Arti Panjwani, DO

Dr. Arti Panjwani is a board certified physician with over a decade of experience in managing musculoskeletal pain conditions in both the office-based private practice setting, as well as in inpatient facilities. She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and additionally holds board certification in Lifestyle Medicine by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She is also certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy , an evidence-based treatment for chronic pain. She uniquely blends her expertise in these fields of medicine to provide a whole-person, root cause approach to pain care.

Dr. Panjwani is affiliated with North Shore University Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the Northwell Health System as a member of the medical staff.

A native Long Islander, Dr. Panjwani graduated from Jericho High School and went on to complete her undergraduate education at Tufts University in Massachusetts. She then returned to LI to attend medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. Following medical school, she completed her residency training in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

Dr. Panjwani is actively involved in several professional organizations. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and a Diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and an active member in the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Passionate about her work, Dr. Panjwani has been an invited speaker at national academic medical conferences, hospital Grand Rounds, as well as community events. She is also an expert contributor in the field of pain medicine for local publications.

Dr. Panjwani enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. She enjoys cooking, family dinners, and fitness, especially pilates, yoga and hiking.

Education

Undergraduate: Tufts University

Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: In Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Why did you become a doctor?

As the daughter of two physicians, I saw first hand how my parents positively impacted the lives of others every single day. I saw them as heroes by the care they delivered and the lives they touched. It was with this perspective that I knew early on I wanted to be part of this incredible profession committed to helping others.

Why did you choose to specialize in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation?

This was a simple decision. My love for medicine is more than the diagnosis and treatment of illness; it stems from helping people live healthier lives and achieve their full functional potential. I found Physiatry to be a very unique specialty that uses a holistic, multifaceted, team-based approach to care that focuses on how a patient’s medical condition affects all aspects of their life. I was immediately attracted to this model of care that focuses on the whole person, not just their disease. Throughout my journey in this field, I’ve met so many amazing colleagues and patients that inspire me every day. This positive feedback loop keeps me engaged, excited, and motivated to provide the best care I can.

How did you become interested in Lifestyle Medicine?

Physiatrists are at the forefront of treating acute and chronic pain conditions and are frequently asked to manage pain as a method of improving function. Throughout my professional career, I found that my practice, too, centered around musculoskeletal pain. I was especially intrigued when different patients with identical structural findings on imaging studies (such as an MRI), experienced significantly varying degrees of symptoms and pain levels. As I dug deeper, I found that certain lifestyle behaviors impacted the manifestation of symptoms and began to notice trends among those who experienced high levels of pain and those who didn’t.

Simultaneously, I was getting frustrated by the widespread use of opioids and other pharmacological treatment options that didn’t seem to solve the pervasive prevalence of pain. I found limitations in a fragmented model of pain care that relied too heavily on medications, interventional procedures, and surgical options without adequately addressing the underlying causes of pain. I felt there had to be a better way.

My quest to find a more comprehensive and sustainable solution to the pain problem led me to the field of Lifestyle Medicine. I was impressed by the breadth of research and development in the area of lifestyle behaviors and chronic disease. The applicability of the Lifestyle Medicine paradigm to Physiatry and pain care, in particular, became immediately apparent.

What interests you most about your role?

To not just manage symptoms, but to find and treat the root causes of disease and dysfunction. Better solutions require an investment of time–it takes time to understand the whole person and determine treatment strategies best suited for that patient. I’m excited to be able to offer this comprehensive approach to patients that address the fundamentals of health and healing.

What are the goals of your approach/treatment/program?

Elevate PM&R implements a healing-oriented model of pain care — one that is focused on uncovering and addressing root causes of pain, while simultaneously providing relief using a multi-modal, holistic approach. By blending PM&R and lifestyle medicine, my aim is to find long-lasting solutions to pain while building wellness. Through the process of creating plans specific to each patient, I hope to empower lifestyle changes that promote the body’s innate healing capacity, optimizing health and wellbeing.

What is your approach to medicine?

My approach to medicine is to tailor treatment to the individual, empowering, and promoting the repair and restoration response intrinsic to us all. Healing starts in my office with a positive patient-physician relationship. By spending time with each patient, I hope to create a safe space for open communication. Understanding the whole person is imperative to uncovering the root causes of disease or dysfunction and designing an appropriate, customized treatment plan. My approach utilizes the least invasive therapies first, coordinating all appropriate evidence-based modalities to reduce pain and achieve optimal health and healing.

How would you define patient care?

Patient care should seek to understand the individual as a “whole” person, not just a collection of parts or systems. It should focus on the restoration of health and well-being, rather than only on the disease. And it should honor and promote the body’s dynamic healing systems.

Awards and Accolades

Diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine

Articles Authored

Stein A, Panjwani A, Sison C, Rosen ScM, Chugh R, Metz C, Bank M, Bloom O Pilot Study: Elevated circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor in patients with chronic spinal cord injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2013 aug; 94(8): 1498-507