Dr. Sharma is double board-certified in physical medicine & rehabilitation and spinal procedures. She specializes in the non-operative care of spinal pain and employs a multi-modal approach to spinal care. At a national level, she serves on the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation’s Opioid Task Force and as the Co-Chair of Pain & Spine Rehabilitation. She continues to support alternatives to opioids and is a course director for a national physician course on navigating the opioid crisis and managing pain during a pandemic.
Dr. Sharma is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University and has published numerous research articles, textbook chapters, and continues to teach and lecture to residents and medical students. In light of the pain and opioid crisis, she has written a book on ways to reduce painful inflammation and live better entitled, The Pain Solution: 5 Steps to Relieve and Prevent Back Pain, Muscle Pain, and Joint Pain without Medications. Her teaching skills were recognized with the Dean's Award for Excellence in Education at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. She has been voted a Top Doc by her peers multiple years in a row. Dr. Sharma served as a Chief Resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and as Chief Fellow at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. She studied acupuncture at Harvard University and has an interest in integrative medicine. She performs fluoroscopic guided spine injections, and trigger point injections.
Dr. Sharma conceptualized the Rothman Orthopaedic Integrative Health Center and serves as Medical Director. For more information on this service, click here.
Professional Profile
Education
- Integrative Medicine Fellow, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Tucson, AZ
- Acupuncturist, Structural Acupuncture for Physicians, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Chief Fellow Pain Management, Department of Anesthesia Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
- Chief Resident, Program Development, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
- Resident, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
- Internship, York Hospital, York, PA, Internal Medicine Preliminary Year
- Doctor of Medicine, Early Acceptance Program, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
- Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry (cum laude) with Religious Studies Minor Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Titles & Certifications
- Medical Director, Orthopaedic Integrative Health Center, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute
- ABPMR Board Certified, Pain Medicine
- ABPMR Board Certified, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- ACLS Certification
Professional Associations
- Co-Chair, Pain & Spine Rehabilitation Practice Area, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Opioid Task Force, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Diversity & Inclusion Committee, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Education
- Integrative Medicine Fellow, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Tucson, AZ
- Acupuncturist, Structural Acupuncture for Physicians, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Chief Fellow Pain Management, Department of Anesthesia Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
- Chief Resident, Program Development, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
- Resident, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
- Internship, York Hospital, York, PA, Internal Medicine Preliminary Year
- Doctor of Medicine, Early Acceptance Program, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
- Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry (cum laude) with Religious Studies Minor Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Titles & Certifications
- Medical Director, Orthopaedic Integrative Health Center, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute
- ABPMR Board Certified, Pain Medicine
- ABPMR Board Certified, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- ACLS Certification
Professional Associations
- Co-Chair, Pain & Spine Rehabilitation Practice Area, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Opioid Task Force, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Diversity & Inclusion Committee, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Bibliography:
Sharma, Saloni. The Pain Solution: 5 Steps to Relieve and Prevent Back Pain, Muscle Pain, and Joint Pain without Medication. New World Library; (May 17, 2022). 256 pages. ISBN-13: 978-1608687930.
Publications, peer reviewed
1. Sharma S. “An Introduction to Foreign Healthcare.” Academic Medicine 2005 80: 409.
2. Sharma S. “The Patient-Caregiver Cycle.” Academic Medicine 2005 80: 606.
3. Shaw, Erik, Diane W. Braza, David S. Cheng, Erik Ensrud, Andrew S. Friedman, Rita G. Hamilton, J. Jason Miller, Ameet S. Nagpal, Saloni Sharma. "American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Position Statement on Opioid Prescribing." PM&R (2018).
4. Nagpal AS, Mukai A, Sharma S. Demonstrating the vital role of physiatry throughout the health care continuum: Lessons learned from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pain management care. PMR. 2021 Jun;13(6):579-588. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12615. PMID: 34097364; PMCID: PMC8206935
Book Chapters:
1. Sharma S., Giampetro D.: Opioid Adverse Effects and Opioid-Induced Hypogonadism (Chapter 11) in Deer T. (Ed.) Comprehensive Treatment of Chronic Pain by Medical, Interventional, & Behavioral Approaches: AAPM Textbook on Patient Management. Springer, New York, 2013, pp. 111-9.
2. Sharma S., Mehnert M.: HIV-Related Pain Syndromes in Freedman M. (Ed.) Challenging Neuropathic Pain Syndromes: Evaluation and Evidence-Based Treatment. Elsevier, Missouri, 2018, pp. 89-95.
Lectures:
2021 “Avoid Burnout: How to Burn Bright & Add Wellness to Your Day,” Invited Speaker, Google New York, April 2021
2021 “Interdisciplinary Approach to Chronic Pain: Nutrition & Supplements,” Speaker, Pennsylvania Pain Society, King of Prussia, PA, October 2021
2021 “A Tale of Two Pandemics: Managing the Pain Crisis During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Session Director, AAPMR Annual Assembly, November 2021
2021 “Clinical Pearls: Practical Ways to Add Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine to Your Practice,” Session Director, AAPMR Annual Assembly, November 2021
2021 “Biopsychosocial Model of Care in the Treatment of Chronic Pain,” Speaker, AAPMR Annual Assembly, November 2021
2021 “Prehabilitation for the Medical Student,” Invited Speaker, Thomas Jefferson University Jeff SAMOSA, November 2021
2021 “Integrative Health for the Athlete,” Speaker, The Philadelphia Marathon, November 2021
