Douglas Chang, MD, PhD is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who specializes in the non-surgical treatment of back/neck pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Dr. Chang's passion of athletics, curiosity about movement mechanics, and desire to improve people's quality of life led him to pursue his profession as both a physician and researcher. He says that the most satisfying aspect of his practice is listening to his patients tell him about their activity exploits after treatment and hearing a patient say, "There is life after pain!" As a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Chang instructs medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He participates in research on the effects of prolonged weightlessness on neck and back pain in NASA astronauts, yoga on chronic back pain in veterans, as well as psychological strategies to eliminate fear of re-injury after an injury or fall.Dr. Chang completed a fellowship in spine and sports medicine in Zurich, Switzerland with the lead physician of the FIFA World Cup Soccer organization. He completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Stanford University, where he provided medical care for college athletes, including cross-country and distance runners. Dr. Chang earned his medical degree and his doctorate in bioengineering from UC San Diego. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and sports medicine.To stay in shape, Dr. Chang currently swims, works out at the gym and chases after his two young sons.UC San Diego Health LinksFor more information, see http://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/surgery/ortho/Pages/default.aspx and http://sportsmedicine.ucsd.edu.