Early in his career, Dr. Todd Bertoch was an anesthesiologist in the United States Air Force, where he gained extensive experience in both trauma medicine and pain management, and learned first-hand how limited the options can be for treating pain.

Now, decades later, Dr. Bertoch says little advancement has been made for helping people in pain.

“We are in between a rock and hard place as prescribers,” he says.

While Dr. Bertoch is still a practicing anesthesiologist, he spends the majority of his time dedicated to researching new treatment options.

“My hope is that one day relieving a person’s pain won’t come with devastating potential consequences,” he says.

Watch the video below to learn more about Dr. Bertoch and how his own experience with pain has empowered the work he does today: