216 Calle Palma Real
University Gardens
San Juan 00927
ph: 787-767-0266
fax: 787-767-0210
Luis Baerga Varela, MD
Education | |
| 2003 - 2004 Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation West Orange, NJ Sports, Spine and Pain Medicine Fellowship 2000 - 2003 Mayo Medical Foundation Rochester, MN Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency |
| 1999 - 2000 Gundersen Lutheran Foundation La Crosse, WI Transitional Residency 1995 - 1999 Mayo Medical School Rochester, MN Doctorate in Medicine 1991 - 1995 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA Bachelor in Science – Mechanical Engineering
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BOARD CERTIFICATIONS | |
| §Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation §Board Certified in Pain Medicine by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation §Board Certified in Sports Medicine by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation §Certified in Musculoskeletal Sonography by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
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Academic Appointments | |
| 2004 - Present University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus – School of Medicine. Department of Physical Medicine , Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Assistant Professor
2007 - 2011 University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus – School of Medicine. Department of Anesthesiology – Pain Management Assistant Professor |
Professional experience | |
| [ 2005-Present ]Trauma Center Rio Piedras, PR Rehabilitation Services §Directly in charge of developing and directing the rehabilitation department for the major trauma center of Puerto Rico
[ 2004-Present ]Salud Deportiva y Ciencias del Ejercisio (SADCE) San Juan/Salinas, PR Sports Medicine §Sports Medicine Physcian at the Olympic Training Center in Puerto Rico. Sport Medicine Physician for the Puerto Rican National Teams at the 2006 Central American Games in Cartagena, Colombia [ 2004-Present ]Private Practice Rio Piedras, PR Rehabilitation and Pain Management Services §Private practice involving mostly Interventional Pain Management, musculoskeletal medicine, Sports Medicine and Electromyography. [ 2007-2012 ]Federacion Puertorriqueña de Voleibol Rio Piedras, PR Team Physician §Team Physician of the Puerto Rico Men’s National Volleyball Team. [ 2004-2006 ]Spine Center Rio Piedras, PR Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation §Physiatrist in the Puerto Rico Multidisciplinary Spinal Cord Center at the University of Puerto Rico [ 2003-2004 ] Saint Peter’s College Jersey City, NJ Assistant Team Physician §Assistant team physician for Saint Peter’s College Men’s Football, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer [ 2003-2004 ] West Orange High School West Orange, NJ Team Physician §Team physician for West Orange High School’s Football Team 2001 - 2003 Quello Family Convenience Care Minneapolis, MN Contract Physician §Contract physician in an outpatient urgent care setting 2001 - 2003 Federal Medical Center Rochester, MN Contract Physician §In-house, contract physician at a federal medical prison 1997 - 1998 University of Miami Miami, Fl Research Student §Volunteer research work in Orthopaedics with Dr. Carlos La Vernia Summer 1995 Center for the Advancement of Hispanics in Science and Engineering Washington, DC Student Director and Instructor §Student Director and college level Physics Instructor for gifted minority High School students Summer 1994 Mayo Clinic Biomechanics Laboratory Rochester, MN Research Student §Developed technique to create 3D computer images of the carpal bones from CT scan images |
Volunteer experience | |
| Team Physician for the Puerto Rico National Teams During the 2012 Olympics in London, Great Britain Team Physician for the Puerto Rico National Teams During the 2011 Juegos Panamericanos (Panameriacn Games) in Guadalajara, Mexico Team Physician for the Puerto Rico National Teams During the 2010 Juegos Centroamericans (Centralamerican Games) in Mayaguez, PR Team Physician for the Puerto Rico National Men’s Volleyball Team during the 2010 Panamerican Cup Team Physician for the Puerto Rico National Men’s Volleyball Team during the 2008 Preolympic Qualifiers in Spinho, Portugal Team Physician for the Puerto Rico National Men’s Volleyball Team during the 2008 Volleyball World Cup in Tokyo, Japan Team physician for the Puerto Rico National Teams During the 2007 Juegos Panamericanos (Panamerican Games) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Team physician for the Puerto Rico National Teams During the 2006 Juegos Centroamericanos (Centralamerican Games) in Cartagena, Colombia Volunteer for the Intercollegiate Athletic League Track and field Competition “Las Justas” Volunteer team physician for the Universidad del Turabo Track and Field Team in the “Las Justas” Puerto Rico National Intercollegiate Track and Frield Competition 2005 Volunteer physician for the New York City Marathon in the fall of 2003 Volunteer physician for multiple High School and community sports events in Rochester, MN |
