Caring Team
Interventional Spine Specialists of Florida is composed of a dedicated team of physicians and specialists in each area of service. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and comfort for each patient on a personal level, and build a relationship that will last a lifetime.
Our Pain Physicians
Jesse Hatgis, DO
Dr. Jesse Hatgis, D.O. is a double board certified osteopathic pain management/physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. As an interventional pain physician, Dr. Hatgis utilizes a variety of advanced therapies including, but not limited to, spinal cord stimulation, kyphoplasty, endoscopic discectomy, tumor ablation, radiofrequency ablation, interspinous process device placement, facet joint stabilization, minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD procedure), nerve blocks, joint injections, and regenerative medicine. Dr. Hatgis is the President and Medical Director of Interventional Spine Specialists. He also serves as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Accredited Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Director at Larkin Hospital – Palms Springs Campus.
Monish Merchant, MD
Dr. Merchant is a Vascular and Interventional Radiologist who has published extensively on a variety of interventional radiology topics. He has a large volume of experience in novel embolization procedures and techniques.
Keerthi Prasad, MD
Keerthi is a Vascular and Interventional Radiologist with several years of experience in building and growing joint-venture outpatient Interventional Radiology labs. Dr. Prasad has trained physicians from across the USA in outpatient IR techniques and operations.
Kevin Douglas Cairns, M.D.
Dr. Kevin Cairns was born in Los Angeles, received his M.D. from New York Medical College and fulfilled his residency at Harvard Medical School. He also received a fellowship in neurology from Harvard as well as a fellowship in Interventional Spine Physiatry from Georgia Pain Physicians, Emory University in Atlanta. He is an expert in Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation and stays on the leading edge of innovation in non-invasive and minimally invasive spinal treatments.
Dr. Cairns was appointed by the Governor to the Board of Medicine. In addition, he is the chairman of office surgery for the state of Florida, and serves as Vice Chairman of Credentialing of Physicians in Florida.
He is married. An outdoor enthusiast, he is a triathlete who also enjoys windsurfing, fishing, music and theater.
Edward Frankoski, D.O.
Edward Frankoski earned his medical degree at Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine and his residency training was completed at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he received extensive training in Pain Management.
Dr. Frankoski stays current with all new and up to date treatments through many educational meetings throughout the year. He has been practicing Pain Management in the Aventura area for over twenty years and he has been involved in drug research as well as procedure research studies.
“I believe patients should be treated with respect and courtesy from the moment of the first call to the office. Everyone in my office wants patients to be fully informed and educated in all aspects of their care.”
Matt J. Graca, M.D.
Dr. Matt Graca earned his medical degree at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and completed his anesthesiology residency training at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where he received extensive training in interventional pain management. Dr. Graca went on to complete his fellowship in interventional pain management at the University of Miami, where he was awarded “Outstanding Fellow of the Year” upon graduation. Throughout his training he has presented numerous research projects at national conferences, published a variety of papers in peer-reviewed medical journals, mentored medical students and residents, and served on leadership boards of the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS).
Dr. Graca uses minimally invasive therapies for the treatment of many chronic pain conditions, and has a specific interest in the treatment of spine pathologies and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Dr. Matt Graca is fluent in Polish, enjoys golfing, scuba diving, playing the piano, and spending time with his wife and daughter.
Advanced Practice Providers
Sara Samla, PA-C
Vanessa Stark, PA-C