Dr. Eugene Lipov, M.D.
Anesthesiologist | Pain Medicine
2260 W Higgins Rd Suite 101 Hoffman Estates IL, 60169About
Eugene Lipov is one of the world’s leading experts on the physical consequences of trauma. As a board-certified physician in anesthesiology & pain medicine, Chief Medical Officer at Stella Center, founder of Erase PTSD Now! and author, Dr Lipov has made it his mission to help others find relief from symptoms of stress, anxiety, etc. and restore hope to their spirit.
In his recently released book The Invisible Machine: The Startling Truth about Trauma and the Scientific Breakthrough that can Transform Your Life (April 11, 2023), Dr. Lipov along with other leading experts, share a new understanding for post-traumatic stress and a safe & effective treatment that could have profound implications for medicine, mental health and society at large.
A pioneer in treatments for symptoms of post-traumatic stress, Dr. Lipov knows first-hand that trauma can be all-consuming. He grew up in Ukrainian SSR living with a veteran father stricken with PTSD, and a mother who suffered from debilitating depression eventually taking her own life. Dr. Lipov has witnessed the physical, emotional and psychological impact that trauma can have on the lives of many. In Chicago he attended school at Frances W. Parker High School and continued his studies receiving a bachelor's in biochemistry from Northwestern University (1980), a medical degree from Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine (1984) and surgical residency at Cook County Hospital/University of Illinois. Dr. Lipov spent two years in an anesthesiology residency at the University of Illinois before completing his training at Rush St Luke's with advanced training in pain management.
In 2006, he pioneered the use of Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) for the treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — a procedure that was initially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1920s to treat certain types of pain and circulation disorders. In 2004, Dr Lipov achieved scientific success in using SGB to help women suffering from extreme symptoms of menopause who were also cancer patients.
Today, his treatment protocol has been upgraded to Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR) which still alleviates symptoms related to post-traumatic stress but warrants longer effectiveness. It has been 85% successful in ‘rebooting’ the body's sympathetic nervous system and resetting a patient's 'fight or flight' response and is available to everyone - civilians, soldiers, first responders, veterans, etc. Thousands of Dr. Lipov’s procedures are being done each year among Special Forces and the military at Fort Bragg alone. Dr. Lipov has done grand rounds on his revelatory relief at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C. and Womack Military Hospital on Fort Bragg. As more comprehensive studies are achieved, his work may be found to be the greatest medical innovation of the 21st century for human well-being. Even U.S. Senator Barack Obama wrote a letter in 2007 to the U.S. Army in support of Dr. Lipov’s procedure.
He has testified on PTSD treatment before the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (2010) and in collaboration with neuroscientists, he has become the world’s leading authority on the physiology of PTSD. Dr. Lipov has published his findings on PTSD in Biological Psychiatry, Current Psychiatry, Military Medicine, Pain Research & Treatment, Psychiatric Annals, the Journal of Anesthesia & Clinical Research, the Journal of Trauma and Treatment, the Lancet and the World Institute of Pain. In 2016, the Pentagon approved funding for a study at three Army medical centers, citing SGB’s potential to be a huge game changer for many affected people with PTSD, whether from combat, sexual assault or other trauma. Published in 2019, an Army-funded study, conducted by RTI International, confirmed that SGB was more than two times as effective compared to a placebo in relieving PTSD symptoms.
Earlier this year, Dr. Lipov was awarded Outstanding Achievement in Research by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP). His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Wired, Playboy, Univision, Stars & Stripes, and it has been featured on CBS This Morning, ABC, NBC and WGN. Additionally, in 2008, Dr. Lipov founded Erase PTSD Now, a nonprofit focused on eradicating post-traumatic stress from the lives of those impacted by it. The goal of the organization is to restore individuals, as well as affected families and communities, to a pre-trauma state. Erase PTSD Now designates most of its funding to the support of the dual sympathetic reset/stellate ganglion block treatment for survivors of trauma. 90% of donations go towards the treatment of vetted applicants while the remaining 10% goes towards admin and care coordination costs.
In bringing more attention to the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, Dr. Lipov has joined forces with world renown psychiatrist and pioneer in trauma science Dr. Frank Ochberg, to “re-name” post-traumatic stress DISORDER (PTSD) to post-traumatic stress INJURY (PTSI). A recent survey showed that the stigma of a mental disorder keeps many people from seeking help, believing their diagnosis is not treatable and this negative association can lead to suicides, domestic violence, etc. While the term PTSD references post-traumatic stress as a “disorder”, it’s been proven to be a biological “injury” and should be referred to as PTSI, post-traumatic stress injury. Even the military community has expressed support for the name change. Today, somewhere between 5000 -10,000 patients have been successfully treated with SGB and DSR and many are now reaching 10-15 years of relief.
Dr. Lipov lives in Chicago with his wife Robin and son Sam. In his free time, he enjoys the company of his poodle Gomez, reading fantasy and military science fiction, and playing games of competitive Rummikub.
Education and Training
Northwestern University MD 1984
Northwestern University BA, Biochemistry 1980
Board Certification
American Board of Pain Medicine
American Board of Anesthesiology
Provider Details
Expert Publications
Data provided by the National Library of Medicine- Effects of stellate-ganglion block on hot flushes and night awakenings in survivors of breast cancer: a pilot study.
- Updated findings on the effects of stellate-ganglion block on hot flushes and night awakenings.
- A unifying theory linking the prolonged efficacy of the stellate ganglion block for the treatment of chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), hot flashes, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- A new mechanism of action for tamoxifen.
- Emergence delirium in the PACU.
- 'Hybrid neurostimulator': simultaneous use of spinal cord and peripheral nerve field stimulation to treat low back and leg pain.