Committees | |
| Sports Medicine Fellowship Admission Committee member 2010 to Present Vice President of the Pain Management Committee Colegio de Medicos (Puerto Rico College of Physicians) 2008 to 2010 Evaluation and Promotion Committee Physical Medicine and Rehabiliation Residency Program University of Puerto Rico Medical School 2008 to Present Mayo Clinic Foundation PM&R Education Committee, 2001 - 2002 Mayo Medical School PM&R Undergraduate Education Committee, 2001 - 2003 |
Publications, presentations and lectures | |
| “Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Pain in Endometriosis” 8va Jornada de Obstetricia y Gynecologia CARIBEGYN 2013. Ponce, Puerto Rico, August 2013
“Sonography in Pain Management” Convencion Annual de Fisiatria de Puerto Rico Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Junio 2013
“Pain Management Alternatives in Endometriosis” Puerto Rico Ob Gyn (PROGYN) "1st Network of Excellence in Endometriosis Workshop" San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 2012
Micheo W, Baerga L, Miranda G. “Basic principles regarding strength, flexibility, and stability exercises.” PM R. 2012 Nov;4(11):805-11
“Hands-On Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: In-Depth Introduction to Uses and Techniques” Instructor. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR) Conference Pre-course, Atlanta, Georgia November 2012
“Evaluation, Diagnosis, Ultrasound Imaging and Sonoguided Procedures in the Lumbar Spine and Hip Workshop” Lecturer, Instructor and Workshop Co-coordinator, Congresso Annual de la Federacion Mexicana de Medicina Fisica y Rehabilitacion in Veracruz Mexico October 2012
“Evaluation, Diagnosis, Ultrasound Imaging and Sonoguided Procedures in the Shoulder and Knee Workshop” Lecturer, Instructor and Workshop Co-coordinator, Congresso Annual de la Federacion Mexicana de Medicina Fisica y Rehabilitacion in Veracruz Mexico October 2012
“Basics of Musculoskeletal Sonography Workshop” Asociación Médica Latinoamericana de Rehabilitación (AMLAR) Congress in Punta Cana, Republica Dominicana August 2012
“Advances in Evaluation and Treatment of the Athlete’s Shoulder” Lecturer. Asociación Médica Latinoamericana de Rehabilitación (AMLAR) Congress in Punta Cana, Republica Dominicana August 2012
“Basics of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound” Lecturer and instructor. DISS course in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico May 2012
“Musculoskeletal Sonography in Sports Medicine” Lecture at the Puerto Rico Sports Federation Sports Medicine Conference, April 2012
“Musculoskelatal sonography Course” Course Director, instructor and lecturer at the International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation World Congress San Juan, PR June 2011
“Low Back Pain in Young Athletes” Lecturer at the International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation World Congress San Juan, PR June 2011
“Fundamentals of Musculoskelatal sonography” Course Director, instructor and lecturer at the University of Puerto Rico Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Sonography Course May 2011
“Ultrasound Guided Injections: Use in Sports Medicine” Lecture at the Puerto Rico Sports Federation Sports Medicine Conference, March 2011
“Advanced Course in Musculoskeletal Sonography” Table instructor at the Amercian Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Las Vegas, Nevada February 2011
“Fundamentals of Musculoskelatal sonography” Lecture, and course instructor at the Veterans Afairs Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Sonography Course September 2010
“Evaluation, Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Sports” at the Team Physician Course, Sports Medicine World Congress, International Federation of Sports Medicine in May 2010
“Advances in Chronic Pain Management” Lecture at the Pain Medicine Congress, Ponce School of Medicine in March 2010
“Acute Pain Management” Lecture at the American College of Surgery Meeting in San Juan, PR in February 2010
Lavernia CJ, Baerga L, Barrack RL, Tozakoglou E, Cook SD, Lata L, Rossi MD, “The effects of blood and fat on Morse taper disassembly forces.” Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2009 Apr;38(4):187-90.
