Ajai Sambasivan

Ajai Sambasivan, MD is an Assistant Professor at McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), where he serves as the Musculoskeletal and Interventional Pain Consultation Service Lead at TIRR Memorial Hermann. Dr. Sambasivan is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and maintains active membership in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Registry for Diagnostic Sonography.

Dr. Sambasivan's educational journey includes a Doctor of Medicine with Global Health Track from George Washington School of Medicine (2011), followed by an Internal Medicine Internship (2012) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency (2015) at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed specialized training with a Fellowship in Musculoskeletal and Interventional Pain Management at Rutgers University (2016).

His research and clinical focus centers on interventional pain management, with particular expertise in musculoskeletal and spine pain conditions. Dr. Sambasivan employs a comprehensive approach that integrates therapy, bracing, medications, diagnostic testing, and image-guided procedures. His work demonstrates significant innovation in the application of diagnostic ultrasound for early detection of conditions like heterotopic ossification and septic joints, as well as in directional preference methodologies for spinal rehabilitation.

His publication record shows consistent scholarly activity with recent articles in 2025 addressing spontaneous pulmonary herniation in post-polio syndrome and rare causes of shoulder pain. His research spans diagnostic imaging applications, pain management techniques, and case reports on complex musculoskeletal conditions, reflecting his clinical expertise and commitment to advancing the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Sambasivan's clinical practice emphasizes thorough diagnostic evaluation and personalized treatment plans. His work demonstrates particular interest in regenerative medicine applications for conditions like osteoarthritis and tendinopathies, and he actively contributes to medical education through his academic appointment at McGovern Medical School.

His professional activities include presenting at the Association of Academic Physiatry Annual Assembly and publishing in journals such as the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pain Practice, and Pain Medicine, establishing him as an active contributor to the academic rehabilitation medicine community.