Our Physicians
Interventional Pain Management is now recognized as a distinct medical specialty. MAPS physicians are board-certified in anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation and/or neurology and have additional board certification in pain management. We all work full time in the specialty of pain management. MAPS physicians are specially trained in spinal injection by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) and the International Spinal Injection Society (ISIS) and many are instructors for one or both of these organizations.
David M. Schultz, MD
Dr. Schultz is the founder and medical director of MAPS Medical Pain Clinics and MAPS Applied Research Center (MARC). He is a board-certified anesthesiologist with additional board-certification in pain management from the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) and the American Board of Pain Medicine (ABPM). He has been a full-time interventional pain specialist since 1995 and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota. He is a board member and past president of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) and is an instructor for ASIPP and for the International Spinal Injection Society (ISIS). He is a board examiner for ABIPP. Dr. Schultz is a prolific author of medical articles and book chapters, a frequent speaker at national meetings and is a primary investigator in pain research. Away from MAPS, Dr. Schultz is an avid skier and mountain biker and he enjoys participating in triathlons. View CV
Thomas G. Cohn, MD
Dr. Cohn completed his undergraduate training in chemical engineering and then went on to medical school at the University of Minnesota. He then completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. After residency, Dr. Cohn practiced in Albuquerque, New Mexico in both outpatient musculoskeletal medicine and inpatient rehabilitation. Dr. Cohn is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation with additional board-certification in pain management from the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) and the American Board of Pain Medicine (ABPM). Dr. Cohn joined MAPS in 2000 and provides consultative and interventional pain services for patients. He also lectures and teaches interventional pain management for the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP). When not practicing medicine, Dr. Cohn enjoys biking and photography. He also keeps busy with his wife and three children who are very active in tennis and hockey in their community. View CV
James V. Anderson, MD
Dr. Anderson is board certified in neurology and has additional board certification in pain medicine through the American College of Pain Medicine. Dr. Anderson completed his neurology residency in 1981 and continued his medical training with an anesthesiology residency at the University of Minnesota, which he completed in 1987. Dr. Anderson also completed fellowships in neuroanesthesiology, neuromuscular disease, electroencephalography, and electromyography. He worked as a clinical assistant professor of anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota from 1988 to 1992 and has practiced full time in pain medicine since 1994. When not seeing patients, Dr. Anderson enjoys using different computer operating systems and technologies. He also is interested in studying ancient languages and cultures. View CV
David D. Nerothin, DDS, MD
Dr. Nerothin earned his medical degree in 1991 from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. His path to becoming a pain clinician began when, as a dentist, he wanted to provide his patients anesthesia during painful procedures. Dr. Nerothin earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree at the University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry in 1974. He later fulfilled his residency program in anesthesia at the State University of New York in Syracuse where he also held a research fellowship in anesthesia. He also was a Clinical Fellow in Anesthesiology at Boston City Hospital in Massachusetts. Dr. Nerothin has served as a pain clinician in the Twin Cities region since 1993. When away from the clinic, Dr. Nerothin has earned his pilots license and is an active member in his church. He also enjoys spending time camping with family and as a former athlete, he enjoys many types of sports. View CV
Brian D. Vacca, MD
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Vacca went on to earn his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago School of Medicine, where he also completed residency and became board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. During his residency, Dr. Vacca became proficient in interventional pain management. He practiced in Wisconsin and then moved to the Minneapolis area to join MAPS. Dr. Vacca provides comprehensive pain management services for patients including consultations, new patient evaluations, spinal
injections, diagnostic and therapeutic nerve blocks and specialized therapeutic treatments. When
Dr. Vacca is not practicing medicine, he enjoys fishing, hunting, boating, gardening and woodworking. View CV
Stanley J. Antolak, MD
Dr. Antolak is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School and a board certified urologist. After a long career in private practice, he introduced a program for treating pelvic pain caused by pudendal neuropathy while on staff at the Mayo Clinic in 1999. He continues care of pelvic pain neuropathies at MAPS after five years as Director of the Center for Urologic and Pelvic Pain in Lake Elmo, MN. His expertise is recognized internationally. Dr. Antolak performs perineural injections and decompression surgery of the pudendal nerves. He also trains physicians in the diagnostic and treatment techniques for four distinct pelvic neuropathic pain conditions. When not seeing patients, Dr. Antolak enjoys spending time hunting upland game. At his lake cottage he enjoys home improvement projects and gardening. He spends some of his spare time away from the clinic doing research on pudendal neuropathy as Director of the Pudendal Neuralgia Foundation. View CV
