Our experienced and caring team of health care professionals includes specialists in interventional pain management, medication management, clinical psychology, as well as a physical therapy department, which includes massage therapy, and specialists in complementary and alternative medicine. By collaborating on cases at our Provider’s Roundtable we offer our patients the most appropriate combination of treatments to alleviate or, when possible, eliminate their pain.
Julien Vaisman
Dr. Julien Vaisman founded the Pain and Wellness Center in 1996. He is Board certified in Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology and Pain Management.
Dr. Vaisman has performed thousands of interventional pain management procedures, including the administration of spinal injections, placement of implantable medical devices and other surgical interventions.
Pain is only a means to an end; to find a diagnosis or at the very least a way to relieve it.
Dr. Vaisman is an avid skier and tennis player. But his real passion belongs to the game of bridge!
Education & Publications
Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel, 1977-1980 Residency in Internal Medicine, La Guardia Hospital, Cornell Medical Center 1986-1989
Pain Management Fellowship, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 1989-1990
Residency in Anesthesia, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 1992-1996
Certifications
Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine
Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology
Diplomat of the American Board of Pain Management
Memberships
Member of International Society for the Study of Pain
Member of the International Spinal Injection Society
Select Publications
Percutaneous lumbar decompression with Spine Jet Hydro Surgery in the treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis secondary to ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, Anesth Pain Med, 2016 August ;6(4) : e38059.
Safety and efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves for the management of chronic migraine : Long term results from a randomized, multicenter, double blinded, controlled study. Cephalalgia 2015 Apr 35(4):344-58, Dodick DV, …Vaisman.J.
Supraorbital and Supratrochlear stimulation for Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias, Current Pain and Headache Reports, February 2014,18:409. Julien Vaisman, Edrick Lopez, Nicholas K. Muraoka.
Poster presentation at the joint meeting of the International Headache congress and American Headache Society, Boston, June 2013: Evidence for long-term efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves in the management of chronic migraine. Dodick, D., Vaisman, J., et al.
Safety and efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation on the occipital nerves for the management of chronic migraine: Results from a randomized, multicenter double-blinded, controlled study. Cephalalgia 2012, Dec 32(16):1165-79. Silberstein, S.D., Vaisman, J., et al.
Vaisman, J.,Ordia, J. The Treatment of Medically Intractable Trigeminal Auonomic Cephalalgia With Supraorbital/Supratrochlear Stimulation: A retrospective Case Series, Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural interface 2012; 15:374-380
Treatment of Chronic, Intractable Pain with a Conventional Implantable Pulse Generator, A Meta-analysis of 4 Clinical Studies, Vaisman, J., Slavin, KV et al.Clinical Journal of Pain 2012, 00:000-000
Ordia, J.I., Vaisman, J.: Subcutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation With Paddle Lead for Treatment of Low Back pain: Case report. J Neuromodulation, Vo.l 12; No. 3, 2009
Polymethylmetacrylate -filled needle track three weeks after percutaneous vertebroplasty published in Pain Physicians, the official publication of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians 2004
Refractory episodic cluster headache response to percutaneous cervical zygapophyseal radiofrequency ablation: a case report, published inHEADACHE: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, the official, peer-reviewed journal of the American Headache Society, 2002
Interventional Pain Management: Interventional techniques for the alleviation of pain in the care of HIV – infected patients, a chapter in the book Pain Management, Anesthesia and HIV / AIDS, edited by Srdjan S. Nedeljkovic, and published by Butterworth – Heinemann, 2001
Pelvic Hematoma after an Illioinguinal Block for Orchialgia published in Anesthesia & Analgesia, the official publication of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) 2001
Pulse Radiofrequency: a new and ingenious modality for pain management, published in the New England Pain Association Newsletter, Vol. 4, Issue 2, September 1999
Regression of Sensory Anesthesia During Continuous Epidural Infusion of Bupivacaine and Opioid for the Total Knee Replacement, published in Anesthesia and Analgesia, 1993
Acupuncture Obstetric Analgesia, published in the Manual of Obstetric Anesthesia, edited by G.W. Ostheimer, Churchill-Livingstone, 2nd edition, 1992
Painful Rheumatoid Arthritis Care, curriculum for professional education published in PAIN, the official journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), 1991
David Napoli
Dr. Napoli is a graduate of the University of Rome “La Sapienza”.
