Our Team
DR. THOMAS PONTINEN, MD, LCP-C, CHLCP
PAIN MANAGEMENT & ANESTHESIOLOGY
Dr. Pontinen is a double-board certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine specialist, and co-founder of MAPS Centers For Pain Control. In addition to training under some of the nation’s top experts in anesthesiology and pain medicine, he has also undergone formal training as a resident in general surgery, which allows him to perform the most innovative procedures in pain medicine safely and skillfully. Dr. Pontinen has published multiple journal articles, written textbook chapters, and has presented at international conferences in the fields of surgery, anesthesiology, and pain medicine. His research on chronic wound pain was featured in Pain Medicine News, the nation’s top source of information in the field of pain medicine for healthcare professionals. He has also received multiple awards from organizations such as US News & World report and WebMD as a top provider in his field. Aside from his research, he is a compassionate physician who works daily to help his patients regain their lives and get back to doing the activities they love. He is passionate about treating the most complex pain cases in a comprehensive, integrative, and holistic approach, combining multiple treatment modalities with the most innovative, minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Pontinen completed his Life Care Planning training through FIG Education and holds the credential Life Care Planning– Certified (LCP-C). Dr. Pontinen also volunteers with various international organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, the world’s largest and most important health care related volunteer organization. Through them, he can travel to the most unstable parts of the world, providing medical care to those most in need. He is also an avid snowboarder, mountaineer, skydiver, scuba diver, motorcyclist, and drummer.
DR. DOUGLAS FREIBERGER, MD, CLCP
PAIN MANAGEMENT & ANESTHESIOLOGY
Dr. Douglas Freiberger received his MD at Emory University School of Medicine, and went on to complete a residency in anesthesiology and a fellowship in pain medicine at the same institution. He has board certification in anesthesiology and pain medicine recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr. Freiberger is a former assistant professor and clinic director within the Emory University School of Medicine, and has subsequent private practice experience in both Texas and Georgia. He brings over a decade of experience in interventional spine care. In 2024, Dr. Freiberger obtained his Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP) credential through the International Commission on Health Care Certification (ICHCC).
Pallavi Cherukupally, MD, LCP-C
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation – Regenerative, Interventional Spine and Sports Medicine
Dr. Cherukupally graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1994. She attended Louisiana State University in New Orleans, Louisiana graduating in 1998. Upon graduation, she attended Residency at the University of Chicago in Illinois until 2002 where she then joined the attending staff at the University of Chicago for the next 2 years. After working in the hospital system she then decided to attend a fellowship to further her skills with Interventional Spine and Sports medicine with Portner Orthopedics in Honolulu, Hawaii. She joined Resurgens Orthopedics in 2006 after her fellowship completed to practice Interventional Spine and Sports where she became a partner in the practice in 2 years. After 8 years of a successful traditional practice, she joined Spine Center Atlanta which gave her freedom to expand into Regenerative Medicine. After years of working for other practices, Dr. Cherukupally decided to start her own practice, Regenerative Sport and Spine in Orlando, Florida. After starting the practice and obtaining great success, she sold the practice and works at Regional Medical Group in Atlanta. She has many accolades of Top Doctor in both Atlanta and Orlando for many years. She has also been an instructor for Regenerative Medicine courses for RMTI in Jupiter Florida.
ADARSH SHUKLA, M.D. LCP-C
PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
Dr. Shukla is dually board certified in PM&R and pain management as well as being a certified life care planner. Originally from Chicago, he completed both his residency and fellowship at the Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center. In fellowship, he served as the chief fellow of his program. During his time at Penn State he submitted publications to the Pain Journal and presented at several national conferences. Dr. Shukla has a strong commitment to serving his home community in the Chicagoland area. His training in physical medicine & rehabilitation gives him a unique perspective into musculoskeletal evaluation and management as well as extensive experience in electrodiagnostics and the diagnosis of nervous system and spinal disorders. He focuses on improved quality of life for his patients above all. In his leisure time, Dr. Shukla enjoys exploring all that Chicago has to offer. He particularly enjoys live music, experiencing new cuisines and restaurants, and taking walks with his dog, Zoey.
Jonathan D. Watson, MD, LCP-C
Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine & Arthroscopy Specialist
Dr. Watson is an Orthopaedic Surgeon in the South and Southwest suburbs of Chicago who specializes in Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee and minimally invasive techniques in sports medicine. His practice philosophy centers on communication, use of nonoperative treatment when possible and dedication to return all athletes to their desired activities, ranging from the weekend warrior to professional athlete.
Born and raised in Chicago, Dr. Watson attended the University of Illinois in Champaign for undergraduate education and the University of Illinois in Chicago for medical school. After medical school he completed an Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at the University of Illinois in Chicago, where he served as Chief Resident and a fellowship in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at the renowned University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Center for Sports Medicine, where he served as Administrative Fellow.
Dr. Watson has involvement with team coverage and experience treating athletes from many different levels, including the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers and several high schools in the Chicagoland area.
