Your Physician
Board-Certified Interventional Pain Specialist
Fellowship-trained at Vanderbilt University. Board Certified for decades. Played a pivotal role in helping establish the St. Francis Health System Pain Department. Serving Tulsa with compassionate, evidence-based pain management since 2000.
Board Certified for decades — bringing years of specialized expertise to every patient encounter
B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Pre-Medicine — University of Memphis
M.D. — East Tennessee State University
Anesthesiology & Pain — University of Tennessee, Memphis
Pain Management — Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Over 3 decades of continuing medical education — staying current with the latest interventional techniques
Formerly taught and trained residents at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in interventional pain management
Played a pivotal role in helping establish the St. Francis Health System Pain Department
Minimally Invasive Specialist — spinal issues, nerve pain, chronic musculoskeletal conditions
Dr. Bhakta earned his Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Memphis before pursuing medicine at East Tennessee State University, where he received his M.D. He completed his residency in Anesthesiology and Pain at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, followed by a Pain Management Fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Board Certified for decades, he has maintained a commitment to continuing medical education throughout his career, staying at the forefront of interventional pain techniques for over 30 years.
After moving to Tulsa in 2000, Dr. Bhakta has championed a multidisciplinary approach, realizing that successful pain management requires not only treatments and medications but patient education and lifestyle modification. His commitment to advancing pain medicine extends beyond clinical practice — he formerly served as an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, where he trained residents in interventional pain management. He also played a pivotal role in helping establish the St. Francis Health System Pain Department, contributing to the development of comprehensive pain care infrastructure in Tulsa.
As an independent practitioner, he ensures total autonomy in catering treatment plans to each unique patient, avoiding the 'cookie-cutter' approach. In an era of high-volume centers, he maintains a philosophy where every patient is heard and never rushed. Whether dealing with spinal issues, nerve pain, or chronic musculoskeletal conditions, the goal remains constant: reducing pain and getting patients back to living life to its fullest.
Leveraging the latest interventional procedures to target pain at its source while minimizing recovery time and systemic side effects.
Having treated tens of thousands of patients, Dr. Bhakta understands that every person leads a complex life — and no two pain journeys are the same. That depth of experience allows him to craft individualized treatment plans rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Dr. Bhakta offers a comprehensive range of minimally invasive pain treatments tailored to each patient's unique condition.
Fluoroscopy-guided spinal injections for radicular pain.
Regenerative platelet-rich plasma for joint and tendon repair.
Long-lasting nerve signal disruption for chronic spinal pain.
Direct relief for arthritis of the neck and back.
Targeted electrode-based pain modulation.
Relief for muscle knots and myofascial pain.
Chronic migraines, muscle spasms, neuropathic conditions.
Long-term pain pathway interruption.
Viscosupplementation for arthritic joint function.
"Dr. Bhakta actually listened. After years of being told to just 'live with it,' he found a procedure that gave me my mobility back. I can finally play with my grandkids again."
— Mary J., Patient since 2022
"Compassionate, precise, and highly professional. The staff makes you feel like family from the moment you walk in."
— Robert T., Patient