“The memory of my grandmother’s surgery has guided me as a physician. It has always been important to me to give the utmost in patient care.  My experiences as a family member and doctor have strengthened my resolve to serve my community and to become someone who heals people.  I got to know my patients best not while I was inserting lines, tubes, or catheters, but when I talked to them and their families.  I realized that they found relief if only for a few moments, knowing that we cared for them.  I strove to become a physician who provides patients with peace of mind and improves their quality of life.  If I can alleviate my patients’ pain and suffering and set them on the path to recovery, I will have fulfilled my duty as a pain medicine doctor.  I hope to achieve these larger goals and also to perhaps one day help a young child’s loving grandmother, as someone did for me.” - Karan Johar, MD

Dr. Karan Johar, MD, stands as a globally acclaimed figure in the realm of Pain Management and Minimally Invasive Spine Care.

He holds a faculty position as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at New York University, was the Chief Pain Consultant for a New England CAH (Critical Access Hospital), and has a shared appointment at Lenox Hill Hospital in the departments of Anesthesiology and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Johar is a dual boarded physician certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, as well as, subspecialized in Pain Medicine (American Board of Medical Specialties) with advanced expertise in spine care and fellowship training in interventional pain medicine.

Renowned for his clinical acumen and academic contributions, Dr. Johar holds a preeminent position within the international community dedicated to pain management and spine health. His practice is exclusively centered on the surgical treatment of pain-related conditions, with a distinctive focus on spinal issues. This unique specialization distinguishes him, positioning him as one of the select practitioners in the United States and worldwide who exclusively concentrates on operative interventions for minimally invasive spine procedures aimed at addressing complex pain management.

Dr. Karan Johar boasts an illustrious track record, encompassing a diverse spectrum of procedures ranging from outpatient minimally invasive techniques to intricate revisions and corrective measures. Substantial research underscores the significance of surgical expertise and procedural volume in achieving positive outcomes and minimizing complication rates. He possesses a notable enthusiasm for pioneering approaches like neuromodulation and rejuvenating procedures such as autologous bone marrow cell therapy, nucleus pulposus supplementation, annular disc tear repair, and minimally invasive motion-stabilizing interventions like sacroiliac joint and interspinous fusions.

As a physician revered by fellow physicians, Dr. Johar has conducted surgeries on over 150 colleagues and their family members, and this figure continues to rise. His esteemed reputation draws approximately 40-50 new physician patients yearly, among whom 20-30 undergo minimally invasive procedures and surgeries performed by him annually. Particularly noteworthy is the substantial cohort of pain and spine specialists, including both interventionalists and surgeons, who entrust their surgical needs to Dr. Johar. His patient roster extends to encompass professional athletes, influential business leaders, international dignitaries, and prominent television personalities. Patients from across the world and nearly all U.S. states, save for South Dakota and Wyoming, have sought his expertise. Dr. Johar has consistently garnered recognition, earning placements on prestigious lists like Castle Connolly New York Magazine Top Doctor since 2015. Upon establishing his practice in New York City, he swiftly garnered acclaim as one of NYC's Super Doctors and has maintained his position among the top 25 Pain Management Physicians in North America. His practice is anchored within the state-of-the-art Park Avenue Medicine & Surgery, an advanced facility dedicated to spine care, in addition to his association with NYU Langone Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital. These facilities are lauded by patients, with their highly trained clinical staff wholeheartedly committed to delivering exceptional pain and spine care on a global scale.

Beyond his clinical prowess, Dr. Johar holds a prominent standing within the academic realm. He has notably chaired the New York Physician Society, a highly respected organization focused on advancing medicine and facilitating patient access to care. With a membership of over 2,000 physicians, the New York Physician Society stands as the pinnacle of physician organizations. Dr. Johar's influence extends internationally, with a prolific lecturing record spanning both national and international platforms, thus enriching pain and spine disorder treatment methodologies across the globe. His stature is evidenced by his role as a Visiting Professor, Keynote Speaker, or Named Lecturer on over 10 occasions across 7 countries. Over 100 experienced pain management physicians and aspiring practitioners from diverse corners of the world have sought to glean insights from his expertise. Dr. Johar's bibliography encompasses a repertoire of peer-reviewed papers, chapters, and other written contributions, including his involvement in editing authoritative textbooks.

As a member of both the Rehabilitation Medicine and the Pain Service, his clinical work specializes in restoring function awhile a wide array of pain.

He has regularly supervised and taught clinical resident physicians and medical students and is cognizant of developments on the forefront for future treatment protocols in both pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He has a research interest in regenerative medicine (PRP/autologous cell therapy) and neuromodulation in the management of complex pain and optimization in the quality of life.

Dr. Johar has held several leadership positions with local and national organizations and helped in projects including rehabilitation hospital bed capacity expansion, improved resource allocation within AAPMR, risk reduction and maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations on hospital safety and leadership committees.

Although his primary interest remains with clinical medicine and medical education, he also holds an interest in increasing healthcare access to patients, organizational management in the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and being involved in scientific innovation of medical devices and interactive rehabilitation software.

Currently, he sees patients at New York University (NYU Langone), Lenox Hill Hospital, by appointment at 993 Park Avenue, and affiliated surgery centers in Manhattan.

Board Certifications:

American Board of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationPain Medicine  (American Board of Anesthesiology)

Pain Medicine  (American Board of Medical Specialties)

Academic Appointments and Executive Titles:  

Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor | New York University

Co-Director | Manhattan Pain Medicine Fellowship Program

Board Member, YPC | New York County Medical Society

Director-at-Large | NYSIPP, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

President | New York Physician Society

Chairman of the Board | The American Spine & Pain Society

Hospital Affiliations:

NYU Langone
550 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Lenox Hill Hospital
100 East 77th Street
New York, NY 10065

Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital
210 East 64th Street
New York, NY 10021

Education:

Fellowship:   Medical College of Wisconsin – Pain Medicine

Residency:  Washington University in St. Louis / Barnes-Jewish Hospital – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Internship:  Stony Brook University – General Surgery

Medical School:  Ross University School of Medicine, MD

Undergraduate:  State University of New York at Binghamton, BS in Financial Economics