Krishnan Chakravarthy, MD, PhD
Krishnan Chakravarthy, MD, PhD
Interventional Pain Specialist
Healthcare Entrepreneur
Physician-Scientist
Dr. Krishnan Chakravarthy, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist, interventional pain specialist, and healthcare entrepreneur focused on expanding access to advanced pain care. His work sits at the intersection of clinical medicine, translational research, and scalable medical technology.
Born in Chennai, India, and raised in the United States, Dr. Chakravarthy developed an early appreciation for how opportunity and access shape outcomes. That perspective continues to inform his mission: advancing high-quality pain treatment that is both innovative and accessible.
He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago before entering the NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD). His doctoral research in viral immunology focused on nanomaterial-based delivery systems and host immune response to influenza. He went on to complete residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital and fellowship training at Harvard, and he currently serves as a Professor at UC San Diego Health.
Over the course of his academic career, Dr. Chakravarthy has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and delivered over 500 lectures nationally and internationally. Independent academic ranking platforms place him among the top 0.1% of global scholars publishing in pain management over the past decade. He currently serves as President of the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) and sits on multiple editorial boards.
In addition to his academic leadership, Dr. Chakravarthy has founded and advised several biotechnology and healthcare organizations. His ventures include multidisciplinary physician-led pain practices and surgery centers, a neuroscience research institute, and multiple medical device and therapeutic development companies focused on non-opioid solutions.
He is the founder of NXTSTIM, a digital health and neurostimulation company addressing one of the largest challenges in pain medicine: cost and access. Through AI-driven, wearable neuromodulation technology and remote therapeutic monitoring, NXTSTIM aims to create scalable solutions for the millions of patients living with chronic pain.
His newest venture, MDLife Summit, seeks to fill a critical gap in physician education by equipping clinicians with practical skills in the business of medicine, leadership, and professional development—areas often overlooked in traditional medical training.
Dr. Chakravarthy’s leadership philosophy centers on grit, transparency, and execution. He believes innovation is measured not by complexity, but by the ability to build bridges to underserved populations. Across clinical practice, research, and entrepreneurship, his work reflects a consistent focus on transforming pain care through practical, accessible solutions.