Dr. Watson is involved in several different areas academically as well. He serves as a reviewer for the American Journal of Sports Medicine. He is involved in the education of residents from both the University of Illinois and Midwestern University. He has published research related to hip, knee, shoulder and elbow conditions in peer-reviewed journals as well as presenting his research at national and international meetings. Dr. Watson completed his 120 hour Life Care Planning training through FIG Education and holds the credential Life Care Planning – Certified (LCP-C).
DR. CHAPMAN OLIVE, JR., MD, FACS, CLCP, LCP-C, CHLCP
GENERAL SURGEON
Graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. After medical school, Dr. Olive conducted his surgical residency at the University of California San Francisco. He is a board-certified general surgeon and has been in practice for over 30 years. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and several other professional organizations. In 2018, Dr. Olive completed his Life Care Planning training through FIG Education and is a Board Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP) through the International Commission on Healthcare Certification (ICHCC).
DR. DAVID KANG, M.D., LCP-C
Dr. David Kang is a graduate of the University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Arizona State University. After medical school, Dr. Kang conducted his residency in family medicine at Presence Saint Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. He brings a decade of medical knowledge to the table with experience in occupational medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, obstetrics, sports medicine, oncology, venous disease, and emergency medicine. Between 2018 and 2022, Dr. Kang was the Medical Director for Concentra, one of the largest healthcare companies in the nation with a focus on America’s workforce. His most recent practice has been in pain management with Midwest Anesthesiology and Pain Specialists (MAPS). In 2023, Dr. Kang completed his Life Care Planning training through FIG Education, Inc. and obtained FIG’s Life Care Planning – Certified (LCP-C) credential.
CAITLIN CIVIELLO, MD, LCP-C, CHLCP
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Dr. Civiello received her MD at Tufts University School of Medicine. She then completed her residency at Maine Medical Center and is board certified in Emergency Medicine. She published a chapter in a Scientific America textbook titled “Evaluation and Management of Acute Lower Back Pain”. She is currently an assistant medical director for Midcoast Hospital emergency department where she has a focus on quality and patient satisfaction. She completed her Life Care Planning training through FIG Education and is a certified Life Care Planner. Dr. Civiello played college basketball and continues to enjoy playing all sports as well as spending time with her husband and two children.
RACHEL J. WILLIAMS, MD, LCP-C
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Dr. Rachel Williams is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and educator based in Portland, ME. She serves as the Co-Medical Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department at Maine Medical Center, and is an Assistant Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Williams specializes in pediatric emergency care, medical education, and pre-hospital emergency protocols. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She then completed her emergency medicine training at Maine Medical Center, where she served as chief resident. She then pursued a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Wake Forest University. Dr. Williams holds certifications from the American Board of Emergency Medicine with a subspecialty board certification in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Her leadership roles also include Assistant Program Director of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Maine Medical Center and Medical Director of the Maine EMS for Children program. She completed her Life Care Planning training through FIG Education, Inc. and holds the credential Life Care Planning – Certified (LCP-C). In her free time she enjoys spending time outdoors with her young family, especially pickleball, biking, and camping.
DR. STEVEN BARNETT, DC, CBIS, CLCP, LCP-C, CHLCP
CHIROPRACTIC
Strategic Health Advisor for LCPpro, LLC. Dr. Barnett’s role is to support and advise the LCPpro team to ensure accurate and quality-focused service. Dr. Barnett graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in January of 1976 and then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, graduating in September of 1979. Upon graduation, he accepted a teaching position at Life University in Marietta, Georgia. Later that year, Dr. Barnett opened Barnett Chiropractic Office(s) PC in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He practiced and developed one of the most successful chiropractic offices in Georgia until retiring in 2009. Very shortly after announcing his retirement, he was hired by Dekalb Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, and named the Director of Chiropractic Relations for the Dekalb System. It was a new position created specifically for him. The program became so successful it gave birth to The Chiropractic Referral Index, which is one of the largest privately held Chiropractic Networks in the country, involving thousands of healthcare providers of all disciplines. Carefully trained as a hospital administrator, Dr. Barnett’s position at the hospital expanded into business development. He co-created the motor vehicle information service at Dekalb Medical 404 501 AUTO and served as the triage coordinator for injured patients needing additional assistance and support. This program was duplicated but never replicated by other hospital systems. Dr. Barnett quickly became a much sought-after national consultant and speaker for other hospital systems, including The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the Keynote Speaker at The Mayo for The Neuroscience and Neurosurgical Lecture Series in 2018. The first chiropractor to deliver the keynote address at The Mayo Clinic. Dr. Barnett also served as the Director of Chiropractic Relations and Business Development for North Fulton Hospital in Roswell, Georgia, establishing a chiropractic database and a funded spine surgery program. His administration prowess and vision resulted in him serving as a consultant for several neurosurgical centers and orthopedic groups. In 2018, Emory merged with Dekalb Medical Center, making it the largest hospital system in Georgia. Dr. Barnett served this 30,000-employee system as the Director of Chiropractic Relations. Due to his multifaceted background and legendary understanding of personal injury, he expanded his understanding by completing a 120-hour certified training program from accredited, nationally recognized FIG Services, Inc.; certified by the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists & Brain Injury Association of America; recognized as a Board Certified Life Care Planner (#1596) by the International Commission on Health Care Certification (ICHCC); and Certified by FIG Services, Inc. as a Life Care Planner (LCP-C) in 2021.