About Us

Sempt Scientia

The Southeastern Society of Pain Intervention (SSPI) is committed to advancing the field of interventional pain management. Our mission is rooted in research and education, and our leadership team is dedicated to helping identify and develop the future leaders within our field.

History

SSPI was originally established in 2018 as the Florida Society of Pain & Neuroscience (FSPN) by a group of nationally recognized Interventional Pain Physicians in Florida who became the founding executive board. At the time, the founding physicians believed the existing statewide pain societies, although helpful, were not focused enough on the science and advocacy of high-level, cutting-edge interventional pain procedures for chronic pain.

With the nation gripped by the opioid crisis, FSPN was determined to further advance the study and practice of interventional pain management. Interest in the society quickly grew and expanded beyond the state of Florida. In 2021, the FSPN Executive Board unanimously agreed to expand the society to the entire Southeastern United States under the new name, the Southeastern Society of Pain Intervention.

Meet Our Team

EXECUTIVE
BOARD

Nomen Azeem, MD

Here

Michael Hanes, MD

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Ajay Antony,
MD

Here

Michael Esposito, MD

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Navdeep Jassal, MD

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Nicholas Bremer, MD

Here

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State

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DIRECTORS
AT LARGE

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Be part of the future of pain management. Join the Southeastern Society of Pain Intervention today!

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        Nomen Azeem, MD, FAAPMR is a nationally recognized interventional pain specialist and sports medicine specialist at Florida Spine & Pain Specialists in Riverview, Tampa, and Sarasota, Florida. Currently, Dr. Azeem is an associate professor in the pain/neurology department of the University of South Florida and holds a faculty position with the USF ACGME Pain Fellowship. Dr. Azeem actively conducts clinical research and authors peer-reviewed publications in addition to treating patients. He continues to stay involved with multiple academic pain societies to help advance the field of interventional pain medicine. He is the current president of the Southeastern Society of Pain Intervention, board member of the American Society for Pain and Neuroscience. Additionally, Dr. Azeem serves on the board of directors of the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Foundation.

        Michael Hanes, MD is double board-certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. He is one of the owners of and Chief Medical Officer at Jax Spine & Pain Centers in Jacksonville, FL. He is a published educator and national speaker in the field of interventional pain medicine and is a strong proponent of providing safe, effective and empathetic care options to patients experiencing chronic or acute pain. He started the Centurion Spine & Pain Research Institute and is a principal investigator on several research projects focused on interventional pain therapies, minimally invasive spine surgery and neurostimulation.

        Ajay Antony, MD is an interventional pain physician at The Orthopaedic Institute in Gainesville, FL. After joining the faculty at UF, Dr. Antony served to assist growth of the fellowship program to national recognition and brought several new procedures to the North Central Florida community. He also participates in cutting edge research to advance the field of interventional pain medicine. Dr. Antony has lectured both nationally and internationally on neuromodulation, minimally invasive spine procedures, and other topics in pain medicine. He teaches national training courses for fellows and practicing physicians on both spinal cord stimulation (SCS), dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation, and minimally invasive advanced procedures for sacroiliitis and spinal stenosis. His clinical practice and research focuses on neuromodulation and minimally invasive advanced treatments for chronic pain.

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        Michael Esposito, MD is double board-certified in pain medicine and anesthesiology, a diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology. He has devoted his time to various local, state, national and international organizations. He has served on two hospital Graduate Medical Education Committees, which oversee resident and fellow education. He has also served as an instructor for conference workshops, teaching physicians from all over on ultrasound-guided procedures. He developed an educational, web-based lecture series and helped implement annual conference education programs while serving as the resident section chair for the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia. Dr. Esposito has also spent some time in our nation’s capital, discussing health policy with U.S. congressmen and advocating for patient safety while working with the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Advocacy Division. He has presented at numerous national anesthesia and pain medicine conferences.

        Navdeep Jassal, MD treats a wide variety of pain types with comprehensive, personalized, evidence-based care. He is founder of the Spine & Pain Institute of Florida in Lakeland, Florida. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in both pain medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. He serves as an assistant professor for the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Central Florida as well as an assistant clinical professor for the University of South Florida’s pain medicine fellowship. He is also actively involved in research to uncover new, minimally invasive ways to treat spinal pain.

        Nicholas Bremer, MD is a double Board-Certified Anesthesiologist and Interventional Pain Medicine Specialist. He is committed to evidence-based medicine and is active in clinical research. He has served as the primary or as sub-investigator on multiple clinical trials and has published multiple textbook chapters on topics in pain medicine. He is dedicated to education and teaches advanced neuromodulation therapies at national courses for fellows and physicians in practice. He was recently invited to participate in an international think tank with global luminaries from around the world designed at shaping the future of neuromodulation.