Q&A: Samuel F. Luebbert, MD

Samuel F. Luebbert, M.D. earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, VA and completed a fellowship in Pain Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. He is board certified in anesthesiology.

What brought you into the field of pain management?

I find treating pain to be extremely rewarding. Chronic pain is one of the biggest reasons patients go see their doctor, and it is frequently undertreated. Reducing chronic pain can dramatically change patients’ lives, and I am glad I can provide that service.

What diagnostic specialties / treatments interest you most?

I am particularly interested in neuromodulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and minimally invasive spine interventions. These are areas of chronic pain medicine where technologies and therapies are advancing rapidly.

What excites you about working at NSPC?

NSPC affiliates are national leaders in chronic pain medicine. The company has a large number of resources and is leading the way in research and new therapies to treat chronic pain.

What do you like most about your job?

Ultimately, I want to make my patients’ lives better. Many of my patients just want to be able to do tasks that were once simple, like going for a walk, without experiencing debilitating pain. No one should have to live with chronic pain. Being able to give patients their lives back is what I find most rewarding about my job.

What makes you different from other doctors in your practice?

I have a significant amount of regional anesthesia experience and am skilled in therapies that involve targeting peripheral nerves.

What are your favorite activities outside of work?

Hiking and skiing.

What would you do for a living if you were not a doctor?

I would probably be an engineer. I am interested in ways that technology can improve people’s lives.

What is the most important factor in a doctor-patient relationship and why?

I think that honesty and transparency are the most important factors in a doctor-patient relationship. I think some doctors tend to talk over their patients. Being a good doctor means providing patients with multiple therapy options and explaining those options in a way they understand.