Eric Pearson, MD
Meridian - Philadelphia
Dr. Pearson earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed both his pain medicine and anesthesiology training at UAB (University of Alabama, Birmingham), where he served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Pearson recently founded Regenerative Cell Therapies, LLC at Total Pain Care, which focuses on Regenerative Injection Therapies (RIT) that are used to naturally treat and heal the cause of painful conditions, rather than simply masking the symptoms. For more information, please visit www.MississippiRegenerativeMedicine.com.
With a passion for long-distance running, Dr. Pearson has completed more than 25 marathons! He also sponsors many local and regional runs and sporting events, such as the Total Pain Care Anderson's Cup Run that funds the Pediatric Therapy Department at Anderson's Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi. newpatient@totalpaincare.org
L. Tyler Burns, MD
Flowood - Hazlehurst
Dr. Burns was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. After graduating from Trinity Episcopal, he attended and graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He had a desire to pursue the field of medicine and started working in the Emergency Room at The University Medical Center. After working for two and half years, he started medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and graduated in 2013.
Dr. Burns completed Anesthesiology residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas and fellowship in Interventional Pain Management at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon graduation from Emory, Dr. Burns accepted a position as a staff Interventional Pain Physician with Ochsner Medical System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he practiced for two and a half years. While in residency, Dr. Burns was selected by his peers and faculty to serve as Chief Resident . He was also selected as the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Neuroanesthesia.
Dr. Burns has a strong desire to help patients reduce their pain through a variety of treatments to enable them to return to an active lifestyle. This includes treating many different conditions that affect the spine, joints, cancer, and different neurological conditions.
Dr. Burns is excited to return to the Jackson Metro area with his wife Kimberly, son Henry, and his beloved German Shepard, the Colonel. He enjoys hunting, fishing, traveling, live music, cooking, tennis, golf, reading, and sporting events.
David Buford, DO
Flowood - Kosciusko
Dr. Buford was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Buford completed his undergraduate degree at Mississippi University for Women, his Master's degree in biology and chemistry from Mississippi College, and his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in Microbiology. He then served as faculty at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he taught biochemistry and immunology for eight years. Dr. Buford then pursued his medical degree at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and subsequently completed a residency in Anesthesiology and fellowship in Interventional Pain Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He received many awards throughout his training such as Chief Fellow for Interventional Pain, Claude Brunson Teaching Day award recipient, the President's Award, and the National Research Representative for the American Association of College of Osteopathic Medicine Student Government President's Executive Board.
Dr. Buford has received in depth training in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of complex pain disorders and cancer pain. He has extensive experience with advanced minimally invasive pain and spine therapies including: spinal cord stimulation, radiofrequency interventions, and ultrasound guided procedures. Dr. Buford utilizes a multidisciplinary approach in developing a treatment plan for each patient which includes: interventional procedures, physical therapy, behavioral medicine, and medication management. Dr. Buford is passionate about patient care and his treatment goals are tailored to each patient to optimize patient function, minimize patient pain, and to maximize patient quality of life.
Dr. Buford looks forward to staying in the Jackson area with his wife Kimberly and their four children. He enjoys family time, fishing, traveling, coaching youth soccer, and attending sporting events with his children.
Joe C. Cook, MD
Byram
Dr. Cook was born and raised in Waynesboro, Mississippi. In 2000, Dr. Cook completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training. He then went on to earn a Master’s degree in public health with an emphasis in epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2002. After several years of working as a Certified Athletic Trainer, Dr. Cook pursued medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he also completed a residency and fellowship in Anesthesiology/Interventional Pain Medicine. His training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center was highlighted by multiple awards and recognitions, including the Gold Humanism Award, Leonard W. Fabian Award and Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Cook is dedicated to restoring function in his patients through various interventional procedures ranging from spine care, image guided joint injections and trigger point injections. Dr. Cook lives in Madison, Mississippi with his wife, Shari, and their two sons, Joe and Jayden.
Dennis R. Marcello, MD
Hattiesburg
Dr. Marcelo was born and raised in Maryland. He attended McDaniel College in Westminster,
Maryland where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry. He received his medical degree from Aureus University. Dr. Marcelo continued on to the University Of Mississippi Medical Center where he completed his Anesthesiology Residency.
While in residency, he received numerous awards including highest in-training exam score for 2 consecutive years, first place award for the annual research competition, and resident of the year by vote of the faculty. He also gave several presentations relating
to pain management. Upon completion of residency, Dr. Marcelo further subspecialized in Pain Medicine at the University of Mississippi. After graduating in 2020, Dr. Marcelo relocated to Colorado to join a busy private practice in interventional pain management.
While there, he provided expert care for the patients in Colorado Springs through a variety of treatments from injections, and pharmacological intervention to state of the art drug free devices.
After 4 years of working in Colorado, Dr. Marcelo is excited to return back to Mississippi
and call it home once again. He offers consultation for alternative therapies and interventional techniques to manage pain and to improve quality of life. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and keeping his kids out of trouble.
