Nnamdi Abalihi, MD

Dr. Nnamdi Abalihi is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and an interventional pain medicine specialist dedicated to advancing the care of patients with complex acute and chronic pain. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completed fellowship training in Interventional Pain Medicine through the Weill Cornell Tri-Institutional Pain Fellowship.

Dr. Abalihi specializes in the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal, neuropathic, spine-related, and cancer-associated pain using a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach. He believes that the most effective pain care begins with thoughtful diagnosis and individualized treatment planning, integrating advanced image-guided interventions with rehabilitation, medication optimization, and collaborative specialty care. His philosophy emphasizes restoring function, improving quality of life, and helping patients achieve meaningful, sustainable outcomes through the least invasive and most effective therapies available.

His clinical expertise includes minimally invasive spine interventions, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation, and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). Dr. Abalihi has a particular interest in neuromodulation and emerging technologies that provide alternatives to long-term opioid therapy and more invasive surgical procedures. He works closely with patients to determine whether advanced neuromodulation therapies are appropriate, carefully balancing the latest scientific evidence with each individual's goals, functional limitations, and overall health.

Recognizing that successful neuromodulation extends beyond technical implantation, Dr. Abalihi emphasizes meticulous patient selection, comprehensive pre-procedure evaluation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and longitudinal follow-up to optimize outcomes. His approach reflects the evolving science of precision pain medicine, leveraging innovative technologies to target pain pathways while preserving function and maximizing patient independence.

As an academic physician, Dr. Abalihi is committed to advancing the field through education, clinical innovation, and mentorship. He is passionate about training the next generation of pain physicians to combine procedural excellence with thoughtful clinical judgment, compassionate communication, and evidence-based decision-making. His practice is grounded in the belief that exceptional pain care requires not only technical expertise, but also partnership with patients to develop personalized treatment strategies that improve both function and quality of life.