Dr Robert Gassin
Musculoskeletal Physician
MBBS B(Med)Sc FAFMM GDMM GDPainMed

Dr Robert Gassin has been practicing in the field of musculoskeletal pain management for over 10 years. He has completed extensive postgraduate training in both musculoskeletal medicine and pain management and is a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Musculoskeletal Medicine. He until recently, consulted for the Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA) and one of it's Agents and has an excellent understanding of the WorkCover system and of management of work-related injuries. Dr Gassin has lectured on a broad range of pain management topics ranging from low back pain in pregnancy to neuropathic pain and the use of opioids in chronic pain. He has expertise in spinal manipulation, the use of pain medications and interventional approaches to pain management.

• Over 10 years experience in assessing and managing spinal and peripheral musculoskeletal pain conditions.
• Published several review articles on musculoskeletal pain management.
• Lectured on a broad range of musculoskeletal pain topics.
• Contributed to the soon to be published ‘Encyclopaedia of Pain'.
• Specialises in:
• work-related musculoskeletal pain
• low back pain during and after pregnancy
• medico-legal reporting

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)
  Monash University, 1986
• Bachelar of Medical Science (Honours) (B(Med)Sc)
  Monash University, 1986
• Graduate Diploma Musculoskeletal Medicine (GDMM)
  Otago University, 1996
• Fellowship Australasian Faculty Musculoskeletal Medicine (FAFMM) AFMM, 2000
• Graduate Diploma Pain MedicineSydney University, 2000

Additional post-graduate education:

• Certificate of Advanced training in Manual Medicine RACGP, 1994
• Stages Theroiques et Pratiques de Perfectionnement en Medecine Manuelle GFMM, 1995

Professional memberships:

• Australasian Faculty of Musculoskeletal Medicine (AFMM)
• Australian Association of Musculoskeletal Medicine (AAMM) (Treasurer 1999-2001, Committee Member 2001-2003)

Medical interests:

• Musculoskeletal Medicine
• Pain Management
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Medical Experience:

GP/Musculoskeletal Medicine:

• Croydon Supercare Clinic (1989-91)
• Cranbourne Five Star Clinic (1991-1994)
• Cranbourne North Medical Clinic (1994-2001) – GP Supervisor (1995-2000)
• Thompson Rd. Clinic, Cranbourne North (2001-2002)
• Eramosa Rd Clinic, Somerville (2003-

Musculoskeletal Medicine:

• Peninsula Sports Medicine Centre, Frankston (1997-1998)
• Frankston Pain Management Group (1999-2002)
• Dandenong Musculoskeletal Medicine Clinic (2002-
• Frankston Musculoskeletal Medicine Clinic (2002-
• Metropolitan Spinal Clinic, Prahran (2003-2004)
• Metro Spinal Clinic, Hawthorn (2005-2006)
• Metro Spinal Clinic, Caulfield South (2005-

Non-Clinical Positions:

• Allianz Workers Compensation (Victoria) - Health Management Specialist (2002- 2006)
• Victorian WorkCover Authority – Member of Clinical Review Panel (2004-2005)

Published Papers:

• Gassin R. (1999). Low-back pain during pregnancy. Australasian Musculoskeletal Medicine 4(1): 16-23.

• Gassin R. (1999). Chiropractic: a medical perspective. Australasian Musculoskeletal Medicine 4(2): 10-15.

• Gassin R., Masters S. (2001). Spinal manual therapy - the evidence. Australian Musculoskeletal Medicine 6(1): 26-31.

• Gassin R. (2007). Pain management, physical therapy, manipulation – in Encyclopedic Reference of Pain, Robert F. Schmidt and William D. Willis Eds. Springer-Verlag, Berlin .

• Gassin R. (2007) Pain management, physical therapy, passive mobilisation – in Encyclopedic Reference of Pain, Robert F. Schmidt and William D. Willis Eds. Springer-Verlag, Berlin .

• Gassin R. (2007) Diagnosis of pain, neuropathic pain – in Encyclopedic Reference of Pain, Robert F. Schmidt and William D. Willis Eds. Springer-Verlag, Berlin .

• White papers for the AFMM on neurogenic pain and spinal Manual therapy

Conference Presentations:

• Spinal Manual Therapy: The Evidence – Combined AAMM/AFMM Conference – Hunter Valley , July 2001.

• Pelvic/Buttock Pain in Pregnancy - AAMM Annual Conference – Melbourne , October 2002.

• Cervical Manual Therapy – AAMM Annual Conference – Sydney , November 2003.

• CBT and Activation Workshop - AAMM Annual Conference – Sydney , November 2003.

Teaching and speaking experience:

Dr Gassin has lectured to medical and paramedical professionals on a variety of topics including:

• Neuropathic pain
• Management of Low Back Pain
• Management of Low Back Pain in Pregnancy
• Management of Sciatica
• Pain Management in the Elderly
• Interventional Pain Management
• Rational Use of Opioid Analgesics