CHRISTOPHER A. WOOLLEY, MD, D.ABA
INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Dr. Woolley brings a comprehensive approach to pain management. His goal is to help people manage and treat their pain so that they can regain function and enjoy life. Dr. Woolley is well-versed in complex spine injections, radiofrequency ablations as well as joint injections. He is trained in neuromodulation, including spinal cord stimulation, and peripheral nerve stimulation as well as intrathecal pump placement and regenerative medicine techniques. Dr. Woolley completed his Bachelor of Science in Human Biology at the University of California, San Diego, earned a Master of Science degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts and completed medical school at Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Woolley completed his anesthesiology residency and Interventional Pain Management fellowship at the University of California, San Diego where he also served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Woolley complements the pain management expertise of Dr. Jacob Blake and the entire Sierra Neurosurgery Group pain management team. “I was initially drawn to Sierra Neurosurgery Group by the physicians themselves,” stated Dr. Woolley. “Throughout my training I have spent a lot of time in the operating room, in clinics, and in hospital settings with neurosurgeons and I can say that the physicians and care teams at Sierra Neurosurgery Group are not only technically skilled, but they are also incredibly compassionate and put their patients first. I was also struck by how humble, and incredibly down to earth the team was. This combination is rare, and I consider myself lucky to join Sierra Neurosurgery Group.”
In his free time, Dr. Woolley enjoys golfing and is excited to experience the great courses in Reno.
Dr. Woolley’s Specialties
Pain management using ESIs, RFA, Nerve Blocks, Sympathetic Blocks, Neurostimulation, Intrathecal Drug Delivery, MILD.
- ESIs
- RFA
- Nerve Blocks
- Neurostimulation
- Intrathecal Drug Delivery
- MILD (Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression)
Dr. Woolley’s Advanced Practice Providers Team
Dr. Woolley is available for appointments at these office Locations:
RENO, NV
Sierra Neurosurgery Group
5590 Kietzke Lane
Reno, NV 89511
SPARKS, NV
Sierra Neurosurgery Group
5070 Ion Drive, #200
Sparks, NV 89436
Dr. Woolley’s Curriculum
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Education and Professional Experience
9/2021 – Present
Interventional Pain Management Physician, Sierra Neurosurgery Group
8/2020 – 8/2021
Interventional Pain Management Fellow – Anesthesiology
University of California, San Diego
2017-2020
Categorical Resident – Anesthesiology
University of California, San Diego
2016-2017
Internal Medicine Transitional Year Intern
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego, CA
2012-2016
Medical Doctorate
Loyola University of Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine
Illinois
2010-2011
Master of Science, Biological Sciences
Tufts University School of Medicine
Massachusetts
2006-2010
Bachelor of Science, Human Biology
University of California, San Diego
Certifications
2022
Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology
2022
Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
Awards
2019
Resident Award for Excellence in Teaching
2018
Resident Award for Excellence in Teaching
2017
Scripps Mercy Hospital Gellar Research Award
2012 – 2013
Rheumatology Research Foundation Medical Student Clinical Preceptorship Award
2010
Biotech Employee Development Coalition (BEDC) Award
2009
UCSD Provost’s Honors Scholar
2009
Clinical Care Extender Graduation Certificate
2009
Exemplary Service Award – Palomar Hospital PACU Department
2009
Member of the Year – Order of the Tritons
2008
Outstanding Dedication Award – Palomar Hospital IMC Department
Hospital Affiliations
Northern Nevada Medical Center
Renown Medical Center
Saint Mary’s Medical Center
Summit Surgery Center
Leadership Experience
2019-2020
Chief Resident, University of California, San Diego – Department of Anesthesiology
2019-2020
Resident Physician Council Representative, University of California, San Diego
2018 – 2020
CSA Resident Delegate, California Society of Anesthesiologists (CSA)
● Represent UC San Diego to the American Society of Anesthesiologists at annual meeting
● Serve as a voting member of the CSA board of representatives
2018 & 2019
Senior Resident Mentor, UC San Diego Department of Anesthesiology
2015 – 2016
President, Anesthesiology Interest Group (AIG)
Publications
Woolley, C., Gabriel, R., Siad, E., Chen, J. Cryoablation of Inguinal Angiomyomatous Hamartoma: A Case Report. Anesthesia & Analgesia Practice. 2021 Jun 24;15(7)
Woolley, C.; Castellanos, J.: Springer/Lawson Chapter Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. 2021.
Woolley, C., Chen, J. NEU 265: CRC Press Taylor and Francis: Chapter – Chronic Lower Back Pain. 2021.
Woolley, C., Beal, B., Benumof, J., Perioperative care of a chronic pain patient: A case of PACU narcosis, Clinical Anesthesiology: Lessons Learned from Morbidity and Mortality Conferences Vol. 3, Pending Publication
Castellanos, J., Woolley, C., Bruno, KA.; Zeidan, F.; Halberstadt, A.; Furnish, T., Chronic Pain and Psychedelics; A Review and Proposed Mechanism of Action. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2020;0-1-9. doi:10.1136
Woolley, C., Swisher, M., Sanghvi, R., Vital Times: Global Health and Policy Update from UC San Diego Dept. of Anesthesiology. CSA Vital Times; 12/2019
Woolley, C., Oswald, J., Chen, J. Painful inguinal angiomyomatous hamartoma responsive to conservative pain management: A case report. Anesthesia & Analgesia: Practice. Nov 2019;13:10
Castellanos, J., Woolley, C., Furnish, T. The Use of Psychedelics in the Treatment of Chronic Pain. Poster Presentation – Western Anesthesia Regional Conference (WARC); Denver, Colorado, 2019
Woolley, C., Oswald, J., Chen, J. A rare case of painful inguinal angiomyomatous hamartoma and response to conservative pain management. Poster Presentation – ASRA: 44th Annual Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain
Medicine Meeting; Las Vegas, Nevada, 2019
Woolley, C., Nolan, S., Waalen, J., Kimura, B. Appropriate Use of In-Hospital Telemetry Services in the Modern Era: Insights from a Review of 177 Consecutive Code Blues. Poster Presentation – American Heart Association (AHA)
Conference; Anaheim, California, 2018
Woolley, C., Nolan, S., Waalen, J., Kimura, B. Appropriate Use of In-Hospital Telemetry Services in the Modern Era: Insights from a review of 177 consecutive Code Blues. Poster Presentation – Scripps Mercy Hospital Gellar
Presentation; San Diego, California, 2017
Bullough, A., Woolley, C., Goodman J. Sleep Disordered Breathing Symptoms in a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Pregnant Population. Abstract presentation – Euroanaesthesia Congress 2016
Wyszomirski, M., Dwarica, D., Carlile L., Woolley, C., Rugino A., Goodman, J., Cinquegrani, C., Fitzgerald, C., Bullough, A. (2016) The Association of Depression with Sleep Disordered Breathing during Pregnancy. Abstract
Presentation, Loyola University Medical Center St. Albert’s Day Conference 2016
Meech, R., Gomez, M., Woolley, C., Barro, M., Hulin, J.A., Walcott, E., Delgado, J., Makarenkova, H. (2010). The Homeobox Transcription Factor Barx2 Regulates Plasticity of Young Primary Myofibers PLoS One, 5(7): e11612.
Woolley, C. Crohn’s Disease: Pathogenesis and Therapies; A look to the past and a link to the future, Master’s Literary Thesis: Tufts University School of Medicine and Public Health, 2011
Interests
- Golf
- Cooking
- Wood-working
- Gardening
- Travel
Patient Reviews
[More reviews coming soon]