Meet Albert Akkerman, M.D.
Sheila Walier, Brooks Community
Relations (SW): Welcome to Brooks Memorial Hospital and the Northern
Chautauqua County community, Dr. Akkerman.
We’ve been anxiously awaiting your arrival.
Dr. Albert Akkerman (AA): Thank you. I’m happy to be here.
SW: What made you interested in joining Brooks and re-locating to our quaint Dunkirk/Fredonia community?
AA: I earned my medical degree at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn and have enjoyed the multi-cultural aspects of the New York City area. I understand that this area is growing into a multi-cultural niche, and the people are very friendly. I am no stranger to the cold weather either. I was born in Siberia and was raised in Russia.
SW: I’m happy to hear that you won’t be at all surprised by our cold weather then. So you are a Pain Management Doctor. Tell us what that means.
AA: I am a Board Certified Anesthesiologist, with extensive experience in Interventional Pain Management. To be more specific, Interventional Pain Medicine is a relatively new but growing field that utilizes a variety of procedures such as injections, nerve blocks, and physical therapy to treat chronic pain.
There are many types of specialized procedures for the treatment of pain, and a wide range of treatment options. My focus is on health and wellness and to thoroughly diagnose the source of each patient’s pain, while avoiding some of the common pitfalls and social aspects that can be associated with pain management.
SW: And you will lead the new Pain Management Clinic at the hospital. Will you tell us more about that?
AA: The new Pain Management Clinic will be located on the main floor of the hospital near the Outpatient Registration area. The opening of the Clinic at Brooks is consistent with the Chautauqua County’s Health Improvement Plan (2014-2017) goal to decrease substance abuse in the region. Patients will need to have a referral from a primary care physician so that treatment takes a multi-disciplined and fully monitored approach.
I am available to answer any questions from individual community members via myhealth@brookshospital.org. And, lastly, I look forward to living and working with all of you in this community.
SW: Once again, Dr. Akkerman, welcome aboard. We are delighted that you have arrived and we hope you will enjoy our continually growing melting pot here in our region and at Brooks.
Dr. Albert Akkerman (AA): Thank you. I’m happy to be here.
SW: What made you interested in joining Brooks and re-locating to our quaint Dunkirk/Fredonia community?
AA: I earned my medical degree at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn and have enjoyed the multi-cultural aspects of the New York City area. I understand that this area is growing into a multi-cultural niche, and the people are very friendly. I am no stranger to the cold weather either. I was born in Siberia and was raised in Russia.
SW: I’m happy to hear that you won’t be at all surprised by our cold weather then. So you are a Pain Management Doctor. Tell us what that means.
AA: I am a Board Certified Anesthesiologist, with extensive experience in Interventional Pain Management. To be more specific, Interventional Pain Medicine is a relatively new but growing field that utilizes a variety of procedures such as injections, nerve blocks, and physical therapy to treat chronic pain.
There are many types of specialized procedures for the treatment of pain, and a wide range of treatment options. My focus is on health and wellness and to thoroughly diagnose the source of each patient’s pain, while avoiding some of the common pitfalls and social aspects that can be associated with pain management.
SW: And you will lead the new Pain Management Clinic at the hospital. Will you tell us more about that?
AA: The new Pain Management Clinic will be located on the main floor of the hospital near the Outpatient Registration area. The opening of the Clinic at Brooks is consistent with the Chautauqua County’s Health Improvement Plan (2014-2017) goal to decrease substance abuse in the region. Patients will need to have a referral from a primary care physician so that treatment takes a multi-disciplined and fully monitored approach.
I am available to answer any questions from individual community members via myhealth@brookshospital.org. And, lastly, I look forward to living and working with all of you in this community.
SW: Once again, Dr. Akkerman, welcome aboard. We are delighted that you have arrived and we hope you will enjoy our continually growing melting pot here in our region and at Brooks.