General Info:
Dr. Michael Willens' passion for being a doctor arises from his childhood experiences of being a patient. He developed a deep respect and love for his own doctors who took great care of him and comforted him as a child. These experiences helped shape his vision of the art and practice of medicine. With this in mind, he studied Psychology, Philosophy and the Pre-Medical Sciences at Michigan State University. It was at this time that he was exposed to the similarities between Quantum Physics and the Eastern Philosophies. One of the essential principles of these very different disciplines was the duality of energy and matter: of the spirit and the body. The application of this phenomenon would become an important part of his interest to treat Pain and relieve suffering. In searching for the best medical school, he found that the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine was one of the best programs in the country for Biomechanics; Medicine; and Osteopathic Manual Medicine. In addition, the holistic philosophy and the practical skills of Osteopathic Medicine were ideal for the treatment of Pain. Following his intensive medical internship at Detroit Henry Ford and Riverview Hospitals, he went on to a residency in Anesthesiology and Pain Management at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. As a Special Fellow, he studied directly under Dr. Michael Stanton-Hicks, the world renowned physician and researcher. He formed lasting and strong professional relationships with his professors and is honored that they give him their highest recommendations. At The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, all treatments for Pain are utilized. It was there that he was first introduced to Acupuncture and its effectiveness in treating pain. Because of this experience he pursued advanced studies in Acupuncture with Dr. Joseph Helms from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA to augment his skills and knowledge. Dr. Willens has combined his interests, passions, skills, and knowledge in all that he does. He is a professional photographer, amateur astronomer, musician, artist, philosopher, physician, husband and father of four boys. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2001 and established the Advanced Pain Management Clinic. His vision is to create a warm, comfortable and home-like environment where patients can be accurately diagnosed and the best treatment options can be implemented.