The World Institute of Pain Czech-Slovak Section (WIP-CS) is the leading regional organisation supporting the study and practice of pain and pain relief. WIP-CS brings together physicians, healthcare providers, researchers and healthcare practice developers who strive to fulfil its mission to bring relief to those who suffer from pain.
WIP CS – Board
The Chairman
Robert Rapcan MD, FIPP, MBA, PhD.
The Vice-Chairman
Michal Matias MD, FIPP
The Secretary
Juraj Mlaka MD, FIPP, EDRA
The Treasurer
Martin Griger MD, FIPP, DESA, PhD.
Objectives of WIP-CS section
The objectives of the WIP-CS section are as follows
- To improve research, education and clinical management of pain, and to serve as an authoritative, science-based resource on issues related to pain and its treatment.
- To promote multidisciplinary and multiprofessional pain management and the biopsychosocial model of pain.
- To advance the understanding and knowledge of pain mechanisms, pain characteristics, diagnosis of pain conditions, the impact of pain on the individual and on society, and the management of pain.
- To support the work of its members in achieving these objectives.
WIP-CS hopes to achieve these objectives through the following activities
- Developing educational programs to improve pain knowledge amongst healthcare practitioners and researchers.
- Raising awareness of the importance of pain, including its management, treatment and prevention, amongst patients and the general public.
- Campaigning to improve policies that affect pain and to increase funding for pain in public research programmes.
- Supporting a scientific congress and workshops on pain, showcasing the latest research and clinical management approaches.
- Publishing scientific articles to disseminate the latest research findings and an evidence-based approach to pain medicine.
- Creating and disseminating evidence-based guidance for clinicians.
Current members of the World Institute of Pain Czech and Slovak section
Robert Rapcan MD, FIPP, MBA, PhD
WIP-CS Chairman
Robert Rapcan, MD, FIPP, MBA, PhD, is a leading European specialist in minimally invasive and endoscopic treatment of the back certified in Sweden, Great Britain, Norway, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Dr Rapcan is the founder of the Interventional Pain Academy.
Dr. Rapcan has long maintained the trend of introducing innovative treatment methods and techniques, special methodologies and the latest medical device technologies into the clinical practice of all EuroPainClinics workplaces. As an expert medical guarantor, he is involved in shaping the vision and strategy of EuroPainClinics
In 2013, he was the first physician from Slovakia to meet the professional criteria for the FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice) title from the World Institute of Pain (WIP), which declares a physician’s professional competence in interventional techniques for the treatment of pain. Three years later, he was appointed to the position of FIPP Examiner – a member of the FIPP Examination Board and examiner of the FIPP International Examinations. As of 2019, he is a member of the advisory board of PainCast, an international educational portal for pain management practitioners.
As part of his teaching activities, he teaches algesiology and ultrasound anatomy at the medical faculty of the UPJŠ in Košice, interventional algesiology techniques at the Gulf Medical University in the United Arab Emirates and is an international trainer of the German company MaxMore for training in endoscopic techniques, including the new MaxMore J@ablation concept for the treatment of facet syndrome pain.
EDUCATION AND CAREER
Dr. Róbert Rapčan’s professional career has been inextricably linked with his long-standing work in major European medical institutions, where he has held a number of senior roles. His professional expertise has made a substantial contribution to the advancement of the field of algesiology and interventional pain management. In addition to his role at EuroPainClinics®, MUDr. Rapčan has been employed in Sweden for over 16 years, primarily at the University Hospital in Umeå. From 2005 to 2010, he held the position of senior physician in anaesthesiology and interventional pain management at United Kingdom Specialist Hospitals in the UK. Additionally, he served as Medical Director of Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre Hospital from 2008 to 2010. He has been instrumental in the implementation of innovative integrated medical care systems.
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Róbert Rapčan, MD, is a founding member and president of the Slovak Interventional Pain Management Society. He is the chairman of the section of interventional algesiology in Slovakia. He is a member of numerous national and international professional societies, including the Spine Intervention Society, the World Institute of Pain, the International Neuromodulation Society, the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia, the Slovak Society for the Study and Treatment of Pain, and the Polish Society for Interventional Pain Management.
RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Dr. Rapčan has published a considerable number of scientific articles, both as the sole author and in collaboration with other researchers, in both domestic and international scientific journals. In his capacity as an organiser, co-organiser and active lecturer, he participates in national and international congresses and symposia. He acts as a reviewer for the professional journal Pain Ukraine.
The author is engaged in the process of publishing articles.
INTERESTS
In his leisure time Dr. Rapčan is engaged in activities that are of interest to him, including spending time with his family and participating in sports, with a particular focus on cycling, swimming, running and triathlons. Additionally, he engages in the practice of martial arts.
Michal Matias MD, FIPP
WIP-CS Vice-Chairman
Michal Matias, M.D., FIPP, is a board-certified algesiologist, anaesthesiologist and intensive care physician, holder of the international medical certification FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice). From January 2024 he will be the Medical Director of EuroPainClinics for the Czech Republic.
Michal Matias, M.D., FIPP, is the head of the Minimally Invasive Back Treatment Clinic at EuroPainClinics Hradec Králové and the expert guarantor of EuroPainClinics Plzen. He has been working as a physician and surgeon at EuroPainClinics Prague and Brno since 2017, where he held the position of chief physician in 2019-2020.
MUDr. Matias is a holder of the prestigious international medical certification FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice), which is a confirmation of high professional competence in precise and safe control of interventional techniques and entitles (together with a national licence) to perform these specialised techniques worldwide. This certification is awarded by the World Institute of Pain. He is also certified in ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia and is an ALS provider and EACTA/ESC certified in adult TEE.
He is also a physician and deputy head of the Pain Management Centre at the Department of Anaesthesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care Medicine, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague. From 2015 to 2019 he was the Chief Physician of SPIN, Department of Anaesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care Medicine, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and VFN Prague.
Juraj Mlaka MD, FIPF, EDRA
WIP-CS Secretary
Juraj Mláka, M.D., FIPP, EDRA, is the third Slovak doctor – holder of the prestigious international certification FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice) awarded by the World Institute of Pain (WIP) for the field of interventional pain treatment. The certification is a confirmation of the doctor’s professional competencies in the performance of minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques in the treatment of the back and entitles them to perform worldwide.
In 2019, he received the prestigious European Diploma in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain (EDRA), awarded by the European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management, and is currently one of four Slovak doctors with this certification. He is an expert in the interventional treatment of pain performed under X-ray and ultrasound control.
Martin Griger MD, FIPP, DESA, PhD.
WIP-CS Treasurer
Martin Griger, M.D., PhD., FIPP, is a certified anesthesiologist, intensivist and specialist in the treatment of pain performed under X-ray and ultrasound control. He gained extensive experience in interventional pain management during his several years of clinical practice in Ireland. Since 2015, he has been the head doctor of the EuroPainClinics specialized pain clinic in Bratislava.
Dr. Griger is the second Slovak doctor – holder of the prestigious international certification FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice) awarded by the World Institute of Pain (WIP) for the field of interventional pain treatment. The certification is a confirmation of a doctor’s professional competence in performing minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques in the treatment of the back and entitles them to perform worldwide.
Michal Adam MD, FIPP
WIP-CS Member
Michal Adam M.D. is a specialist in minimally invasive and endoscopic treatment of the spine.
Adam M.D. is a certified pain management specialist, anesthesiologist and intensivist. He holds a certificate as a lecturer in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia.
He completed his medical studies at the Pavel Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. In 2005 he joined the University Hospital of St. Anne in Brno as an anesthesiologist, where after successfully gaining his specialization, he worked as a senior doctor at the orthopedic clinic in the position of anesthesiologist. Since 2017, after completing his specialization in pain management, he has been working at the Center for the Treatment of Chronic Pain.
Michal Adam M.D. has been a doctor at the specialized workplace EuroPainClinics Brno since September 2020. He has a professional membership in companies for the study and treatment of pain ČLK JEP and also Czech Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (ČSARIM).
Lubomir Poliak MD, FIPP
WIP-CS member
Specialist in minimally-invasive and endoscopic treatment of the spine.
