Dr. Friedhelm Sandbrink completed his residency in neurology at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., and fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. He is board-certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology and pain medicine. Since he joined the VA in 2001, he has been leading the Pain Management Program at the Washington VA Medical Center. The program is located within the Neurology Department and provides comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic pain conditions. He became the VA Deputy National Program Director for Pain Management in May 2014. Since October 2016, he has been leading the Pain Program for VHA as the Acting National Director for Pain Management. He is Clinical Associate Professor in Neurology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He also has academic appointments at Georgetown University and George Washington University.