Chan Gao, MD
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About
Dr. Chan Gao is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at University of Michigan. He is a physician-scientist specializing in interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine, with a focus on complex pain conditions and rehabilitation. Dr. Gao completed his medical and doctoral training (MD, PhD) followed by residency in PM&R at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, TN) and fellowship in Sports Medicine and Interventional Spine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York, NY). He has held prior academic appointments at McGill University (Montreal, Canada) before relocating to Ann Arbor to join Michigan Medicine. He is board certified in PM&R and Sports Medicine and is actively engaged in both clinical care and translational research.
Dr. Gao’s clinical practice centers on the comprehensive management of spine and musculoskeletal disorders, utilizing image-guided interventions alongside rehabilitation-based approaches to optimize patient outcomes. His research program focuses on the functional improvement following spinal cord injury and chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions. He leads translational studies integrating preclinical models, advanced imaging, molecular biology, and biomarker discovery. In parallel, he is developing innovative clinical trials, including novel approaches for refractory shoulder pain.
Dr. Gao is deeply committed to mentorship, collaboration, and academic development. He works closely with multidisciplinary teams across departments to advance musculoskeletal and neurorehabilitation research, and actively mentors trainees in both clinical and research settings. His academic efforts aim to bridge fundamental science with clinical innovation, improving care for patients with complex rehabilitation needs while contributing to the advancement of the field.
Locations
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Spine Procedure Clinic | Burlington Building 325 E Eisenhower Pkwy Ste 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-3364Get Directions -
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic | Burlington Building 325 E Eisenhower Pkwy Ste 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-3364Get Directions -
Endoscopy & Pain Clinic | Chelsea Professional Building 14650 E Old Hwy 12 Ste 202
Chelsea, MI 48118-1801Get Directions
Insurance Accepted
University of Michigan Health participates with most health insurance plans.
Education & Training
Medical School or Training
Residency
Fellowships
Board Certifications
Patient Ratings & Comments
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Patient Ratings
144 Patient Ratings
Patient Comments
February 17, 2026 - "[...] He was very thorough and professional, yet friendly and warm before, during & after the procedure. [...] Dr. Gao, we are lucky to have you!"
February 14, 2026 - "Dr. Gao always listens to what I say, and I feel he truly wants to help me."
January 30, 2026 - "Dr Gao is one of my fav doctors of any type. He listened to me, we made a plan, and then we made a decision tree based off of the imaging."
January 23, 2026 - "So happy I found Dr. Gao"
December 12, 2025 - "Dr. Gao was pleasant & took his time [...]. I appreciated that [...]"
December 8, 2025 - "I didn't realize Dr. Gao's diagnosis until I got home and read the visit summary. He paid very good attention to the materials submitted in advance of the visit which focused on my [...]. He did not address the cause (& treatment) of [...]."
October 15, 2025 - "Dr. Gao is very thorough, answered all my questions. He is very courteous and friendly."
September 26, 2025 - "I'm glad to be in the care of Dr. Gao. My wife is also under his care through out last year and after I personally witnessed her progress, I was fully convinced to seek his treatment. Thanks for having me In your care"
August 30, 2025 - "Dr Gao is very thorough with his explanations. He is so very nice and friendly."
July 25, 2025 - "Dr Gao was very courteous and professional. He was able to discern my problem form the information he had and presented a plan of treatment. I was impressed for this was my first visit with him and I had a long history to ascertain."
