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Spine Doctors in South Florida

SPINE AND WELLNESS CENTERS OF AMERICA

DOCTOR HIGHLIGHTS

MARÍA ALEJANDRA DE LA PEÑA, MD

DOUBLE BOARD CERTIFIED
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Director of Fort Lauderdale Spine and Wellness Centers of America

University of Miami Graduate

Harvard Medical School – Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Fellowship

Dr. María Alejandra De La Peña is a board-certified Anesthesiologist with subspecialty certification in Pain Medicine. She completed her residency in Anesthesiology at The University of Miami. Dr. María De La Peña continued her studies by graduating with a fellowship in Interventional Pain Management from Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

After completing her training, she returned to South Florida and joined Spine and Wellness Centers of America, where she currently serves as Director of the Fort Lauderdale office. While treating patients, Dr. María Alejandra De La Peña has also taken on the role of Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Miami.

María Alejandra De La Peña, MD is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the spine, musculoskeletal system, and other pain conditions. Her clinical focus combines evidence-based treatments, multidisciplinary approaches to pain, and interventional procedures to manage complex pain cases. She specializes in the field of neuromodulation and has a special interest in regenerative medicine.

Joanne Latko
19 Aug 2020
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Dr De La Pena is an excellent, caring, physician. She is willing to work collaboratively with her patients to provide the best possible outcome. In addition, her office staff is friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend this practice.
Judy Blaustein
07 Feb 2020
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Wonderful office & Doctors. Thrilled to have found them. Maria is the best!
Edmond Abbandando
06 Feb 2020
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Dr. De La Pena, Makes you feel like a family member not just a patient or number. The complete office staff is 100 % professional and caring above and beyond. Dr De La Pena
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and Nurse practitioner Marie are amazing. Their medical assistants, explain each and every step, ask questions every visit to see if any change in pain or reaction to medication has taken place as well as any questions to Doctors. The stigma that follows pain medication recipients is taken away day one in meeting Dr. De La Pena , you feel like a person in need of medical attention not a criminal. The team of Dr. De La Pena should be the staple of Pain Management not the exception. She takes the PAIN not only from you but from the Pain Management experience. I can't say enough good.. I am blessed i found her....

Teresa B.09 Sep 2019
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Dr. De La Pena is the best pain management doctor I have ever met. She also works well with patients with Alzheimers. My husband has seen
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her for years and stays virtually pain free. This keeps him from having surgery which could damage his precious memory even more. Thank You from the bottom of my heart for your help!!!! You are truly an angel!!!

Teresa B.19 Aug 2019
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Staff is always very kind and ready to help. Physicians are knowledgeable and procedure has been successful on the 2 occasions that I required
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the injection. Dr. Gonzalez and Dr. De La Peña have been great and gave me relief. I do recommend them to people that need help. I give them 5 stars. Thank you very much. Max W. Lederman, M.D. (r) Diplomate.

Kathy J in Ft. Lauderdale, FL04 Feb 2019
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Dr. De La Pena is like a living breathing little angel. I have been going to her now for about 5 months. She is very kind, professional and really knows
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what she is doing. I have had major pain problems with my knees and ankles after surgeries and this little lady has been a God send. Her staff is always pleasant, kind and willing to help. If you are in pain make an appointment at her office. There is not one doubt in my mind she will help you.

Gail Krause
September 2021
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Dr. De La Pena is excellent! She is highly skilled in pain management and is ahead of the curve in using new techniques and procedures such as amniotic stem cell injections . She and her staff make sure that patients feel valued and secure. The office is immaculate and well-run. Dr. De La Pena is thorough and insightful. Her patients leave her office feeling better and educated about the treatment they received, as well as understanding prognosis and future treatments.
Ana Abrar
September 2021
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She’s an amazing doctor. Extremely respectful to my specific needs. I had a recent cortisone IM knee injection completed and had an amazing response. I would highly recommend her services! Five stars!
Helen Renee “Lena” Azevedo-Gale
October 2021
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I love this office and Dr. De la Peña is the best. She's focused, thorough, up to date on all the latest technologies and treatment options and kind. She really helped my knee and shoulder injuries. Jessica is master at keeping everything moving and a great facilitator. She's not just a coordinator, she's a choreographer.
Edmond Abbandando
October 2021
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Dr. De La Peña, Makes you feel like a family member, not just a patient or number. The complete office staff is 100% professional and caring above and beyond. Dr. De La Peña and nurse practitioner Maria are amazing. Their medical assistants, explain each and every step, ask questions every visit to see if any change in pain or reaction to medication has taken place as well as any questions to doctors. The stigma that follows pain medication recipients is taken away day one in meeting Dr. De La Peña , you feel like a person in need of medical attention, not a criminal. The team of Dr. De La Peña should be the staple of Pain Management, not the exception. She takes the PAIN not only from you but from the Pain Management experience. I can't say enough good. I am blessed i found her.
Sandra Silvestre
February 2022
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On 1/14/22 i had an epidural with Dr. Maria De La Peña everything went very smooth very professional. i got 100% immediate relief. Im really happy with the procedure, I don't have as much pain anymore. I will highly recommended. Thank you ..doctor Maria De La Peña.
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MILD® PROCEDURE