- Use of peripheral subcutaneous field stimulation for the treatment of axial neck
- More evidence supporting unified theory of stellate ganglion block.
- Severe kinking of an epidural needle.
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Attending Illinois Masonic Hospital, Medical Director of Pain Clinic - Present
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology Rush University Medical Center 1990 - 1996
- Chief Medical Officer The Stella Center -
- Medical Director Advanced Pain Centers, S.C. - Present
Professional Memberships
- A founding member and the first president of The Illinois Chapter of The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP)
- Served as an instructor and professional resource for both the SIS (Spine Injection Society) and NASS (North American Spine Society)
- American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA)
- American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP)
Articles and Publications
- Reviewer for the following journals :Military MedicineMedical HypothesisJournal of Clinical AnesthesiaJournal of Affective DisordersMaturasNeuromodulationPain PracticeJournal of Traumatic StressAnesthesiologyJAMA, PsychiatryPostgraduate Medical Journal
Teaching and speaking
- Germany 2004 (lower back treatment)Netherlands 2008 Euroneuro, (Longduration pulsed radiofrequency for the treatment of upper extremity complex regional pain syndrome)Norway 2009 and 2010, Hot flash treatment using SGBSpain 2011, ISPOR, use of SGB to treat PTSDSingapore 2012, Pan Asian Lancet Oncology Presentation, Use of SGB to treat hot flashesCanada 2015, American Psychiatric Association (APA), use of SGB Ttotreat suicidal ideation in PTSD
Dr. Eugene Lipov, M.D.'s Practice location
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Get to know Anesthesiologist Dr. Eugene Lipov, who served patients in Illinois.
Dr. Lipov is a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain physician, renowned as a trailblazer in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. He serves as the Chief Medical Officer at The Stella Center, a medical advisor for Erase PTSD Now, and as the Medical Director at Advanced Pain Centers, S.C.
His advocacy extends to championing PTSI as a replacement for the clinical diagnosis of PTSD. Alongside his accomplished medical career, he is an accomplished author and an engaging public speaker.
Truly, a pioneer in stellate ganglion treatment for symptoms of PTSD, Dr. Lipov knows first-hand that trauma can be all-consuming. Growing up with a veteran father stricken with PTSD, and a mother with debilitating depression who eventually took her own life, he truly understands the impact that trauma can have on the lives of many. He has made it his mission to help others relieve their traumatic suffering from PTSD and restore hope to their spirit.
In 2006, Dr. Lipov pioneered the use of Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) for the treatment of PTSD — a procedure that was initially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1950s for the treatment of certain types of pain and circulation disorders. It is performed with an injection of medication into a collection of nerves at the bottom of the front side of the neck. It is most commonly known as a pain-relieving treatment, used to relieve hot flashes for menopause and cancer patients and treating shingles — and, now, to alleviate symptoms related to PTSD.
After momentum slowly gained and as clinical trials of SGB to treat PTSD ensued, Dr. Lipov discovered that two injections on one side of the neck into the stellate ganglion had the potential of yielding even better relief to folks suffering from PTSD. Today, his treatment protocol is known as Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR).
Widely recognized for his expertise in PTSD treatment, Dr. Lipov provided testimony on the subject before the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in 2010. Through collaborative efforts with neuroscientists, he has become the foremost authority on the physiological aspects of PTSD on a global scale. His extensive research on PTSD has been published in respected journals, including Biological Psychiatry, Current Psychiatry, Military Medicine, Pain Research & Treatment, Psychiatric Annals, the Journal of Anesthesia & Clinical Research, the Journal of Trauma and Treatment, the Lancet, and the World Institute of Pain.
Furthermore, his groundbreaking work has garnered attention in prominent media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Wired, Playboy, Univision, Stars & Stripes, and has been featured on ABC, NBC, and WGN.
His educational and professional journey began with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biochemistry from Northwestern University in the class of 1980, where he was recognized as a Phi Beta Kappa scholar. Following this, Dr. Lipov pursued his Medical Degree at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, graduating in the class of 1984.
His early medical career saw him undertake a surgical residency from 1984 to 1986, which took place at the University of Illinois, Cook County Hospital, and the West Side VA in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Lipov then moved on to a residency in anesthesiology from 1987 to 1989, furthering his training at the University of Illinois and West Side VA.
His journey continued with a specialization in pain medicine training in Chicago. He culminated his training with advanced training in anesthesia and pain from 1989 to 1990 at Rush University Medical Center, also in Chicago.
Subsequent to his education, the doctor attained board certification in both anesthesiology and pain medicine through the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA). The ABA sets standards and exams for the accreditation of board-certified anesthesiologists coming to the end of their residency. It is one of the 24 medical specialty boards that constitutes the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Among his professional affiliations, Dr. Lipov is an active member of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (a founding member and the first president of The Illinois Chapter), the American Society of Anesthesiology, the Spine Injection Society, and the North American Spine Society.
Anesthesiology is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during, and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine, and pain medicine. Anesthesiologists have the primary responsibility of monitoring the patient’s vital signs during surgery. In addition to basic measurements such as pulse, blood pressure, and temperature, they measure the patient’s respiration.
In his latest publication, “The Invisible Machine: The Startling Truth About Trauma and the Scientific Breakthrough That Can Transform Your Life”, released on April 11, 2023, Dr. Lipov collaborates with other eminent experts to present a fresh perspective on post-traumatic stress. Their work introduces a safe and effective treatment that holds significant promise for the fields of medicine, mental health, and society as a whole.
Residing in Chicago, Dr. Lipov shares his home with his wife, Robin, and their son, Sam. During his leisure hours, he relishes the companionship of his poodle, Gomez. His pastimes include immersing himself in the realms of fantasy and military science fiction literature, as well as engaging in competitive Rummikub games.
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