Postgraduate training:
Primary Care Internship at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT
Anesthesiology Residency at Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Neurosurgical Anesthesia Fellowship at Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Certification:
Dr. Napoli is a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology.
Clinical Experience:
18 years in Boston at Boston University and Harvard Affiliated tertiary hospitals,
where he was involved with teaching of medical school students, and clinical training of
Anesthesia residents.
Charity work:
One surgical mission in Quito, Ecuador for Microtia Ear Reconstruction in children,
Four surgical missions in Cartagena, Colombia for babies with cleft palate.
Richard Steinbrook
Dr. Richard Steinbrook is a board-certified anesthesiologist and Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School in Boston MA. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he completed residency and fellowship training in anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Steinbrook is currently on staff at Mass General Brigham-Salem Hospital and at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; he has also practiced at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Tufts Medical Center. The author of more than 50 articles on anesthesia-related topics, Dr. Steinbrook is experienced in the anesthetic management of patients undergoing a wide variety of surgical, obstetric, and other interventional procedures.
David Garas
Dr. David Garas is a dual board-certified pain physician. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, followed by anesthesiology residency training at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and pain management fellowship training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Known for his approachable demeanor, he values building personal connections with his patients. This commitment, coupled with his expertise, makes him a trusted figure in pain management, dedicated to improving the lives of those he treats.
Jane Sammarco
Jane joined the Pain and Wellness Center in October, 2009 as a full time Nurse Practitioner. She previously worked at Advanced Pain Management in Stoneham, MA, for two years, managing patients with chronic pain as well as with substance abuse and opioid addiction. Jane completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of Vermont in 2003 and soon realized that she wanted to pursue a career as a Nurse Practitioner. Subsequently, Jane achieved a Bachelor’s in Nursing in 2006, and Master’s in Nursing in 2007 from Regis College in Weston, MA. She is now an AANP board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Jane enjoys traveling and loves to ski.
Education
Regis College, Weston, MA
Master of Science in Nursing, May 2007
Family Nurse Practitioner
Regis College, Weston, MA
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, May 2006
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Bachelor of Science in Biology, 2003
Research
Masters Thesis: Regis College (May 2007)
“The Meaning of Physical Activity in the Lives of Breast Cancer
Survivors.”
S. Saman, S., Saman, J. Parker. “Gene Isolation and Characterization
of Antibiotic Resistance from the Charles River as Biosensor
Indicators for Water Biodefense.” Mass. Bay Community College,
Wellesley, MA. Presented at ASM Biodefense Research Meeting,
Baltimore, MD, March 8, 2004.
Licensure & Certification
Massachusetts Registered Nurse (License # 268095)
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program: Family
Nurse Practitioner (Certification # F0707047)
Christina Abate
Christina joined the Pain and Wellness Center May 2021. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Biology/Biotechnology at Assumption College in 2005 and completed her Bachelor of Nursing from Regis College in 2008. She previously worked at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston 2008-2021. From 2008-2011 Christina worked as a Registered Nurse on a medical-surgical floor while completing a Master’s in Nursing (2011). She then worked as a Nurse Practitioner in Interventional Radiology from 20111-2017 and then from 2017-2021 in Radiation Oncology. Christina enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with husband and two daughters living in the north shore.
Sheila Mcnaught
Sheila joined the Pain and Wellness Center June 2021. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Biology/Biotechnology at Assumption College in 2005 and completed her Bachelor of Nursing from Regis College in 2008. She previously worked at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston 2008-2021. From 2008-2012, Sheila worked as a Registered Nurse on a medical-surgical floor while completing a Master’s in Nursing (2011). She then worked as a Nurse Practitioner for the Anesthesia Department at BIDMC from 2012-2021. Sheila enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children.
Peter Mosbach
Dr. Mosbach joined the Pain and Wellness Center as Staff Psychologist in 1998. His clinical activities are broad but focus on patients with chronic pain disorders; He is involved in the evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic and acute pain disorders and other neurological problems such as seizure disorders and head injuries. Dr Mosbach’s clinical expertise extends to the evaluation and treatment of individuals with a combination of medical and psychological disorders, specializing in assisting individuals and families in coping with chronic neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine.
Education & Publications
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Degree Awarded: May 1987
M.S. Clinical Psychology University of Wisconsin -Madison, Degree Awarded: May 1982
B.A. Psychology University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Degree Awarded: June 1973
Licensure
Massachusetts
Academic Affiliation
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine
Professional Affiliations
American Psychological Association.
