TA M PA’ S
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Dr. Francisco M. Torres, M.D. Medical Director Wellness Program Florida Spine Institute Dr. Torres was born in Spain and grew up in Puerto Rico. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine before performing his physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at the Veterans Administration Hospital in San Juan. Later he completed a Musculoskeletal Fellowship at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. For three years, Dr. Torres served as a Clinical Instructor of Medicine and Assistant Professor at LSU before joining Florida Spine Institute in Clearwater, Florida, where he is the medical director of the Wellness Program. Today, Dr. Torres practices Interventional Physiatry, specializing in diagnosing and treating patients with spine-related pain syndromes. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Pain Medicine. He has authored and co-authored eight books and numerous articles in various medical journals. Dr. Torres has presented at multiple medical conferences across the country and is a recurring guest on the KevinMD podcast for healthcare practitioners. Dr. Torres's primary interest is in preventative medicine and using the sciences of epigenetics and psychology to drive better health outcomes for patients. In his latest book, Epigenetics and the Psychology of Weight Loss, Dr. Torres discusses findings from across scientific fields to shed light on how simple daily choices can help keep us healthy and young. He recently wrote about how mental and emotional wellness is essential to accomplishing desired physical health outcomes. "As a doctor, I realize I cannot help my patients if I do not take care of myself first. Before taking care of my physical and emotional well-being, I could not be the doctor I am today. I can better help my patients by being more alert, having more energy to attend to their needs, and showing them that change is possible. As a pain management physician, I noticed similar and more severe problems with my patients. Many of them had worked for a retirement they could no longer enjoy under the weight of crushing disease brought on by unhealthy lifestyles. They were not only sick; they were unhappy. My purpose is to instill hope in people that they can age with dignity and continue living on their terms. I want to inspire men and women of all ages to respect their bodies and treat them with care. I want to promote a culture of health so that I can see fewer patients suffering unnecessary pain so that fewer people might have to endure the crippling anxiety of poor health and low selfesteem." "I apply these same principles to my own wellness," Dr. Torres explains. Photo by: Kimberely Jefcoat
2250 Drew St. Clearwater, Florida, 33765 P: 727-797-7463 | www.floridaspineinstituteandwellness.com
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