Steve Wagner, MD
Dr. Wagner received both his undergraduate and masters degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He then went on to earn his medical degree from Stanford University Medical School in Stanford, California. Dr. Wagner completed his residency in Anesthesia at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota He also earned his fellowship in Pain Management at Mayo Clinic. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist with additional board-certification in pain management from the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and the American Board of Pain Medicine (ABPM). Dr. Wagner is clinical assistant professor at the University of Minnesota as well as a member of both the American Pain Society and the International Spinal Injection Society. When Dr. Wagner is not seeing patients, he is an avid skier, golfer, swimmer and scuba diver. He is also a commercial, seaplane and glider pilot and enjoys canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. View CV
Aysel Atli, MD, MPH
Dr. Atli is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. After completing her medical degree in Istanbul, Turkey, she moved to the United States and completed a masters degree in Health Policy and Administration. Dr. Atli finished her PM&R residency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and went on to finish her fellowship in Pain Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle. She has been a practicing pain specialist since 2004 with her focus on interventional pain medicine. Dr Atli has experience both in private practice and academics. During her academic career, Dr. Atli has worked as an assistant professor and pain fellowship director in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Washington, and has taught interventional pain medicine to residents and fellows.
David O. Nelson, MD
Dr. Nelson is an interventional pain specialist physician with board certification in both anesthesiology and pain medicine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Minnesota and performed his internship in Medicine/Pediatrics at the University of Iowa. After finishing his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota, he completed a fellowship in pain management at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Nelson served in the U.S. Air Force and then as a consultant and assistant professor in anesthesiology at the Mayo Clinic. He has extensive experience in anesthesiology and pain medicine, having worked for many years in Minneapolis and greater Minnesota. When Dr. Nelson is away from his medical practice, he can be found enjoying time at his lake home in Brainerd, MN. While there, he enjoys landscape work, gardening and reading.
Sidney Kass, MD
Dr. Kass earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed his residency in anesthesia at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. Upon completion of his education, Dr. Kass went on to practice general medicine in South Carolina. Following his work down south, Dr. Kass came to Minnesota and worked as a staff anesthesiologist and clinical instructor. He then opened Kass Clinics, which specialized in vein therapies and operated as Medical Director there as for over a decade prior to joining MAPS. Dr. Kass is a board certified anesthesiologist. Outside of work, Dr. Kass enjoys computer programming, fishing and traveling.
Vasudha Goel, MBBS
Dr. Goel completed medical school at Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai, India. She then went on to complete her residency in anesthesiology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Goel completed her fellowship at Loma Linda University in California and is board certified in both anesthesiology and pain medicine. Dr. Goel moved to the Twin Cities area and provides comprehensive pain management services to patients in the Edina and Shakopee area. In her free time, Dr. Goel enjoys spending time with her family as well as listening to Indian Classical Music.
Emily Pike, MD
Dr. Pike earned her medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She went on to complete her residency at the University of Minnesota, Smiley's Clinic. Prior to coming to MAPS, Dr. Pike practiced at Fairview Urgent Care. When Dr. Pike is not practicing medicine, she enjoys baking, reading, crocheting, doing all types of puzzles, and playing board games. She spends time at home with her husband and is busy home schooling her two children.
Gary D. Benke, MD
Dr. Benke graduated with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, and went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Benke completed his residency in anesthesiology at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. He then went on to complete his internship and residency in surgery at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Prior to joining MAPS, Dr. Benke worked at Tyrone Hospital as well as Keystone Management Services in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Dr. Benke is a published author as well as sits on several committees related to anesthesia.
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