Dr. Vanila M. Singh, MD, MACM

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Get to know Pain Management Specialist Dr. Vanila M. Singh, who serves patients in Redwood City, California.

A skilled pain management specialist, Dr. Singh strongly believes in a compassionate, individualized patient-centered approach to medicine. She practices at the Pain Management Center in Redwood City, California, where her focus is on regional anesthesia, perioperative care, subacute pain, and the development of chronic pain. 

Incorporating complementary and traditional medicine approaches, Dr. Singh emphasizes individualized patient care. Her professional interests extend to public health, persistent pain post-surgical procedures, and addressing long-term chronic and complex pain issues.

With a background and interest in education for medical students, residents, and fellows, Dr. Singh serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford and is a teaching mentor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Born in Bikaner, India, Dr. Singh immigrated to the United States with her parents at the age of one. Raised in Fremont, California, she attended Niles Elementary School, Centerville Junior High School, and Washington High School. She then pursued higher education, earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1993 and her Medical Degree from the George Washington School of Medicine in 1997. 

Her medical journey continued with an internship at New Haven Hospital in 1998, followed by residency and fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

In 2016, Dr. Singh furthered her education with a Master of Academic Medicine Degree in Education, Curricula Development, Leadership from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. This professional development aimed to enhance her leadership skills, educational curriculum development, interdisciplinary work, and collaborations with faculty nationwide.

In pursuit of clinical excellence, the doctor is double board certified in pain medicine and anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA). The mission of the ABA is to advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. 

Actively involved in professional organizations, Dr. Singh holds esteemed positions such as Academic Director in the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, Board Member of the Chair Advocacy Committee in the California Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and memberships in the American Society of Anesthesiology and Lucid Lane.

Having a keen interest in health policy and a background in economics, Dr. Singh has been an invited speaker on the opioid crisis, pain management, and the growing illicit drug crisis nationwide. She previously held the position of Chief Medical Officer in the US Department of Health and Human Services and chaired the HHS Task Force in collaboration with the Department of Defense and the Veterans Affairs. Under her leadership, the task force submitted a comprehensive and accessible final report to Congress.

Pain management is a branch of medicine employing an interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and improving the quality of life of those living with chronic pain. A pain management specialist is a doctor who specializes in pain medicine, focusing on the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of pain.

With a diverse background in molecular and cell biology, economics, pain medicine, and regional anesthesia, Dr. Singh specializes in advanced ultrasound-guided procedures for pain and anesthesia medicine. She has contributed to medical ethics and served on scientific editorial boards and committees for prestigious organizations such as the American Society of Regional Anesthesia, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, the California Medical Association, and the Santa Clara County Medical Association.

In 2009, Dr. Singh participated in the Teaching Scholars Program in Regional Anesthesia. His journey of accolades continued as he received the Leading Physicians of the World Award from the International Organization of Healthcare in 2017, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians in 2018, and recognition of Public Service Award from the Maryland Society of Anesthesiology in October 2018. The accolades persisted with the Visionary Leader Award from the Pain and Business Academy in the same month.

In March 2019, Dr. Singh received the Presidential Commendation from the American Academy of Pain Medicine. His commitment to excellence continued to mount with the Philip M. Lippe Award from the American Academy of Pain Medicine in February 2020 and the Standiford Helm Award from the California Society of Interventional Pain Physicians in October 2021.

Dr. Singh credits her achievements to a combination of healing humility, navigating challenging health conditions, and choosing the path less traveled. Her unwavering commitment remains dedicated to the well-being of her patients. 

A resident in the Bay Area of California, Dr. Singh is happily married and is a proud parent of two children.

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