Douglas Chang, MD, PhD

Douglas Chang, MD, PhD, is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who specializes in the non-surgical treatment of back/neck pain and other musculoskeletal injuries.

Dr. Chang's passion of athletics, curiosity about movement mechanics, and desire to improve people's quality of life led him to pursue his profession as both a physician and researcher. He says that the most satisfying aspect of his practice is listening to his patients tell him about their activity exploits after treatment and hearing a patient say, "There is life after pain!"

An avid rower, Dr. Chang serves on the board of the San Diego Crew Classic and also as its lead physician.

As a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Chang instructs medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He participates in research on the effects of prolonged weightlessness on neck and back pain in NASA astronauts, yoga on chronic back pain in veterans, as well as research into sports concussions.

Dr. Chang completed a fellowship in spine and sports medicine in Zurich, Switzerland with the lead physician of the FIFA World Cup Soccer organization. He completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he provided medical care for college athletes, including cross-country and distance runners. Dr. Chang earned his medical degree and his doctorate in bioengineering from UC San Diego. As an undergraduate at Yale University, Dr. Chang competed as a light-weight rower. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and sports medicine.

To stay in shape, Dr. Chang likes to swim, work out at the gym and chase after his two sons.

See Dr. Chang's UC San Diego research profile.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.