Smiling man with short brown hair, wearing glasses, a blue blazer, and a light blue collared shirt, against a white background.

Anuj Bhatia, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Professor and Director of Neuromodulation for Pain Program

Member Spotlight

Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto

  • Ontario, CAN
  • Member Since 2016
  • Find me on LinkedIn

Q/A

Dr. Anuj Bhatia leads the Neuromodulation for Pain Program at Toronto Western Hospital, where he specializes in interventional pain medicine, neuromodulation, and clinical epidemiology. Passionate about the science and promise of neuromodulation, he draws on both clinical and research expertise to deliver individualized care, evaluate outcomes, and explore predictors of success. His training at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospitals in London with leading mentors shaped his commitment to advancing these therapies and fostering collaboration. A dedicated NANS member since 2016, Dr. Bhatia is active with NANS volunteering through committee service, mentorship, and driving innovation within the neuromodulation community.

Areas of Interest:
Interventional Pain Medicine, Neuromodulation for Pain, Clinical Epidemiology

Why I enjoy what I do:
Neuromodulation for pain is a wonderful therapy when applied to the right patient at the right time. The science behind this treatment has advanced by leaps and bounds in the last few years and yet there is so much more to explore! I am fortunate to have both clinical and research training that allows me to offer neuromodulation therapies, assess the response, and to explore factors predictive of analgesic and functional success.

How I became interested in neuromodulation:
I trained in implanted neuromodulation therapies for pain at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospitals in London UK with Dr. Adnan Al-Kaisy and his wonderful colleagues (Drs. Stefano Palmisani, Tom Smith, David Pang, and Nick Padfield) as my mentors. It was a great time to understand the potential of these therapies, common pitfalls, and managing care to enhance outcomes. I returned to Toronto Western Hospital to start the Neuromodulation for Pain Program and to collaborate with brilliant minds in this field (Drs. Andres Losano, Moji Hodaie, and Suneil Kalia). I continue to learn to this day.

I am a member of NANS because:
I have had the opportunity to meet so many clinicians and researchers pursuing ground-breaking work in neuromodulation. I became a member of NANS in 2016 and I have attended every annual meeting since 2017. I am grateful for the opportunity to advance the Society’s mission alongside the fantastic Dr. Nick Knezevic, and have enjoyed collaborating on research committee work.

My favorite musician:
Van Halen. I have heard all of their albums and I love the cheeky songs and album titles! I was very sad when I heard Eddie passed away in 2020.

Words to live by:
​​Work hard, enjoy every day and be grateful for all the good things in your life!