MEET YOUR PROVIDERS

Baljinder Bathla, M.D.

Dr. Baljinder Bathla is a Pain Management Specialist dual-boarded in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Management. He holds Board Eligibility in Acupuncture as well.  

Dr. Bathla was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, where he completed his Undergraduate and Medical training at Wright State University School of Medicine. While in medical school, he performed research in Rehabilitation Medicine, earning him scholarships throughout all four years of his medical school training. His research was concentrated on Spinal Cord Injury and rehabilitation through Functional Electrical Stimulation. This led to his path of post-graduate training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the prestigious University of Chicago/Schwab Rehab. During his training, he took a keen interest in pain medicine, leading to his further specialization in Pain Management at the University of Chicago’s Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care. Dr. Bathla continued as an attending physician at the University of Chicago for an additional year until he decided to open his own multidisciplinary pain management center. He established Chicago Sports and Spine Pain Management Physicians in the South Loop in 2009.  

Dr. Bathla’s philosophy of treatment transcends simple pain pathways as he acknowledges that chronic pain is a complex phenomenon that is not simply explained by any single painful stimulation. Any single pain can have multiple causes and exacerbating factors; therefore, the treatment of pain can be equally complex. His treatment thus focuses on the primary pain generator and the numerous contributing factors. Therefore he utilizes a multidisciplinary approach using therapy, psychology, medications, interventional procedures, nutrition, and “alternative” therapies such as acupuncture and naprapathy. He bases his success not on pain scores but functional gains. The goal is not to eliminate the pain but to increase function with the treatment.  

Dr. Bathla took a keen interest in international medicine while in residency. He has made multiple trips to provide medical care worldwide during natural disasters. He also serves as the Vice-President of the Awassa Children’s Project in Ethiopia. The Awassa Children’s Center provides housing, food, healthcare, and education to approximately 120 orphans affected by HIV/AIDS. It also provides a Vocational Training Center that provides 100 adult students 1-year certified programs in Computers, Woodwork, Electrical work, and Metalwork.

Among Dr. Bathla’s many interests, he enjoys camping, traveling, photography, and spending time with his family. He is very proud to raise his children in Chicago so they can learn to be contributing members of a large, diverse community.