Medical Specialty

Pain Management and Rehabilitation
Independent Medical Examiner

Undergraduate Institution

University of Lagos College of Medicine

Medical School

University of Lagos College of Medicine

Internship/Residency

Internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI, Residency at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital/University of Chicago Hospital. There he served as a chief resident in his last year

Professional Society Memberships

AAPMR, NANS

Interesting Facts

Dr. Nwofia started his post-medical school training in the United Kingdom, in Orthopedic Surgery, from May 1990 until his move to the United States in June 1994. He completed an internship in Family Practice at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit between June 1994 and June 1995. He then completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital/University of Chicago Hospitals program between 1995 and 1998 where he served as a chief resident in his last year.

Dr. Nwofia is an interventional physiatrist and rehabilitation specialist and specializes in the evaluation and treatment of non-surgical spinal and musculoskeletal disorders. He is (ABMS) board certified with the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the subspecialty of Pain Medicine.

Dr. Nwofia’s areas of interest include the treatment of spinal disorders and chronic spine-related pain management with the use of Spinal Cord Stimulation devices. He is also experienced in, and offers minimally invasive procedures/surgeries like SIJ fusion and percutaneous decompression procedures for lumbar disc herniation and stenosis. Dr. Nwofia also treats patients with spine fractures with kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.

For the last 10 years, Dr. Nwofia has trained several physicians in a 12 month fellowship program in interventional pain management. Some of these physicians are successfully practicing in the middle Tennessee area and in some other parts of the country.

Dr. Nwofia lives with his wife and kids in the Brentwood area. In his spare time he likes to travel and is also an enthusiast of the Shotokan Karate style.

Dr. Wesley Peace graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University where he majored in Exercise Physiology. He attended medical school at Nashville’s own, Meharry Medical College. Dr. Peace completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio, where he served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Peace then completed a 12 month Interventional pain fellowship at Pain and Spine Consultants under Dr. Nwofia and Dr. Stone.

He enjoys helping patients improve their function and overall quality of life through effective pain management. His areas of interest include Electromyography, interventional spine procedures and neuromodulation with Spinal Cord Stimulation therapies.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and practicing Tae Kwon Do, in which he is a black belt.

As a Colorado native, Megan received her Bachelor of Schience in Biological Studies from Colorado State University. She then went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. She completed her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Touro University Nevada in Las Vegas. Megan is a member of the Academy of Physician Assistants, the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants.

Megan spent the last 7.5 years in Colorado, working in geriarics and Pain and Spine Consultants welcomed her in May of 2020. In her free time, Megan enjoys music, reading and spending time with her family and is looking forward to exploring Tennessee.

Kathryn Vago is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Kathryn received her Associate’s Degree in Registered Nursing from Nashville State Community College in 2014 and later received her Master’s Degree in Family Practice Nursing from Austin Peay State University in 2019.

Before joining Pain and Spine Consultants, she worked as a Registered Nurse, handling all facets of medical-surgical nursing care and treating patients with chronic respiratory diseases and other conditions related to allergies and asthma. She also worked as a Nurse Practitioner in interventional pain management.

Board Certification

NCCA

Undergraduate Institution

University of California, Davis Bio Chemistry

PA School

University of Oklahoma PA

Professional Society Memberships

TAPA

Work History

Trudy has 20+ years at VA renal transplant program and has a back ground in geriatrics.

Trudy Jo Kerlin is a graduate of University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry and graduated from Physician Assistant program at the University of Oklahoma. Trudy has a wealth of clinical experience caring for complex patients in academic, public, and private practice settings. Before joining our team, Trudy worked with the VA renal transplant team as well as Vanderbilt University medical center. Trudy enjoyed her work in geriatrics and is excited to work in pain management.

Elizabeth received her RN degree from Columbia State Community College, her BSN in nursing from Western Governor’s University, and her MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Frontier Nursing University. She is currently working on her Doctorate degree in nursing. She is a member of the American Academy of Critical Care Nursing and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Elizabeth has spent the last 8 years taking care of patients and their families through difficult times as a critical care nurse, including during the COVID 19 pandemic. She obtained her FNP to provide more personal care and have a lasting impact in her community. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her exceptionally large family, volunteering, working out in the gym, and bringing to joy to those around her.

Shaterra West is a PA-C board-certified  Physician Assistant. In 2022, she received her Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from The University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama.

Before joining Pain and Spine Consultants, she worked in high-risk obstetrics managing complicated pregnancies. She also gained experience in physiatry working as a rehab nurse technician at Encompass Rehab Hospital, caring for patients with recent strokes, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and major trauma.

In her spare time, she enjoys crocheting, attending concerts, exploring different cuisines at new restaurants, and spending time with loved ones.