"No-Body Should Live in Pain"

American Spine and Wellness Foundation is committed to help the South Florida community  

The American Spine and Wellness Foundation was founded primarily for patient care and accessibility to quality health care by professionals. The primary service is to help the financially underprivileged community that are on high doses of opioid analgesics in the Greater Miami area. Patients of financial hardships have no resources for pain care services in Miami as the state clinics have run out of funding resources. This has created opportunities for use of illicit substances driving the use of substances like Heroin to patients that otherwise could be manage with adequate analgesic therapy. These patients depend on Emergency Room visits to receive medical care. This situation creates higher medical costs to communities, hospitals and governmental services (thus taxpayer dollars). Despite analgesics being part of a patient's treatment options, it is not the most effective nor the first line of treatment. 

Together we can make a difference in the world.

American Spine and Wellness Foundation will focus on treating the patients with our available tools. Without the foundation these patients have no access for quality medical care in Miami.  By helping these patients with quality care, we believe we can positively impact the life of the patients to resume a normal and healthier lifestyle. Indirectly communities will also benefit as well as the regional hospitals. 

Wellness 4 Kidz is a branch initiative of the non-profit foundation, American Spine and Wellness Foundation.  It was founded in 2018 by Dr. Christian González and his wife Suheil Soto, with the purpose of helping underserved children. 

Dr. González has devoted his life helping and treating adults that suffer from chronic pain conditions and along his path has been his wife.  Meeting patients made her realize how pain can deteriorate the joy of life,  and it was important for Mrs. Soto, a mother of 2, to find ways to help children regardless of their age, income and social background, to enjoy, heal and dream of a bright future.  

Meet the Founder

Dr. Christian Gonzalez, MD

Past academic experience

1- Current Board Member, American Academy of Pain Management

2- Past VP/President Elect American Academy of Pain Management

3- Past Division Chief, Pain Medicine, University of Miami

4- Past Division Chief, Pain Medicine, University of Massachusetts

5- Past CEO/President, Massachusetts Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

6- Past Director of Academic Committee, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

7- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Pain Medicine Fellow

8- Baylor College of Medicine, Anesthesiology Resident

Dr. Gonzalez is consider one of the most influential pain physicians in Latin America, he is the founder of Spine and Wellness Centers of America, a husband and a father of two. Due to his vast academic medical career and his private practice experience Dr. Gonzalez has recognized the dire need for those that can not afford quality health care and are suffering from pain:

"Basically, the system has abandoned these patients due to multiple factors, but mainly a financial one. Patients turn into street drugs, alcohol abuse and ultimately compromise their health in their attempt to control their pain".

Dr. Gonzalez states that he is certain that having monthly clinics in the underserved communities of the Greater Miami area will impact positively the community. 

"Patients that refuse to turn into street drugs then become dependent in emergency room visits and admissions to hospitals to control pain that is chronic in nature and if given an ideal situation, that patient, would be maintained out of the hospital and in control of their pain. We basically are able to give back the patient's motivation to enjoy life without pain, or in the most severe cases in pain that is adequately controlled".

All patients with financial hardship, from different backgrounds will be able to participate in the clinics. The clinic will offer interventions,  like injections, therapy and medical management. Dr. Gonzalez envisions a future in by which thru donations centers of excellence are spread throughout the nation to treat pain. 

"We are hoping to secure enough funds to continue growing the foundation in more cities across the United States and in the future thru our partnership with Spine and Wellness Centers of America into the globe".

HELPING PEOPLE IN PAIN IS OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Pain is a signal that something is wrong. It's an unpleasant sensory and emotional response that might be dull or disabling, quick or chronic, inconvenient or incapacitating.

Pain is universal – and yet it can be intensely personal and isolating. 

Pain can impact one's quality of life, daily functioning, mental health, work, and relationships.

According to the American Chronic Pain Association, Pain is the # 1 cause of disability. Pain is also a public health problem, costing the U.S.  a conservatively estimated $800 Billion in medical treatments and lost productivity. 

Together we can help