Joplin, Mo. – Dr. Roger Misasi, interventional pain management specialist, is no stranger to southeast Kansas. He was born in Pittsburg, raised in Arma, attended St. Mary’s Colgan and Pittsburg State University, and was a founding physician and anesthesiologist of the surgery center in Pittsburg. For the past eight years, Dr. Misasi has been driving to the Kansas City area for work while his wife and daughter lived in Pittsburg. Joining the Freeman Specialty Clinic of Pittsburg means he is home for good. 

“It’s great, really,” said Dr. Misasi. “I’ve been living in both places. I have a special needs daughter, Maggie, who is 33 and lives at home. We’ve found some great caregivers for her through the PSU nursing school. This creates a balance between work and personal life.”

Dr. Misasi worked as a flight surgeon in the Air Force, while raising twin sons as a single dad in 1983. He did a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine at Wichita, where pain management was a new offering. He added an extra year to his residency to include pain management and cardiac anesthesia. 

“I found this to be an area of need, and I’m good at it,” said Dr. Misasi. “Everybody has pain. Over the last number of years, I have seen patients coming in on big doses of narcotics – you can’t do that the rest of your life. I do a variety of pain management treatment, but I also work with patients to educate them on ways to knock down pain through lifestyle changes.”

Dr. Misasi previously worked with Dr. Michael Zafuta caring for area sports teams and said he looks forward to working with him and the entire Freeman team.

“Freeman is a leader in the community and takes good care of it,” said Dr. Misasi.

Dr. Misasi is board certified in pain medicine and anesthesiology. He specializes in interventional pain management and is a fellow with the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology (FAOCA).

Dr. Misasi is accepting new patients at Specialty Clinic of Pittsburg, 1606 N. Broadway. For information, contact the clinic at 620.231.0958.