Dr. Richard M. Donnini

RICHARD DONNINI, DO is the founder and president of the Pain Evaluation & Management Center of Ohio. He was the first physician to practice outpatient interventional pain management in southwest Ohio and one of the first to do so in the state. He is one of the first physicians to use radiofrequency neurolysis and medication contracts for patients. He has almost 20 years of experience in interventional pain management. He is certified in pain management and completed a one year fellowship. His patients and staff refer to him as “Doc.” He is a friendly and helpful physician who cares deeply about his patients.

To read Dr. Donnini's article on Spinal Cord Stimulation, please click here:
Use and Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Stimulation

To read Dr. Donnini's article on Neuropathic Pain, please click here:
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Issues of Neuropathic Pain

Dr. Thomas Heitkemper

THOMAS HEITKEMPER, PHD has been an integral part of our staff over the last 13 years as a psychologist. He is one of the first psychologists in the state of Ohio to direct the Psychology Department and manage an inpatient pain management program (in Cincinnati). We were fortunate enough to bring him into our practice as a director of our Psychology Department and he is one of the most respected psychologists in the state of Ohio in the area of psychology and pain management. With nearly 25 years experience with chronic pain patients, he is familiar with psychological techniques related to the management of chronic pain.

Dr. Abdullahi Mubarak

ABDULLAHI MUBARAK, MD received his undergraduate degree from Howard University and received his M.D. degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He completed his residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Ohio in Family Practice and received his certification in addiction medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He has served as a medical director, directed inpatient and outpatient programs and helped develop subacute detoxification units. He maintained his private practice of family medicine and addiction medicine at the Family First Care Center until February 2008. His practice currently emphasizes primary care in pain management and addiction medicine. 

Keith Rost

KEITH ROST, MSRS has over 20 years experience with acute and chronic pain patients. As the Pain Evaluation and Management Center Director of Physical Therapy for the past 12 years, he has integrated holistic/natural treatment options into the practice. Keith was also one of the first to provide microcurrent Iontophoresis with usage of Traumeel, a Homeopathic/Natural anti-inflammatory for modulation of acute and chronic pain.

Dr. Andreas Syllaba

ANDREAS SYLLABA, DO, NMM/OMM, has nearly 20 years of experience in both pain management centers and private practice. Using a variety of interventions from injection therapies to manipulative treatment, he helps patients with all types and severities of pain. He enjoys the challenge of caring for even the most difficult-to-treat pain conditions and improving his patients’ quality of life. Patients have described him as caring, a good listener, and a doctor who takes a comprehensive approach to addressing their concerns. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a degree in osteopathic medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri. He has two years of postgraduate training in physical medicine and rehabilitation and is board certified in neuromusculoskeletal medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine (NMM/OMM).

Dr. Hamman Akbik

HAMMAM AKBIK, MD, FIPP, brings a wealth of expertise to our center, most recently as an assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain management at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine as well as the Pain Management Division Chief of the Pain and Palliative Care Clinic at University Hospital in Cincinnati. With Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) certification, he reorganized the Pain Fellowship at University Hospital into one of the top five programs in the country. As a member of several national and international professional associations and author of many clinical articles and abstracts, he has been named the top pain management physician in Cincinnati for three years in a row and one of the best doctors in Cincinnati by Cincinnati Magazine. He earned a medical degree from Aleppo University School of Medicine in Syria.