MEDICAL PROVIDERS
Dr. McKenna and Dr. Ruggeroli are interested in all aspects of pain medicine, encompassing common back pain to advanced malignant conditions. They believe in preventative maintenance and incorporate a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Drs. McKenna and Ruggeroli believe that the effective treatment of pain requires three steps: the establishment of a correct diagnosis, the treatment of the diagnosed pathology, and, if necessary, the palliation of the pain of incurable conditions. The mission of McKenna & Ruggeroli Pain Specialists is to provide timely, effective, compassionate and ethical medical care to patients in pain. Such care may consist of medications, injections, nerve ablations, physical therapy, psychological therapy, surgical procedures or a combination of these modalities. The optimal care for some conditions may require consultation with other medical providers such as surgeons, neurologists, physical therapists, chiropractors, psychologists and other specialists.
Dr. McKenna and Dr. Ruggeroli individualize the treatment of each patient, designing a specific program to maximize function and minimize pain. The time-course of treatment, the duration of improvement and the final results vary with each patient. Drs. McKenna and Ruggeroli believe that the definition of successful treatment, while unique to each patient, is based upon the concept of increasing function. The treatment goal at McKenna & Ruggeroli Pain Specialists is to optimize each patient’s ability to fully participate in the art of living.
Michael J. McKenna, MD, FIPP
Dr. McKenna has resided in Las Vegas since 1989. He was born in Texas and lived in Washington and Northern California during his youth. He graduated with Honors and Distinction from Stanford University and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. McKenna graduated from the Harvard Medical School, completed a surgical internship at the University of Washington, and then returned to Harvard and Boston to complete his residency and fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. McKenna is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in both Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and is board certified by the World Institute of Pain, resulting in the title of Fellow, Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP). He is the Interventional Pain Medicine representative to the Nevada Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee and is the president of the Nevada Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. Dr. McKenna participates in teaching on the national level and acts as an advisor for several health information services. He is the medical director of McKenna & Ruggeroli Pain Specialists.
Anthony C. Ruggeroli, MD
Dr. Ruggeroli is a Las Vegas native. After graduating from Bishop Gorman High School, he attended UNLV. Dr. Ruggeroli received his medical degree from the Creighton University Medical School in Omaha, Nebraska. After a year of surgical training at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas and a three-year anesthesiology residency at the University of Nebraska, Dr. Ruggeroli completed a prestigious pain medicine fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He has practiced interventional pain medicine in Las Vegas since 1997 and joined McKenna & Ruggeroli Pain Specialists in May of 2008. Dr. Ruggeroli is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialities in both Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. He shares Dr. McKenna's multidisciplinary contemporary approach to the management of painful medical conditions. Dr. Ruggeroli's exceptional training and demonstrated expertise make him a key consultant for our team of medical providers.
Mark Knutson, PA-C
A native of Iowa, Mr. Knutson has lived in Las Vegas since 1990. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees form the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines. Mr. Knutson is a board certified radiologic technologist. He has extensive experience in orthopedic surgery and general medicine and has been a part of McKenna & Ruggeroli Pain Specialists since 2004.
Leslie Rowens, PA-C
Ms. Rowens was born in Texas and spent her childhood in Germany. As a medical technician in the US Air Force, she moved to Las Vegas in 1994. Ms. Rowens received her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and subsequently graduated from the University of Washington Medex Northwest Physician Assistant Program in Seattle. She joined McKenna & Ruggeroli Pain Specialists in 2005.