Massachusetts Psychological Association.
Professional Experience / Clinical Experience
December, 1997-Present: Psychologist, Acton Psychiatric Associates, Acton, MA. Private practice with adults involving psychotherapy, neuropsychological and psychological testing.
January 1998- Present: Staff Psychologist, Pain and Wellness Center, Peabody, Massachusetts. Evaluation and treatment of individuals with chronic pain. Evaluation of individuals for psychological contraindications who are being considering for specialized procedures such as implantable morphine pumps and spinal cord stimulators.
July 2005-Present: Consulting Psychologist: Boston Medical Center Sickle Cell Center. Administering Neuropsychological Tests to subjects involved in a multi-center study on the effects of blood transfusions on cognitive functioning in sickle cell patients.
June, 1988-August 2005: Staff Psychologist, Boston University Neurology Associates, Department of Neurology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA.
December, 1995-September 2003: Staff Psychologist, Headache and Facial Pain Center, Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA. (Facility ceased operation September 2003).
July, 1996-December 1999: Consulting psychologist, Huntington’s Disease Porcine Transplant Study. Psychological evaluation of Huntington’s disease porcine transplant subjects pre-and post surgery.
January, 1995-July, 2000: Mentor Head Injury Rehabilitation Program, Woburn, MA. Consulting Psychologist.
December, 1994-December, 1997: National Acute Brain Injury Study: Hypothermia. Neuropsychological evaluation of patients with severe head injury receiving hypothermia treatment. Part of a national multi-center research grant.
July, 1994-December, 1997: North Suffolk Mental Health Association, Boston, MA. Consulting Psychologist.
September, 1988-December 1989: Consulting Psychologist Boston Police Department, Medical Affairs Division.
Responsibilities involved evaluating police officers with a history of stress disorders to determine fitness for duty.
January, 1985- September 1986 Community Re-Entry Services, Lynn, MA. Psychology Associate. Involved in assessment and social and vocational rehabilitation of head injured adults in a residential setting. Responsibilities included: individual, group and family treatment as well as program development and evaluation.
September, 1983-August, 1984. Boston VA. Medical Center. APA approved clinical internship. Rotations included health psychology and inpatient psychiatry.
September, 1980-August 1983. Anxiety Disorders Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Hospitals. Involved in the evaluation and treatment of adults with phobic and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Utilization Review and Disability Determination Experience
December 2004-Present: Psychologist Advisor: Disability Evaluation Services, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Auburn, Massachusetts. Evaluation of medical records and determination of disability for individuals applying for Medicaid and SSI.
April 2005-Present: Consulting psychologist, Alicare Medical Management: Salem, New Hampshire. Utilization review of requests for psychological and neuropsychological tests.
June 2004-Present: Consulting Psychologist, Disability Management Alternatives, Inc; Northfield, Illinois. Reviewed medical records of individuals applying for long-term disability.
October 2004-Present: Consulting Psychologist: Reed Review Services, Boca Raton, Florida. Reviewed medical records of individuals applying for short-term and long-term disability.
July 2004-Present: Consulting Psychologist: MES Solutions, Norwood, Massachusetts. Utilization review of worker’s compensation
November, 1994-Present: Consulting Psychologist Peer Review Analysis, Inc. (MCMC,LLC) Boston, Massachusetts. Utilization review involving medical necessity for mental health services for worker’s compensation managed care insurers and auto accident cases. Also performed long and short-term disability determinations.
January 1998-Present: Consulting Psychologist: Disability Evaluation Services, Auburn, Massachusetts (state agency). Evaluation of individuals applying for Medicaid involving clinical interviews and administration of psychological and neuropsychological tests.
January 1998-Present: Consulting Psychologist: Disability Determination Services, Boston Massachusetts (state agency). Evaluation of individuals applying for Social Security Disability involving clinical interviews and administration of psychological and neuropsychological tests.
Publications
Feldman, R., Mosbach, P., Thomas, C, & Perry, L. Psychosocial Factors in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease: A Contextual Approach.In A. Cohen and W. Weiner (Eds.), Comprehensive Management of Parkinson’s Disease. New York: Demos Press, 1995
Feldman, R., Mosbach, P. Thomas, C., Kelly, M. & St. Hilaire, M. Double-blind comparison of Sinemet and Sinemet CR in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s Disease. Neurology (Supplement 2), 96-101, Vol. 39, 1989.
