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Physician Profiles

Atlas Pain Management in Los Angeles County

Vincent J. Valdez, MD

Vincent J. Valdez, MD, is board certified in anesthesiology and pain management. He received his medical degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and performed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Southern California, where he completed his fellowship training in pediatric anesthesiology. Dr. Valdez continued to practice at USC as the director of pain management from 1987 to 1994 and directed its anesthesiology residency training program from 1992 to 1994. He was an assistant and associate professor of both anesthesiology and orthopedic surgery at USC as well.

Dr. Valdez is also a qualified medical examiner and is on the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is certified in pain management and is a member of various pain societies including: the Interventional Pain Management (both nationally and in California), American Society of Regional Anesthesia, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Medical Association, and California Medical Association.

As a published author, he has been able to share his knowledge of mild and severe chronic pain with patients and physicians. He has given lectures on topics such as low back pain, interventional diagnostics for low back pain, chronic pain management, pain management in the elderly, and acute pain management.

Dr. Valdez is a long-standing member of the community in which he practices. His goal is to serve his community while improving his patients’ lives. He does so by applying his extensive background in acute and chronic pain management to caring for patients. Dr.Valdez also makes it a priority to keep himself trained on all of the latest and upcoming pain management procedures. His mission is to help improve the function and quality of life of those suffering from pain.

Carson Ling, MD

Carson Ling, MD, is board certified in anesthesiology and pain management. He received his training in anesthesiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where he completed his fellowship training in Pain Management. After completing his training, Dr. Ling returned to his home state of California where he practiced as an associate physician in pain management at Kaiser Permanente.

Dr. Ling is a member of multiple pain management societies. He has also given lectures on various topics such as low back pain, interventions for such, pain mechanisms, and discogenic pain.

Dr. Ling is skilled in the latest and newest pain management techniques and interventions. As the newest member to the team at Atlas Pain Management, his goals are the bring his care, enthusiasm and knowledge to aid in helping to manage pain.

Christopher J. Charbonnet, MD

Christopher J. Charbonnet, MD is board certified in anesthesiology and pain management. He received his medical degree from the University of Southern California in 1992 and completed his fellowship in pain management at Stanford University in 1999. Dr. Charbonnet has also been a qualified medical examiner since 1999.

During his medical career, Dr. Charbonnet has been involved with multiple research projects at LAC/USC and Kenneth Norris Cancer Center. He is on staff at several hospitals including Lakewood Regional Medical Center and has been in private practice for pain management since 1999.

Dr. Charbonnet is fascinated with pain management, which motivates him to continue learning about the latest and most advance procedures. He is truly concerned with providing the most appropriate treatment to fit the patient’s best interest. It is Dr. Charbonnet’s perfectionism and skill that make him a fantastic physician.

James Hager, PA

James Hager has been working with Atlas Pain Management as a Physicians Assistant since early 2003. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California at Riverside in 1998 and his Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Western University Of Health Sciences in 2002.

James is certified by the California Medical Board. He also holds certifications in ACLS, Phlebotomy and Dysrrhytmias. His professional memberships include the American Pain Society, California Association of Physician Assistants and the American Association of Physician Assistants.

Atlas Pain Management has been enhanced through James’ sub-specialty training in the management of chronic pain. This includes extensive experience with both spinal generated pain and sympathetically maintained pain. James is credentialed in maintaining intrathecal pumps and spinal cord stimulators used for the treatment of chronic pain. Most importantly, James brought with him a keen interest in helping alleviate the suffering of patients dealing with chronic pain.

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