Ľubomír Poliak MD., FIPP is a certified pain management specialist, anesthesiologist and intensivist, specialist in minimally-invasive and endoscopic pain treatment. Ľubomír Poliak MD. holds the prestigious FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice) international medical certification, which is a confirmation of high professional competence in the precise and safe control of interventional techniques, he is authorized (together with a national license) to perform these specialized techniques all over the world. The certification is awarded by the World Institute of Pain.
He specializes in regenerative treatment with autologous plasma under X-ray navigation, denervation techniques – cryoanalgesia, and is currently the only doctor in Slovakia performing percutaneous balloon decompression of the trigeminal ganglion to alleviate neuralgic facial pain. He is engaged in active publication activities and is a speaker on domestic and foreign professional grounds.
Peter Lences MD,FIPP
WIP-CS member
Peter Lenčéš M.D. is a specialist in minimally invasive and endoscopic treatment of the back. He is a certified anesthesiologist and intensivist and a specialist in the interventional treatment of pain. He holds certifications in the fields of anesthesiology and intensive care medicine, emergency medicine, infectious diseases and general medicine. In addition to his long-term work at Slovak workplaces, he is also a doctor at EuroPainClinics Brno, Czech Republic.
Peter Lenčéš M.D. is member of the Slovak Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SSAIM), Slovak Society for the Study and Treatment of Pain (SSSLB)
Slovak Society for Interventional Pain Management (SIA), Slovak Medical Chamber,
Clinical practice and international cooperation and also a member of the prestigious Champique de Champagne, Troyes, France. In the past, he worked in a military Field Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Ladislav Kocan MD, FIPP, PhD.
WIP-CS member
Ladislav Kočan, M.D., PhD., works as a Clinical Research manager at EuroPainClinics . He is a certified anesthesiologist and intensivist. He is the author and co-author of several foreign peer-reviewed publications and the coordinator of several medical studies in the field of interventional algesiology and intensive care medicine. He is also a member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Food and Nutrition.
Ladislav Kočan, M.D., is the manager of clinical research and clinical studies at EuroPainClinics. He also works as a doctor-specialist in minimally invasive and endoscopic treatment he works at the specialized workplace of EuroPainClinics Košice.
Robert Tirpak MD, FIPP
WIP-CS member
Dr. Robert Tirpak is the first doctor in the Czech Republic to hold the prestigious international medical certification FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice). This certification is awarded by the World Institute of Pain (WIP) for the treatment of pain and is a confirmation of professional competence in accurate and safe control of minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques entitling (along with a national license) to perform these specialized techniques worldwide.
Since 2014, he has been the head physician of the EuroPainClinics – Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Back Treatment in Prague. He obtained the specialization in the field of anesthesiology and intensive care medicine, he is a certified pain management specialist and holds a certificate in the field of manual and myoskeletal medicine. He participates intensively in publishing in professional journals and is actively engaged in lecturing and other educational activities.
He has gained extensive experience in many years of clinical practice in a number of prestigious clinical facilities in the United Kingdom.
Jan Farkas MD, FIPP
WIP-CS member
Jan Farkaš, MD, FIPP, is a board-certified algeziologist, anesthesiologist and intensivist, as well as a holder of the international medical certification FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice).
Jan Farkaš, MD, FIPP, is the head physician of the Clinic of minimally invasive back treatment at EuroPainClinics Ostrava. Following his graduation from the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Pilsen in 2005, he assumed a position at the Anesthesiology and Resuscitation Clinic of the University Hospital Pilsen. From 2009 onwards, he further advanced his clinical practice at the Nový Jičín Hospital, where he worked as an algesiologist and anaesthesiologist in the ARO department and in the Pain Management Outpatient Department. Since 2017, he has been running an independent pain management practice in Třinec. In addition to this role, he also serves as a physician for the Moravian-Silesian Region Emergency Medical Service.
He holds the prestigious international medical certification FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice), which attests to his high professional competence in the precise and safe control of interventional techniques. This certification, when combined with a national license, entitles him to perform these specialised techniques worldwide. The certification is awarded by the World Institute of Pain. Furthermore, he has obtained certification in the Advanced Life Support (ALS) course, which involves specialised training in medical procedures designed to effectively treat sudden circulatory arrest and critical conditions.
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