“Return to Sports after Spinal Surgery in Adolescent Athletes” Lecture North American Spine Society Spring Meeting April 2009
“Interventional Spine Procedures” Lecture at Veterans Administration Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, Pain Curriculum 2009
“Pain Medications” Lecture at Veterans Administration Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, Pain Curriculum 2009
“Pain Management” Core curriculum Lectures for the 4th Year Medical Students from 2008 to present.
“Radiculopathy” Lecture at the EMG Course - University of Puerto Rico Medical School, January 2009
Baerga-Varela, L “Quemazon o Stingers, Neuropraxia del Cordon y Estenosis Cervical” Arco de Movimiento 7(3)8-9 Sept 2008
“New Concepts in Acute Management” Lecture at the Associacion de Fisiatria de Puerto Rico Annual Meeting May 2008
“Evidence Base for Management & Rehabilitation of Rotator Cuff Disease:
Baerga-Varela., L; Abreu-Ramos, A “Core Strengthening Exercises for Low Back Pain” – Boletin – Associacion Medica de Puerto Rico 18(1):56-60 Enero-Marzo 2006
“Musculoskeletal Injuries” Core curriculum Lectures for the 4th Year Medical Students from 2004 to 2007.
“Non-Interventional Low Back Pain” Lecture - Colegio de Medicos, October 2007
“Clinical Management of Shoulder Injury” Lecture - Association of Academic Physiatrists, April 2007
“Radiculopathy” Lecture at the EMG Course - University of Puerto Rico Medical School, January 2007
“Low Back and Neck Pain a Logical Approach” Lecture at the Pain Management Course - University of Puerto Rico Medical School, October 2006
“Core Strengthening in Low Back Pain” Lecture at the Puerto Rico Sports Federation Sports Medicine Conference, March 2005
Baerga-Varela, L.,Malanga, G.A., “Rehabilitation after Minimally Invasive Surgery.” Hozack,W., Krismer,M., Nogler,M., Bonutti, P., Rachbauer, F., Schaffer, J., Donnelly,W., ed. Minimally Invasive Total Joint Arthroplasty. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 2004: 2-5.
Chronic Back Pain – Patient hand-out for the American Spine Society, Spring 2004
Sports Medicine Lectures at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) Medical School, Academic year 2003-04
Traumatic Brain Injuries in Sports Lecture at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, Fall 2003
Baerga-Varela L, et al. Knee Injury – Soccer: Case presentation at the ACSM Annual Assembly, June 2004
Baerga-Varela L, Smith J. Shoulder Injury – Football: Case presentation at the ACSM Annual Assembly, May 2003
Combined Anatomy and Musculoskeletal Exam Course. Course Developer and Teaching Assistant, Mayo Clinic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, Fall 2002
Baerga-Varela L, Shelerud R. Methylmethacrylate Pulmonary Embolisms following Vertebroplasty: A Case Report. Poster presentation at the AAPMR Annual Assembly, November 2002.
Baerga-Varela L. Cross-training and Strength Training for Marathon Runners. Marathon Training Class, April and August 2002.
Baerga-Varela L, La Vernia CJ. Effects of Fat Debris in the Femoral Head-trunnion Interface of THA. Oral presentation at the Florida Orthopaedic Research Society 1998.
Lavernia CJ, Sierra RJ, Baerga L. Nutritional Parameters and Short-term Outcome in Arthroplasty. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 18(3):274-8, 1999 Jun. |
Awards received | |
| Teacher of the Year Award – University of Puerto Rico Medical School - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency 2011 Florida Orthopaedic Research Society - Third Place Resident’s Paper Center for the Advancement of Hispanics in Science and Engineering Education (CAHSEE) Achievement Award Mayo Medical School Merit Scholarship Baxter Research Scholarship MIT Office of Minority Education Academic Excellence Award Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society Kodak Scholarship Nominee National Hispanic Scholar
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Skills | |
| Experienced in Musculoskeletal Sonography Experienced in Interventional Pain Management Experienced in Sports Medicine Experienced in Electromyography Inpatient experience in Spinal Cord Injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Stroke and Trauma |
Languages | |
| Fluent in spoken and written English and Spanish |
Hobbies | |
| Tennis, Kite-surfing, Cycling, Running, Scuba diving and Snowboarding |
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Copyright 2013 PRSPI. All rights reserved.
216 Calle Palma Real
University Gardens
San Juan 00927
ph: 787-767-0266
fax: 787-767-0210