Sanjeev Kumar, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and director of the Endoscopic Spine Surgery Fellowship, was appointed chief of UF Health Pain Medicine in Gainesville. As chief, he will oversee clinical operations, champion academic missions, lead administration, and ensure strategic growth. “I’m honored to serve as chief and grateful to work alongside a team dedicated to outstanding patient care, education, research, and innovation,” said Kumar.
His responsibilities include creating clinical protocols, ensuring quality and safety across interventional services, supervising credentialing, and collaborating with other administrators to establish clear performance standards for faculty and staff.
Kumar is excited to see what he and his team can accomplish together. “I look forward to building on the division’s strengths by expanding access to comprehensive pain care and endoscopic spine surgery, supporting our faculty and staff, advancing patient outcomes, and training the next generation of specialists,” he said.
Kumar earned his medical degree from Delhi University in India, where he also completed an anesthesiology residency. After moving to the U.S., he completed another anesthesiology residency and a pain medicine fellowship at Wayne State University in Michigan.
He joined the UF Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in 2014 and became a professor in 2025. Kumar pioneered endoscopic spine surgery at UF Health. He saw a need for physicians who specialize in minimally invasive spine interventions, leading to the creation of our Endoscopic Spine Surgery Fellowship in 2023.
Congratulations Dr. Kumar on your appointment!