancer pain/palliative care, anatomy, neurological imaging, and complications. He has published and lectured extensively on these topics for several years.

Jennifer Kiser

Ms. Kiser was born in San Antonio. She received an undergraduate degree at University of Texas, Southwestern and completed the physician assistant program at the same institution in 1991. She has practiced in a pain management setting since 1997 and with Dr. Lisa Stearns since 2002. Jennifer is currently a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). Jennifer is asked to lecture locally and at national meetings in the field of pain management. She has been a featured speaker at the Cancer Pain College, an educational conference sponsored by CPSC and directed by Dr. Lisa Stearns. In addition to her clinical responsibilities under the direction of a physician at CPSC, Ms. Kiser assists in identifying and following research participants and has been a co-author of articles on intrathecal drug delivery for patients with cancer-related pain. Ms. Kiser brings unique insight, experience and expertise along with compassion for those suffering the debilitating effects of pain. Her contributions to the well being of those she cares for include superb communication skills and a concern that each patient receives the utmost in care and comfort.

Stephen Laddy, RPh

Mr. Laddy earned his BA in 1966 and MS in 1969 from Rutgers University.  He earned his BS in Pharmacy in 1969 from Rutgers College of Pharmacy and is a registered pharmacist licensed in New Jersey, New York, Florida and Kentucky and a Doctor of Pharmacy in Tennessee, Oregon and Virginia.  Mr. Laddy has owned and managed successful retail, institutional and IV pharmacies in New Jersey and New York.

Mr. Laddy has extensive experience in Compounding Pharmacy, IV and Aseptic Process, drug delivery systems and delivery or patient care.  He now serves as CEO of MasterPharm, LLC, a national provider of special compounded prescription drugs and CEO of MegaPharma, LLC a research and development firm serving the pharmaceutical industry.

Mr. Laddy would like to make the following disclosures:  he is employed by MasterPharm, LLC.

Gail McGlothlen, RN-C, MS, CNS

Gail McGlothlen is a Clinical Nurse Specialist with a Master of Science degree from the UC San Francisco where she studied under Christine Miaskowksi. She has been a nurse for over 20 years, participated in Pain Management for more than 10 years. Gail is one of the founding members of PainCAP.

Gail would like to make the following disclosures:  she is on the speaker bureau for Azur Pharmaceuticals, Millennium Labs and Medtronic.

 

 

 

Jeffrey Peterson

Jeffrey Peterson is the Chief Operating Officer of the Center for Pain Relief, Inc.   The Center for Pain Relief, Inc. is the largest Interventional Pain Practice in the state of West Virginia, and, has an international reputation for cutting edge therapies and world class physicians.  Mr. Peterson has 15 years of professional experience, both as a state-wide branch manager for WebMD / Medical Manager Corporation, and as a partner / owner in medical practice management and billing organizations.  Mr. Peterson also serves as the Executive Director for the West Virginia Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (WVSIPP)

Mr. Peterson has been involved in physician education and business programs with St. Jude Medical, hospital corporations, and physician groups since 2001.  Mr. Peterson is an active member of the Medical Group Managers Association, and other professional societies with emphasis on the healthcare industry.  Mr. Peterson is currently serving as contributing editor on two interventional pain textbooks that are scheduled to be published in 2010.

William Rosenberg, MD

Dr. William S. Rosenberg attended medical school at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed neurosurgical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, also located in Boston, in 1993. He is board certified in neurosurgery. Dr. Rosenberg began his career with the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati, Ohio (1994-1998), where he was the Director of Neurotrauma and Neurocritical Care at the University of Cincinnati and specialized in complex spinal surgery. He was then recruited to co-direct the Neurospinal Disorders Program in the Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco from 1998-2002, where he co-founded the Spinal Biomechanics Laboratory at University of California, Berkeley. He has been with Midwest Neurosurgery Associates since 2002.

