About David Schechter, M.D.
David Schechter, MD
Board Certified Physician
Cedars-Sinai Attending Staff
Specializing in Mind-Body Medicine and Neuroplastic Pain Treatment
Student & Research Assistant of John Sarno MD
Named "Top Doctor" 20+ years (top 7% nationally)
West LA, California
T: 310-836-2225
The Patient Who Became a Pioneer:
From Personal Pain
to Professional Mission
In medical school at NYU, David Schechter was struggling with a nagging knee problem that wouldn't resolve with conventional treatments. A chance meeting with Dr. John Sarno, a pioneering rehabilitation professor, changed everything—not just his knee pain, but the entire trajectory of his career.
After experiencing rapid recovery through Dr. Sarno's mind-body approach to pain, Dr. Schechter became convinced this was more than just an interesting theory. The following summer, he conducted systematic research under Dr. Sarno's guidance, calling 177 former patients to track their outcomes. The results confirmed what he'd experienced personally: over 75% success rate in back pain patients using this approach.
That research project became a turning point. Rather than dismissing chronic pain as inevitable or untreatable, Dr. Schechter dedicated his career to understanding and treating the mind-body connection in pain—a path he's followed for nearly 40 years.
Today, with Dr. Sarno's retirement in 2013, Dr. Schechter has the most continuous years of experience treating TMS/neuroplastic pain of any physician in practice.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Schechter:
Four Decades of Clinical Experience
📊 Over 100,000 Patient Encounters
Nearly 40 years in clinical practice treating everything from acute injuries to complex chronic pain
🎯 Dual Expertise Board certified in both Family Medicine and Sports Medicine, combining comprehensive primary care with specialized musculoskeletal treatment
🧠 Mind-Body Pioneer One of the few physicians trained directly by Dr. John Sarno, with published research demonstrating 70%+ success rates in chronic pain patients
🏥 Academic Excellence Former Associate Professor at USC School of Medicine, teaching residents and medical students for over 20 years, multiple teaching awards
🏆 Peer Recognition Named Top Doctor continuously since 2006 by Castle Connolly, Los Angeles Magazine, US News & World Report, and Men's Health Magazine
What Makes This Approach Different
Treating the Root Cause, Not Just Symptoms
Unlike conventional pain management that focuses on medications, injections, or surgery,
Dr. Schechter's approach addresses the neuroplastic mechanisms that create and maintain chronic pain. This means:
✓ Accurate Diagnosis - Distinguishing structural issues from neuroplastic pain through comprehensive evaluation
✓ Education-Based Treatment - Teaching patients about the mind-body connection and how the brain generates pain
✓ Personalized Plans - Combining medical evaluation, therapeutic journaling, psychotherapy referrals, and lifestyle modifications tailored to each patient
✓ Empowerment Focus - Fewer visits than traditional pain management because the goal is independence, not dependence
✓ Collaborative Care - Working with carefully selected psychotherapists who specialize in TMS/neuroplastic approaches
Clinical Training & Credentials
Education & Board Certification
Medical Education
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M.D., New York University School of Medicine (1984)
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B.A., Biochemistry, Princeton University (1980)
Residency & Fellowships
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Family Practice Residency, UCLA/Santa Monica Hospital (1984-1987)
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Sports Medicine Certificate of Added Qualification
Board Certifications (Current)
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Family Medicine - Board Certified 1987, Recertified 1994, 2001, 2008, 2018, 2028
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Sports Medicine - Certified 1987, Recertified 2003, 2013
Hospital Affiliations
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Los Angeles
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Staff Privileges: Inpatient and outpatient care
Academic & Research Experience
Advancing the Science of Mind-Body Medicine
Research Leadership
Principal Investigator, Seligman Medical Institute
Published peer-reviewed research on mind-body approaches to chronic pain
Conducted landmark follow-up study of Dr. Sarno's patients (1983)
Academic Appointments
Associate Clinical Professor, USC School of Medicine (2003-2012)
Clinical Assistant Professor, USC School of Medicine (1998-2003)
Faculty, USC/California Medical Center Family Practice Residency (1990-2018)
Director of Medical Student Clerkship, USC (multiple years)Three Teaching Awards from residents (1991, 1996, 1997)
Published Research (Selected)
"Outcomes of a Mind-Body Treatment Program for Chronic Back Pain" - Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2007"Back Pain as a Distraction Pain Syndrome" - Evidence Based Integrative Medicine, 2005
Two chapters in Psychophysiologic Disorders textbook (2019)
Multiple presentations at national medical conferences
Dr. Schechter has presented at over 100 medical conferences, hospital grand rounds, and public forums, including:
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Neuroscience Symposium, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (2019)
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Swedish Hospital Pain Group, Seattle (2014)
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UCLA Mind-Body Conference (2010)
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Multiple radio, television, and podcast interviews
Books & Educational Materials
Resources for Patients & Professionals
Think Away Your Pain (2014) The comprehensive guide to understanding and treating TMS/neuroplastic pain. Called "the most user-friendly book in this field" and "the clearest description of mindbody pain treatment yet written."
The MindBody Workbook (1999, Updated 2019) A structured 30-day program of journaling and self-reflection for patients with chronic pain. Used by thousands of patients worldwide.
The MindBody Workbook Volume Two (2023) Completely new, daily affirmations, guided journaling, co-author a Clinical Psychologist.
The MindBody Workbook for Teens (2019) Specialized adaptation for adolescents to learn to utilize journaling as an emotional tool.
Philosophy & Approach
Treating the Whole Person
Dr. Schechter's practice philosophy stands on three core principles:
1. Whole-Patient Care
Treat the mind and body together, in the context of family, work, and environment
2. Evidence-Based Medicine
Provide the highest quality care based on the most current medical research and clinical outcomes
3. Prevention & Empowerment
Emphasize prevention, healthy lifestyle, and patient education as the foundation of lasting health"
Western medicine has unfortunately, for hundreds of years, separated the mind and body.
My work is about reconnecting them—using both clinical wisdom and modern neuroscience to help people understand and overcome chronic pain."— Dr. David Schechter
Getting Started
Schedule Your Consultation
Office Location:10780 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300
West Los Angeles, CA 90025(Between Selby and Malcolm, near Overland)
Contact:
Phone: (310) 836-2225
Email: frontofficedrs@gmail.com
Appointment Options:
In-person consultations (West LA office)
Telemedicine visits (California residents)International telemedicine (select cases)
Initial consultations are typically 45 minutes and include comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis.
2010 - present
2010 - present