Feldman, R., Mosbach, P., Thomas. C. & St. Hilaire, M. Etiology of Parkinson’s Disease. American Parkinson’s Disease Association Newsletter, October, 1989.
Mosbach, P. & Leventhal, H. Peer group identification and smoking: Implications for intervention. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 238-245, Vol. 97, 1988.
Leventhal, H & Mosbach, P. The Perceptual-motor theory of emotions. In J. Cacciopo, and R. Petty (Eds.) Social Psychophysiology, New York, Guilford Press, 1983.,
Abstracts
Mosbach, P.A., Auerbach, S.H. & St. Hilaire, M. Phototherapy as a treatment for sleep disorder in Parkinson’s disease: A case study. American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, New York, NY., April 1993.
Auerbach, S.H., Mosbach, P.A. & Licata-Gehr, E. Sundowning and advanced sleep phase in Alzheimer’s disease. Northeastern Sleep Society Annual Meeting, Warwick, RI., April 1993.
Sax, D.S. Kornetsky, C., Mosbach, P. A. & Kim, A. Naltrexone in the treatment of dyskinesias associated with Huntington’s disease.American College of Neuropharmacology Annual Meeting, San Juan, PR., December, 1992.
Sax, D.S., Kornetsky, C., Mosbach, P.A., Myers, R.H. & Feldman, R.G. Safety and efficacy of Naltrexone in the treatment of Huntington’s disease and severe oral-lingual dyskinesias. American Neurological Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, October, 1992.
Auerbach, S.H. and Mosbach, P.A. Pseudoseizures: The value of early identification of childhood sexual abuse. American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA., May, 1992.
Sax, D.S., Kornetsky, K, Mosbach, P.A., Myers, R.S., Feldman, R.G.Naltrexone in the treatment of chorea in Huntington’s disease.American Neurological Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA., October, 1991.
Wolf, P.A., Feldman, R.G., St. Hilaire, M., Kelly-Hayes, M., Torres, F.J., Mosbach, P.M., Kase, C.S., & D’Agostino, R.B. Precursors and natural history of Parkinson’s disease: The Framingham Study. American Academy of Neurology Annual Conference, Boston, MA, April, 1991.
Mosbach, P. St., St. Hilaire, M. & Feldman, R.G. Correlates of Visual Hallucinations in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease patients. American Academy of Neurology Annual Conference, Miami Beach, FL., May, 1990.
St. Hilaire, M. & Mosbach, P. Hallucinations in Parkinson’s Disease.International Conference of French Language Neurology, Montreal, Canada, July, 1989.
St. Hilaire, M., Mosbach, P., Usher, G. & Feldman, R. Parkbase: A relational database for Parkinson’s disease patients. International Congress on Parkinson’s disease. Tel Aviv, Israel, May, 1988.
Glosser, D., Mosbach, P., Thomas, C., Kelly, M. & Feldman, R. Correlates of depression in Parkinson’s disease patients. American Academy of Neurology Annual Conference, Cincinnati, OH., April, 1988.
Mosbach, P. & Leventhal, H. A peer groups approach to adolescent substance use. American Psychological Association Annual Convention, New York, August 1987.
Mosbach, P. A six-stage intervention model for the rehabilitation of head injured adults. Southwest Regional Head Injury Conference, Cancun, Mexico, January, 1987.
Mosbach, P. An intervention model for the vocational rehabilitation of head injured adults. Southwest Regional Head Injury Conference, Snowmass, CO., January, 1986.
Hirschman, R., Glynn, K., & Mosbach, P. Predictors of cigarette smoking behavior in elementary and junior high school students.American Public Health Association Annual Convention, Dallas, TX., November, 1983.
Presentations
Coping with dystonia and related disorders. Presented at the South Shore Dystonia Support Group, Brockton, MA., February, 1995.
Effective methods for coping with Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of the South Shore, South Shore Hospital, South Weymouth, MA., November 1994.
How to effectively cope with Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the Winchester Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, Winchester, MA., May, 1993.
Coping with Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the Andover Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, Andover, MA., May, 1993.
Behavioral Management of Huntington’s Disease. Presented to the staff of the Pine Street Inn, Boston, MA., December 1992.
Coping with behavioral symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.Presented at the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of the South Shore, South Shore Hospital, S. Weymouth, MA. October, 1992.
