Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Sunny Sharma.
Hi Dr. Sharma, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
From a young age, I could always be found with a basketball in my hands. Academically, I loved science, medicine, and technology. I knew I wanted to combine these passions in my career. As a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Physician or Physiatrist, I work with patients to treat their sports, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions to improve their quality of life, pain and function.
My journey started at the University of Texas at Austin (HookEm!). I then earned my medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and then completed an internship at the UT Austin Dell Medical School. I moved to sunny California with my wife to complete my residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) / VA Greater Los Angeles. I also stayed for a post-doctoral fellowship to receive advanced training in interventional spine, sports, and pain medicine. That adds up to a quarter century of schooling!
I knew that all roads lead back home to Texas and after completing my training, we moved to Dallas where I joined the Multidisciplinary Spine Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The medical field and the physician/patient relationship have evolved over the past few decades. There is renewed emphasis on wellness and prevention in addition to treatment. A challenge we face is how to empower our patients to take their health in their own hands. I encourage patients to ask questions and to do their own research. I believe that knowledge is power and the more we know, the better we can take charge and contribute to our health.
To help address this challenge, I lead our UT Southwestern Spine Center Community Lecture Series. We developed this program specifically with our patients and the DFW community in mind. Every other month, one of our Spine Center physicians presents a spine-related topic to the community to help explain knowledge related to spine and musculoskeletal conditions, treatment options, and technological advancements. The program has been well received and it has been great connecting with our patients and the community! I promote the lectures via our social accounts on Twitter @utswspine as well as on Facebook. I hope you will join me for a future program!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My current role is as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and an Interventional Spine Physician in the Multidisciplinary Spine Center at UT Southwestern. I am an expert and specialize in the nonsurgical and interventional treatment of spine, sports, and musculoskeletal conditions.
I take pride in using a patient-centered, whole-body approach in my care of patients. This holistic approach involves understanding the influences the mind, body, and spirit can have on health and wellness. Many spine conditions can be treated with physical therapy and lifestyle modifications. For patients who continue to have difficulty with pain and function, I can offer a variety of minimally invasive spine treatments including spine and ultrasound-guided injections, radiofrequency nerve ablations, vertebral augmentation for compression fractures, regenerative medicine, and neuromodulation including spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation.
I am also passionate about health technology innovations. I recently authored an article about an innovative new procedure for patients with chronic low back pain. I am honored to currently be one of only a dozen physicians in the DFW region to be able to offer this treatment option for my patients. You can read the article here https://utswmed.org/medblog/lower-back-pain-intracept/.
I enjoy teaching and have the privilege of training our residents about spine and musculoskeletal care. On a national level, I have delivered several presentations about my clinical and research interests and have also served on committees for national organizations. I truly enjoy learning and am always seeking out new ways to give back to my patients and my community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://utswmed.org/doctors/sunny-sharma/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/utswspine
- Other: https://utswmed.org/medblog/lower-back-pain-intracept/
Image Credits
UT Southwestern Medical Center