Dr. Rosenberg is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the North American Spine Society, the Missouri State Medical Society, the Missouri State Neurosurgical Society, the Metropolitan Medical Society and the Kansas City Neurology/Neurosurgery Society. Dr. Rosenberg is Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas. He led the effort to bring CyberKnife radiosurgery to the region and serves as Medical Director of the CyberKnife Center at Menorah Medical Center.

Joyce C. Seelig, LMSW-NY

Ms. Seelig attended Wagner College in Staten Island, NY and received her BS in Socieology in 1973. Thereafter, she received her Master of Social Work in May, 1999 from Adelphi University. Ms. Seelig joined the Scottsdale Healthcare team in 2005 as part of the palliative care team where she focuses on providing psychosocial counseling to individuals and families faced with a life limiting illness. She also has dedicated time to educating hospital staff on end of life care, grief, coping with a life limiting illness. She believes in facilitating end of life discussions, assist with advanced directives, medical power of attorney, and goals of care. Prior to joining the Scottsdale Healthcare team, Ms. Seelig worked with the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and as an oncology Social Worker. She has participated in legislative and advocacy activities with grassroots breast cancer groups. In 2003, she received the North Shore University Hospital Wholeness of Life Award and in 2008 she was awarded the Scottsdale Healthcare Achievement Award for Excellence in Collaborative Practice.

Ms. Seelig has no relevant disclosures.

Lisa Stearns, MD

Dr. Lisa Stearns, Director, Center for Pain and Supportive Care in Scottsdale, Arizona.  She is the founder of the Valley Cancer Pain Foundation which is a not for profit charitable organization dedicated to cancer pain research, community education and patient assistance.  She has also worked closely with Operation Smile in both Kenya and Russia to educate local physicians on pain management topics and provide anesthesia for children with facial deformities and burn scar contractures.

Dr. Stearns is a graduate from the University of Nebraska college of Medicine and received training in anesthesiology and pain management at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City.  Dr. Stearns is nationally recognized as an expert in the treatment of cancer, palliative care and chronic pain.

Dr. Stearns is a consultant, conducts research and/or is on the speakers bureau for the following companies:  Xenome, Pfizer, Azur Pharmaceuticals, Cephalon and Medtronic.

Charles F. von Gunten, MD

Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, FACP is the Provost, Center for Palliative Studies at San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care, a teaching and research affiliate of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, University of San Diego and San Diego State University.

He is also:

He was Co-principal of the Education for Physicians on Palliative and End-of-life Care (EPEC) Project and its revision for oncology, EPEC-Oncology based at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL. He has been particularly interested in the integration of hospice and palliative care into academic medicine. He has published and spoken widely on the subjects of hospice, palliative medicine, and pain and symptom control. Dr. von Gunten received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island in 1978. He earned a PhD in Biochemistry and an MD degree with honors from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Denver, Colorado in 1988. He subsequently pursued residency training in Internal Medicine followed by subspecialty training in Hematology/Oncology at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago. He joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University Medical School until 1999 where he directed programs in hospice and palliative care, education and research. He currently holds the academic rank of Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Diego where he is a member of the NIH-designated Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center and directs the palliative medicine consultation service.

Dr. von Gunten has no relevant disclosures.

Carole Weber, MA, BCC

Carole Weber serves as fulltime Chaplain at the Shea Campus. She is a Board Certified Chaplain with National Assn. of Catholic Chaplains (NACC),   She has an MA Theology, and completed a12-month Residency in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center. Previous positions were at Hospice of the Valley and Banner Desert Samaritan Medical System.

 

 

 

 

Dennis Wipperling, MBA, FACMPE

Dennis Wipperling is the practice administrator for Center for Pain and Supportive Care, located in Scottsdale, Arizona.  He has over 30 years of health care leadership and management experience with large multi-specialty group practices, community hospitals, integrated health systems and an academic medical practice.  Prior to joining Center for Pain and Supportive Care he worked as a practice advisor providing practice consulting services to pain management and other specialty practices.  Dennis is a past chair of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) Midwest Section and a past president of the Minnesota MGMA.  He has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Minnesota and is a Certified Medical Practice Executive and a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives. 

 

 

 

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