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Melanie M. Henry

MD MPH

Anesthesiologist
Pain medicine specialist

Dr. Melanie M. Henry is an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. She cares for patients with a wide array of chronic pain conditions, such as piriformis syndrome, failed back surgery syndrome, various forms of low back pain, chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and cancer pain. She performs pre- and postoperative evaluations of spine surgery patients. She is highly skilled in techniques guided by fluoroscopy and ultrasound imaging, and she performs many types of pain-relieving procedures, such as epidural steroid injections, joint injections, radiofrequency ablation and spinal cord stimulation.

Henry individualizes her pain management approach to each patient. She also embraces an approach that integrates care from specialists in pain psychology, physical therapy and neurology, collaborating to find the most appropriate treatment plan.

Henry earned a master of public health degree in epidemiology and biostatistics from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, and she completed her anesthesia residency and a pain medicine fellowship at UCSF.

Henry joined the UCSF faculty in 2006 and has served in leadership roles, including as director of acute pain services at the Mount Zion campus and as practice management director at the UCSF Pain Management Center. She is currently a California Society of Anesthesiologists delegate. In addition, she works with the UCSF Spine Center faculty to create a multidisciplinary treatment plan for spinal surgery patients before, during and after surgery.

Henry is active in developing educational modules for pain medicine physicians. She developed a continuing education module on CRPS for the California Society of Anesthesiologists. In addition, through her contribution to "Mini Medical School for the Public" on UCTV (University of California Television), she has gained recognition both nationally and internationally as a leader in pain medicine treatment methods.

Henry is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, California Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, International Association for the Study of Pain and North American Neuromodulation Society.

  • Education

    Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, MPH, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

    Tulane University School of Medicine, 2001

  • Residencies

    UCSF, Anesthesia, 2005

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Pain Medicine, 2006

  • Board Certifications

    Anesthesiology, American Board of Anesthesiology

    Pain Medicine, American Board of Anesthesiology

  • Academic Title

    Professor

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.7

    Overall Experience
    211 Ratings
    About our process
    Feb 15, 2023
    Both doctors were very kind and caring.
    Jan 27, 2023
    Excellent listener. Appreciate the thorough approach and suggestions for pain relief
    Jan 14, 2023
    Dr. Henry is a wonderful physician.
    Jan 10, 2023
    Greatest
    Nov 19, 2022
    The only reason I downgraded the discussion about risks and options is because we didn't have enough time to discuss any of them. I have asked for a follow-up visit at no charge to get the answers to my questions.
    Nov 17, 2022
    Care was excellent.
    Nov 08, 2022
    After the procedure finished the room emptied and I never saw the provider. Nothing about the follow up no goodbye. Someone joked about the team having a good lunch. I was still in a ton of pain and pretty let down that a room full of people just disappeared leaving me alone on the table.
    Oct 07, 2022
    All was excellent!
    Sep 20, 2022
    My health concerns was well received and discussed with me.
    Sep 02, 2022
    Dr. Henry is an excellent physician and we trust her and appreciate her care so much.
    Aug 29, 2022
    Dr. Melanie Henry is a wonderful doctor. This was not my first appointment with her and I always appreciate her professional medical care. Thank you Dr. Henry.
    Aug 10, 2022
    She is the only Pain Doctor that is an expert in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which I've had since 2016 and no other Doctor knew to refer me to her. It took me 3 tries to get an appointment with her first 2 times I was turned down. At the appointment she knew how hard I had to advocate for myself to get to see her. I should have been referred to her 5 years ago.
    Aug 03, 2022
    She and the resident asked many excellent questions and answered my questions in detail while probing why I was asking the questions.They explained the suggested treatment and Its side benefit of helping to diagnose the underlying cause of my problems. All In all the discussion was much more than I expected and very much appreciated.
    Aug 02, 2022
    This was such a great interaction! I felt like I was in the office! Very thorough and I felt everything I said was respected and considered important.
    Jul 30, 2022
    Excellent
    Jul 18, 2022
    Dr. Henry knows "her stuff" and is excellent at explaining things to me.
    Jun 10, 2022
    She was intelligent wise humane and present.
    May 31, 2022
    I need a more aggressive DrWay too much neck pain to live with
    May 24, 2022
    It's hard to absorb all the medical info the Doctor provides. I'm glad there are after care notes that go over the appointment and any medical language or terms.
    May 15, 2022
    He gave me no instructions for a follow up. I asked to see a neurosurgeon. If she wasn't gonna help me from the very beginning she should've been forthcoming about that information. And she was not
    May 04, 2022
    Dr. Henry is Extremely intelligent thoughtful and helpful with all of her advice and suggestions regarding my very complicated case and attendant pain. Her recommendations and referrals have led to remarkable improvement in my condition and ability to function despite my health issues. She is realistic and direct but always considerate and kind. She is an excellent practitioner.
    Apr 21, 2022
    Appt spread out too far
    Mar 30, 2022
    Overall worst experience I've ever had with a clinician.
    Mar 22, 2022
    I barely saw Dr. Henry the whole time I was there. Assistant was nice and knowledgeable. Gave nice explainations.
    Feb 22, 2022
    Am satified overall
    Dec 01, 2021
    Melanie Henry is always explaining the treatment and other options if necessary.
    Nov 09, 2021
    I thought Dr. Henry spent more than enough time with me explaining and answering questions even tho it was at the end of the day.
    Oct 20, 2021
    Dr. Henry is the best
    Oct 06, 2021
    Dr. Henry is excellent. Her knowledge is excellent from my lay person's point of view. She recognized my issues came up with the best way to keep attacking the problem and also recognized my films were just not good enough and how much more info we would gain from using UCSF MRI machines. She has helped me move forward with that; so hopefully we can schedule a second procedure that will be more beneficial.
    Sep 27, 2021
    Dr. Henry is an excellent communicator.
    Sep 21, 2021
    Exceeded my expectations
    Jul 28, 2021
    This was my first visit with Dr. Henry. I was very impressed.
    Jul 14, 2021
    About 3/4 of the way through the appointment the care provider disclosed I should never have been referred to her that it was a "misreferral" and send me to another care provider.Also the information given to me by a resident prior to Dr. Henry was inconsistent with what Dr. Henry advised.
    Jul 01, 2021
    I explained at one point that I was adopted and that I had very limited info about my birth father (just what he died of) and that I had never met him. The provider kept referring to him as my "dad". No I had a dad who raised me. This was a birth father. She didn't get it and was not careful with language in general.
    May 27, 2021
    my case is pretty complex but Dr. Henry did pretty well
    May 26, 2021
    Very caring and present to me.
    May 19, 2021
    follow up notes were detailed
    May 04, 2021
    Felt as if the doctor took time to acknowledge my medical history
    Please check with your health insurance plan regarding coverage for this type of care. Not all providers at UCSF are covered by every insurance plan.

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