Coping with Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the North Shore Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, Lynnfield, MA., October 1992.
Dealing with Dystonia and related disorders. Presented at the South Shore Dystonia Support Group, Cardinal Cushing Hospital, Brockton, MA., September, 1992.
How to Cope with Parkinson’s disease. Presented to the Parkinson’s Support Group of Winchester, MA., November, 7, 1991.
Coping with Parkinson’s disease. Presented to the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of Augusta, Maine, May 19, 1991.
University Hospital’s Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Team.Presented at a Conference Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern Massachusetts, November, 1990.
Coping with Parkinson’s disease (facilitated panel discussion). Boston University Medical School Department of Neurology, Symposium on Parkinson’s disease, May, 1990.
How to cope with Parkinson’s disease. Presented to Parkinson’s disease Support Group of Cape Cod, February, 1990.
Strategies for coping with Parkinson’s disease. Presented to Newton-Wellesley Hospital Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, February, 1989.
Hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease. Department of Neurology Grand Rounds, Boston VA Medical Center, February, 1989.
Coping with Parkinson’s disease. Boston University Parkinson’s Disease Information and Referral Center Symposium, April, 1988.
A multi-stage model for the community re-integration of the head injured adult. Braintree Hospital Traumatic Head Injury Conference, Braintree, MA., October, 1986.
An intervention model for the vocational rehabilitation of head injured adults. Northeast Rehabilitation Association Annual Convention, Cromwell, CT., May, 1986.
Scott Braje
Scott joined the Pain and Wellness Center at the beginning of 2008, as the Director of the Physical Therapy Department. His treatments focus on attaining maximal functional results and pain reduction with each session by incorporating specific hands-on techniques, proper stretching, strengthening, coordination and balance training. He has treated outpatient orthopedic and chronic pain patients throughout his career in various settings, including his work with elite athletes for high performance training.
Scott graduated with his Master’s in PT in 2000 from Andrews University in Dayton, OH. In 1996, he attained his B.S. in Sports Science from Colorado University which included a Minor in Anatomy and Neurobiology as well as a concentration in Wellness Program Management and Cardiac Rehabilitation, and was a personal trainer before his physical therapy career. Scott received his Manual Therapy Certification from Great Lakes Seminars in 2004 and is a Head Instructor with Great Lakes Seminars, teaching orthopedic manual therapy courses throughout the nation. He is also certified in Integrated Dry Needling (CIDN) since 2018 through Dr. Yun-tao Ma and incorporates needling and cupping into treatments when appropriate.
In his personal time, he enjoys competing in triathlons, engaging in just about any sport including football, hockey, and snowboarding. He lives with his wife and 3 children in Groveland, MA.
Susan Shaver
Susan grew up in Rhode Island and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) in 2006 from the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA), the oldest school in the US. She is Board Certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) (Dipl. OM), licensed by the Board of Acupuncture Licensing (NH) and the Board of Registration in Medicine (MA). Susan has worked with patients in her own clinic in Watertown, MA, and also with fertility patients at the Domar Center at Boston IVF.
Susan loves being able to help people realize their fullest potential in life. In her words, “once the pain and reactions to stress are removed, a new vibrancy and purpose for your life will naturally unfold.” Susan is experienced in treating patients of all kinds and has developed a special interest in pain conditions, fertility, women’s health, sleep, and mental health issues. When she is not at the office, Susan enjoys spending time outside hiking and exploring nature, traveling, reading, experimenting in the kitchen, and playing board games with friends.
Suzanne Choquette
Sue is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
She received her Master of Acupuncture in Chinese and Japanese acupuncture styles from the New England School of Acupuncture at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and completed a 900-hour massage therapy program from MTI/Cortiva Boston. She also graduated from Simmons College with a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Teaching.
Sue’s comprehensive experience as an acupuncturist and massage therapist allows her to offer a range of modalities to help her patients achieve better health. She enjoys working with patients who are looking to improve their health with this ancient medicine. Her interests are in musculoskeletal, digestive and mental health issues.
During her free time, Sue loves to walk in the many parks near her home and enjoys going to art museums with friends.
Emma Cataldi
Dr. Cataldi is a graduate of Robert Wood Johnson-Rutgers Medical School, Camden NJ, 1988. She did her Anesthesia Residency at Yale University Hospital, New Haven Ct in 1992 and is a Board Certified Diplomat, 1993.
Andrew Fleming
Bio coming soon!