Jay McDonald, MD, MPH
Southaven
Dr. McDonald was born and raised in Memphis, TN where he graduated from MUS high school. He then went on to The University of Georgia where he earned a double major in both Biology and Psychology. Between college and medical school, he worked at The Church Health Center in Memphis, which is a non-profit medical facility that treats the underinsured. From there he obtained his medical degree from the Tulane School of Medicine. During his time at Tulane, he also earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He then attended The University of Mississippi for his residency in Anesthesiology and fellowship in Pain Management. During his time at UMMC, he earned several awards including the Dr. John Current Award, was elected Chief Resident, and was named Resident of the Year. He is ABA board certified in both Anesthesiology and Pain Management.
After several years of private practice in Jackson, MS, he moved back home to Memphis and joined the Semmes Murphey Clinic, a large Neurosurgery group. During his time there, he developed a large practice with clinics in Memphis, Southaven, and Oxford, focusing primarily on spine-related pain. Working alongside his colleague at Semmes Murphey, Dr. Sam Polk, they both realized that there was a need for a comprehensive Pain Management clinic that can treat all types of pain in the North Mississippi and greater Memphis region. With this goal in mind, Dr. McDonald is excited to open Total Pain Care in Southaven where he can treat all types of pain.
Dr. McDonald has extensive experience in all types of treatments including medication management, nerve blocks, minimally invasive surgical techniques, radiofrequency ablation, joint injections, and physical therapy. He has a special interest in neuromodulation such as spinal cord stimulators and peripheral nerve stimulation as a tool to eliminate long-standing pain.
He understands that pain can affect every part of someone, and his goal is to give his patients back their quality of life so that they can return to what they enjoy. He lives in Memphis with his wife, two boys, and two golden retrievers. In his free time, Dr. McDonald enjoys fishing, cycling, classic cars, scuba diving, music, and watching his boys play on their various sports teams.
Charles "CC" Martin, IV, MD
Meridian - Philadelphia
A native of Meridian, Dr. Martin began his education at St. Patrick’s Elementary and finished at West Lauderdale High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2011, graduating Magna cum laude. He received his Medical Doctorate from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2015.
Following medical school, Dr. Martin completed residency training in Anesthesiology as well as his fellowship in Interventional Pain Management at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He has a specialty training in all aspects of acute and chronic pain conditions, including cancer pain management, with a special interest in the latest comprehensive advances and neuromodulation. He has expertise in outpatient infusion therapies and clinical quality improvement.
Dr. Martin married his high school sweetheart, Heather, after they graduated from USM. They enjoy time with their young children traveling, playing sports, boating, the great outdoors and being active in the community.
Samuel C. Polk III, MD, FAAPMR
Southaven
Dr. Samuel Carlton Polk III, M.D., a Memphis native, is a board-certified Physiatrist with subspecialty certification in Pain Medicine from the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and earned his Doctorate of Medicine from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Polk completed his Internal Medicine internship at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, followed by residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Case Western Reserve University/MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. He also completed a multidisciplinary Interventional Pain fellowship in Anesthesiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
In 2006, Dr. Polk returned to Memphis to join Semmes Murphey Clinic, where he practiced as a Pain Physiatrist for over 18 years. He was recognized with the Patients Choice Award in 2014. Dr. Polk has expertise in treating spine disorders (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar), peripheral joint disease, and neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. His clinical skills include understanding comprehensive diagnostics, recommending physical therapy, performing peripheral joint injections, spinal injections, radiofrequency lesioning, advanced minimally invasive procedures, and neuromodulation/dorsal column stimulator implants.
Starting in January 2025, Dr. Polk joined Total Pain Care in Southaven, Mississippi, where he will expand his services to the Southeast region alongside Dr. Jay McDonald. Dr. Polk is committed to providing professional and compassionate care for patients with diverse painful conditions in a comprehensive Interventional Pain Management practice. He resides in Memphis with his wife and two sons and enjoys golf, antique cars, sports, and community service.
Alan J. Torrey, MD
Vicksburg
Dr. Torrey was born and raised in Vicksburg, MS where he graduated from Warren Central High School. He attended college at Louisiana Tech University where he graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in Biology and a master's degree in Molecular Biology. Dr.. Torrey then returned to Vicksburg working at US Army Corps of Engineers- ERDC as a researcher and then started medical school at University of Mississippi Medical Center. After graduation in 2010, Dr. Torrey went of to complete his residency training in Anesthesiology and a fellowship in Interventional Pain Management. HIs time at UMMC was highlighted with several honor societies and professional organizations. He currently is very involved in several pain medical organizations, is a voting delegate for MSMA, and sits of the DUR board appointed by Gov. Bryant. He is ABA board certified in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain Medicine.
Dr.Torrey specializes in all aspects of pain management including spinal disorders and procedures, joint disease and procedures, implantable pain techniques, cancer pain management, rehab/preventative medicine, and complex neurological and physical disease processes and is up-to-date and trained in advancing procedural techniques.
Dr. Torrey lives with his wife and two daughters and is proud to call Mississippi home!! He is passionate about having a strong doctor-patient relationship and takes pride treating each and every patient he meets. He is committed to serving his hometown area for many years to come.