Physician Spotlight on Dr. Charles Kent

How did you get interested in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation?

I first got into Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation when I was in medical school. I shadowed a physiatrist in South Florida, and I was just so impressed with the strategies he had to help people organize their rehab plans and treat their symptoms. I felt it was a very well-balanced field that emphasized form and function and created very individualized treatment protocols that translated into real results.

What is Interventional Physiatry?

Interventional Physiatry is applying what we know about the body towards direct interventions that target the source of symptoms. It relies on various modalities such as ultrasound and fluoroscopy (X-ray) in order to get down to incredibly specific areas of the body for focused treatments.

What is your practice philosophy?

My practice philosophy is that diagnosis and treatment come from opening up a line of dialogue. No two people are truly alike, and I try my best to understand your goals of treatment. Curating a plan takes several things into consideration and hearing from you is the first step.

What does a typical appointment with you look like?

You can expect a conversation during a visit with me. It starts with trying to understand the history of the affected area. Then we may follow up with an X-ray and a focused exam. Together, these are used to triangulate the problem. Finally, we come up with a plan, which may involve specific rehab strategies, but also may involve more targeted workups, labs, imaging, and medication or injection options.

What types of conditions do you treat?

I treat most body parts, but my focus and specialty will involve the Spine. Specifically, I treat Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Radicular Pain and Radiculopathy, Spine Arthritis, Scoliosis, Spondylolisthesis, Compression Fractures, Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction, and Coccydynia. Other areas include musculoskeletal treatment of the shoulders, hips, and knees, including arthritis, muscle sprain/strains, acute injury, and chronic pain

What do you enjoy most about your work and outside of it?

The best part of my job is when the patient is feeling better and more confident about their diagnosis and treatment. There is no better feeling in this field than helping someone manage or even eliminate pain. Outside of work, I try to keep up with my two beautiful daughters and absolutely love walking my dog, Penny. I am also an avid golfer, which has provided great memories of travel and competition over the years.