Brian M. Block, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Brian Block has had a longstanding interest in translating scientific discovery to helping people live better lives. As a doctor board certified in both anesthesiology and interventional pain management, Dr. Block applies cutting edge techniques to alleviate back and neck pain. Every patient is unique, so each needs an individualized approach. Dr. Block applies the most appropriate therapies for his patients, which could include spine, joint or facet injections, nerve ablation therapy, medications or spinal cord stimulation. Dr. Block's goal is to maximize his patients' functioning at home, work and play.

Dr. Block's career started at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in engineering and decided to work further in the field of medicine, focusing specifically on the nervous system. He earned both a PhD and an MD degree at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He did his medical training starting with an Internship at the MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio and then a residency in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine. He then sought additional expertise with a Fellowship in Pain Management also at Johns Hopkins. He joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins working in the Blaustein Pain Center, teaching, and writing. He maintains his adjunct appointment on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University.

Currently, Dr. Block is part of the Maryland Pain Specialists team of physicians and nurses dedicated to alleviating pain. He is president of the Baltimore Spine & Orthopaedic Center. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. He has been honored by Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society, by AOA, the national medical school honor society and by Baltimore Magazine's "Best of Baltimore."

Dr. Block's research interests have varied as his career has developed. He has studied and published scholarly articles in exercise physiology and muscle function and basic function and biophysical characteristics of neurons. Later he focused on pain outcomes both in and out of the operating room. His publications have appeared in places as diverse as The Wall Street Journal, The Journal of the American Medical Association and Anesthesiology. In all he has published 14 original papers, 6 book chapters, 7 scientific abstracts and 2 editorials.

Within the practice Dr. Block has developed special expertise in two areas, treating athletes with back pain and spinal cord stimulation. He is a triathlete himself which gives him insight into both the injuries athletes sustain and their need to return to training. Spinal cord stimulation is a highly technical field and is continually evolving. Dr Block's research experience in biophysics and neuroscience directly translates into understanding the scientific unpinnings of the therapy and better use of the stimulator.

Outside of his practice, Dr. Block enjoys training for and competing in triathlons and is working towards his goal of competing at Ironman. He enjoys travel having lived overseas in Singapore in his youth. While there he had the great opportunity to visit Malaysia, Indonesia, Tokyo, Beijing, and Guangzhou. These days he considers himself a professional spectator at his sons' lacrosse and soccer games. He and his wife enjoy relaxing at home and walking their rescued dog, Ruby.