Coti Phillips, MD

Coti Phillips, MD, is board certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist with extensive experience in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating various acute and chronic pain conditions. He is involved in all aspects of perioperative pain management as well as chronic pain management. Dr. Phillips is highly skilled in a range of procedures including neuromodulation, fluoroscopic-guided spine procedures and ultrasound-guided injections.

Within UC San Diego Health, Dr. Phillips operates across various medical settings, including the acute pain service, chronic pain service, and as a general anesthesiologist. As a valued faculty member of the prestigious Center for Pain Medicine, he contributes to its recognition as a Clinical Center of Excellence in Pain Management by the American Pain Society. The center offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary care aimed at enhancing functionality and alleviating suffering in patients dealing with spine-related pain, musculoskeletal pain, pelvic and abdominal pain, and pain resulting from surgery, injury, or nerve damage.

As a faculty member in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Phillips has a significant role in training medical students, residents, and fellows. His passion lies in working with trainees and he has a particular interest in simulation-based training. In addition to his clinical work and teaching commitments, Dr. Phillips actively engages in original research and has co-authored a book chapter on common pharmacological agents employed in pain management. He has also published multiple teaching cases in various nationally recognized journals.

Dr. Phillips completed a fellowship in pain management at UC San Diego School of Medicine where he also completed his anesthesia residency, serving as a chief resident in his final year. He earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He is board certified in both anesthesia and pain medicine.

Dr. Phillips is a member of several professional organizations including the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, and the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. His expertise is recognized at national meetings, where he has delivered multiple presentations.

Outside of work, Dr. Phillips enjoys spending time on the water, enjoying activities such as spearfishing, paddleboarding and surfing.

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For more information, see Anesthesiology and Pain Management.