Dr. Laxmaiah Manchikanti is a preeminent figure in interventional pain management who serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. He currently holds the distinguished position of Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Louisville and Professor of Anesthesiology-Research at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. As Co-Director of Pain Management Centers of America and Medical Director of multiple clinical facilities across Kentucky and Illinois, Dr. Manchikanti has established a comprehensive network dedicated to advancing pain treatment standards. His extensive leadership roles include service on the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee, and American Medical Association House of Delegates, demonstrating his influence across both clinical and policy domains.
Dr. Manchikanti has profoundly shaped evidence-based pain management through his extraordinary scholarly contributions, having published more than 580 peer-reviewed articles that form the foundation of contemporary interventional pain practices. He has authored and edited twelve seminal textbooks including Essentials of Interventional Techniques in Managing Chronic Spinal Pain and Essentials of Regenerative Medicine in Interventional Pain Management, which serve as authoritative references for practitioners worldwide. His rigorous research on spinal pain interventions, particularly regarding the efficacy of epidural steroid injections and facet joint treatments, has provided critical evidence for clinical guidelines and established standardized protocols. Through his systematic reviews and meta-analyses, Dr. Manchikanti has elevated the scientific rigor of pain medicine, transforming it from anecdotal practice to evidence-based specialty with measurable outcomes.
Beyond his clinical and academic leadership, Dr. Manchikanti has been instrumental in preserving interventional pain management as a recognized medical specialty through strategic advocacy and policy development. His testimony before Congress on controlled substance management and interventional pain practices has directly influenced national healthcare policy and regulatory frameworks. As a key architect in the passage of NASPER legislation and mandatory Carrier Advisory Committee representation, he has secured appropriate reimbursement structures and specialty designation essential for the field's sustainability. Currently, Dr. Manchikanti continues to advance pain medicine through ongoing research on innovative techniques, mentorship of emerging specialists, and leadership in developing practical guidelines that translate scientific evidence into improved patient outcomes for millions suffering from chronic pain conditions.
