The Maryland Pain and Spine Center is under the direction of Vajira Gunawardane, M.D., who began this practice in 2004 as the Advanced Pain Management Center at Carroll Hospital in Westminster. This was the first comprehensive Interventional pain management Center in Carroll County.

A large population of patients who had no access to advanced interventional pain procedures had a tremendous benefit of Dr. Gunawardane’s expertise. Some patients who were medically managed with chronic opiate therapy for many years were able to give up their opiates after the interventions. Most patients would describe him “as a compassionate, caring physician who has the patience to listen”.

A physician who is board-certified in anesthesiology and pain management, Dr. Gunawardane completed his residency in Anesthesiology at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He completed his fellowship in interventional Pain Management at University of Maryland Medical Center in 1995. Thereafter he stayed on faculty as a teacher, clinician and took part in leading research. He remained an Assistant Professor until 2004 at the University of Maryland.