The Mild® Procedure provides percutaneous lumbar decompression of the spinal canal without destabilizing adjacent structures and does not involve the use of implants.

Dr. María Alejandra De La Peña is one of the few doctors in Fort Lauderdale that is certified to perform the Mild® Procedure.

VERTIFLEX PROCEDURE

THE VERTIFLEX SUPERION INDIRECT DECOMPRESSION SYSTEM PROCEDURE IS AN INNOVATIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT FOR LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS.

Our lumbar spinal stenosis specialists provide an alternative minimally invasive treatment known as Vertiflex which is currently the only FDA-approved interspinous spacer on the market and one of the most advanced evidence-based procedures transforming the lives of those who suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis. It is effective in reducing leg pain by 75% at 60 months. The success of using this small implant is revolutionizing the way spinal stenosis is being treated. Vertiflex is covered by Medicare & Medicaid.

Hospital Appointments

HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL
Holy Cross Physician Partners
Fort Lauderdale, FL

BROWARD GENERAL HOSPITAL
Fort Lauderdale, FL

BROWARD HEALTH IMPERIAL POINT
Fort Lauderdale, FL

BROWARD HEALTH NORTH
Deerfield Beach, FL

KINDRED SOUTH FLORIDA
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Personal

  • Voluntary Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Medicine. University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital.
    July 2015 to present
  • ​Interventional Pain Medicine Spine and Wellness Center
    April 2016 to present.

LICENSURE

  • Pain Medicine ABA certification
  • Diplomate in Anesthesiology ABA
  • Anesthesiology ABA certification

PUBLICATIONS

February 2012

Cobas M, De la Peña M. Gastrointestinal Bleeding. Book Chapter. American Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists, Residents’ s Guide to learning in the Intensive Care Unit, Fourth Edition.

October 2010

Miguel Cobas, Gian Paparcuri,Maria De La Pena,

Gaston Cudemus, Erik Barquist,Albert Varon. Fenoldopam in Critically Ill Patients with Early Renal Dysfunction: a Crossover Study. Cardiovascular Therapeutics: article first published online: 18 Oct 2010. DOI: 10.1111/j.1755- 5922.2010.00217.

August 2009

Cobas MA, De la Peña M.A, Manning R, Candiotti K, Varon AJ.“Prehospital intubations and mortality: A level 1Trauma center perspective”. Anesth Analg. 2009 Aug;109(2):489-93

ABSTRACTS

December 2013

Simopoulos, T, De la Pena, M.A. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in a Patient a Rechargeable Spinal Cord Stimulator. Poster presented at NANS annual meeting, Las Vegas.

October 2010

Mijares C, De la Peña M.A, Martinez A Ruiz R, Matadial C. “Mastering fear: Few case reports of urgent reintubation in the

Prone positioned patient undergoing cervical spine extensive surgery with suboptimal ventilation: Proceed with a leak in the ETT cuff or reintubate prone? That is the question”. Poster presented at the ASA Annual Meeting. San Diego, October 2010.

August 2007

M.Cobas, K. Arheart, M. Lewis, N.Crescimone, M.A De la Peña , D. Lubarsky.“USMLE Scores and In ATraining Examination in Anesthes iology: Does it Matter?” Poster presented in IARS annual meeting, San Francisco, March 2008.

August 2007

M. Cobas, A. Varon, K. Arheart, M.A De la Peña , N. Crescimone, D. Lubarsky. “Type of Internship and ITE Performance: Does It Matter?. Poster presented in the IARS Anual meeting. San Francisco, March 2008.

PROFESSIONAL

Funded research performed: September 2007

Study Coordinator, Elevation of Methemoglobinemia, detected by Masimo Rainbow technology, in patients with sepsis – A Phase 2 trial. Sponsored by Masimo Corporation.

October 2002 – November 2002

Investigator, Transpedicular instrumentation vs. Harrington Luque Instrumentation in the treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Los Andes Hospital

“GO-PHINS!”

 

Lydon Murtha, Miami Dolphins and Dr. María Alejandra De La Peña

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