From Passion to Practice: Dr. Shailesh “Shay” S. Pathare’s Inspiring Journey

Advanced Spine Care & Pain Management, led by Dr. Shailesh (Shay) S. Pathare, has served Staten Island patients for more than two decades, following Dr. Pathare’s fellowship training at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

The founding vision was, and remains, to help patients find lasting relief from chronic back and neck pain while avoiding major spine surgery and addictive pain medications. That mission has guided the practice for over 20 years.

The ultimate mission of Advanced Spine Care & Pain Management extends beyond treating pain; it is to help patients reclaim their quality of life. By relieving chronic pain without unnecessary surgery and without dependence on opioids, the practice helps patients return to work, family, and the activities they love.

Dr. Pathare believes every patient deserves to know all of their options before considering spine surgery or spinal fusion. Today there are new, effective alternatives to invasive procedures, and they work. Because Dr. Pathare is also board certified in Addiction Medicine, avoiding dependence on pain medication is built into every treatment plan from the start.

What makes Dr. Pathare unique is his combination of experience, integrity, skill, and board certification in three separate medical specialties: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pain Management, and Addiction Medicine. Advanced Spine Care & Pain Management’s 2nd Opinion Before Spine Surgery program also sets it apart, offering advanced interventional treatments, including radiofrequency ablation, endoscopic rhizotomy, medial branch nerve blocks, and spinal cord stimulators, that have helped thousands of patients find relief without surgery.

In over 20 years of practice, Dr. Pathare has also come to the realization that deep trigger points in the muscles of the back and neck can be causing severe pain that results in unnecessary surgery. He has treated numerous patients over the years who were told they needed surgery and were able to avoid surgery with deep trigger point injections as the main treatment.

Dr. Pathare himself has had neck problems and herniated disks. He has been told that he needs spinal fusion in the neck and has avoided it successfully with some of the same treatment options that he recommends to his patients. Because of this he has a unique understanding of pain from the patient’s perspective.

At Advanced Spine Care & Pain Management, patients see the doctor, not a physician assistant or nurse practitioner. Dr. Pathare performs every procedure himself, having completed more than 10,000 interventional pain procedures and nerve blocks in the spine, joints, muscles, and around nerves. He is present after every procedure to answer questions, takes time to listen, and explains every condition and option in plain language.

You have options. If you have been told you need spine surgery, or if other treatments have not worked, Dr. Pathare wants you to know that thousands of patients have found relief without surgery, and a second opinion could change your life.

Caring. Honest. Experienced.

Dr. Pathare and his team build trust by listening first. Patients consistently describe him as trustworthy, honest, and attentive, a doctor who explains conditions clearly, offers real-life advice, and genuinely cares about their well-being. Many patients say visiting the office feels like being part of a family, an atmosphere the friendly staff works to create at every visit.

Dr. Pathare has personally lived with multiple disc herniations for many years and has been told by multiple surgeons that he needs a spinal fusion. He has successfully avoided spine surgery, eliminated his pain, and avoided addictive pain medications, and he shares that firsthand knowledge with every patient. When he tells a patient surgery should be the last resort, he speaks from experience. This adds a unique additional benefit that most doctors just cannot provide. Over the years, Dr. Pathare has found efficient ways of exercising without aggravating herniated disc pain and neck and back pain. Many patients try exercise, which worsens their existing condition and pain.

Dr. Pathare’s passion for science began early, growing up in Queens, NY, and attending the renowned Bronx High School of Science. What continues to motivate him every day is watching patients return to full, active lives, without surgery and without addictive medications. When Dr. Pathare was 11 years old, he became even more passionate about medicine when he saw his father’s life being saved in the emergency room during a severe asthma attack.

Dr. Pathare suffered a back injury when he was 21 years old, immediately before entering medical school. He went to several doctors who treated him like a number, did not communicate, did not answer questions or provide information, and simply did not care about him as a patient at all. He was told to do certain things without explanation in a very rushed manner, and because of that was turned off to the entire experience. Because of this experience, he makes sure that his patients are never treated like this. Dr. Pathare spends time with each patient and treats them like a family member, answers all questions, and most of all cares for the patient.

Dr. Pathare is a Triple Board Certified physician practicing in NY and NJ, certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pain Management, and Addiction Medicine, with a focus on alcohol addiction and treatment. He earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in 1995, completed residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Thomas Jefferson University and MedStar Georgetown University, and completed his fellowship training at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. He has served as Chief of Pain Management Services at Richmond University Medical Center for the past 20 years and has been in clinical practice for 24 years.

We know choosing a pain management specialist is deeply personal. Everything shared on this page reflects our commitment to helping you find relief — and to making sure you know all of your options before considering surgery. We view every patient relationship as a true partnership, built on trust, honesty, and mutual respect. Thank you for considering us; we genuinely look forward to welcoming you into our practice family.

For more information, contact us or book an appointment online today! We are conveniently located at 565 Jewett Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302. We proudly serve patients from Staten Island NY, Prince’s Bay NY, Midland Beach NY, Todt Hill NY, St. George NY, Westerleigh NY, Dongan Hills NY, and surrounding areas.