A passion for helping people in pain: Meet Scott Kreiner, M.D.

The week before Christmas, Scott Kreiner, M.D., was busy seeing patients at Barrow Brain and Spine outside of Phoenix, Arizona, where he’s director of Interventional Spine and Sports Medicine. For the past 25 years, Dr. Kreiner has practiced non-surgical sports medicine and pain management, treating a broad range of patients from weekend athletes to elite professionals, with a special interest in golf-related spine injuries. He also serves as the pain management physician for the Arizona Cardinals.  

While he will continue to see patients in a limited capacity, Dr. Kreiner recently cut back on his clinical schedule to take on an important new role: chief medical officer (CMO) of Boston Scientific’s Neuromodulation division, which focuses on developing electronic implantable technologies and minimally invasive therapies that help patients manage debilitating chronic pain and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. 

The job will build on his extensive experience as a physiatrist and interventional spine specialist. He also recently served as president of the North American Spine Society and on the board of directors of both the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society and the North American Neuromodulation Society. 

As Dr. Kreiner began his work as a CMO within Boston Scientific, we spoke with him about why he took the position – and what his hopes are for helping more patients with pain and movement disorders down the road. 

What will being a chief medical officer entail? 

While I’m still early in the role, a core responsibility will be providing clinical and scientific oversight across our Neuromodulation portfolio. That includes guiding clinical trials, rigorously evaluating existing and prospective technologies, and identifying new indications where our therapies can meaningfully improve patient care. 

Just as critical is the role’s external focus. As CMO, I serve as a clinical voice to the physician community – engaging directly to share evidence, exchange insights and help shape how innovation is translated into real-world practice. That ongoing dialogue helps to ensure our technologies are not only scientifically sound but also aligned with how physicians treat their patients every day.  

You are a practicing physician yourself. What appealed to you about this role? 

I have long respected Ray Baker, who recently retired as the neuromodulation CMO – not only as a leader in neuromodulation, but as a physician whose judgment and integrity I trust. When he approached me about the role, it prompted thoughtful conversations with my family and with some respected leaders in the healthcare community. I’ve spent my career focused on direct patient care, so the opportunity to contribute at a broader level was compelling. By helping guide innovation and clinical strategy, I can contribute to solutions that reach far more patients than I could through individual care alone.  

Where does your passion for pain management come from?  

I have a background in biomechanical engineering. I've always been interested in the musculoskeletal system. As I was going through my medical residency, I got tuned into pain medicine, where I could be more procedurally oriented and use my hands, which has always been something that I've enjoyed. Those aspects fit well with my personality and how I like to take care of people. 

What have you learned from your patients about living with, and overcoming, chronic pain? 

One of the most consistent lessons is how often patients underestimate the toll chronic pain takes on their lives. They may describe it as manageable, but over time it erodes their ability to stay active, sleep or concentrate. Those losses add up. 

As physicians, our responsibility is to listen carefully, set realistic goals and apply the right tools at the right time. When we do that thoughtfully, we can help patients regain control and move forward. 

Where do you see the most significant opportunities for Boston Scientific’s neuromodulation business? 

I’ve been extremely impressed by the depth of expertise across the teams developing our innovations. There’s a strong culture of scientific rigor, and it shows in the quality of the work. Our spinal cord stimulation, basivertebral nerve ablation and other devices are tools I use often in my clinical practice that have a big impact on patients’ lives. 

At the same time, we have an opportunity to broaden our impact. Ultimately, success for me will be measured by whether we meaningfully improve patients’ lives. If we’re able to do that at greater scale, then I’ll know I’ve done my job. 

Learn more about Boston Scientific’s innovative approaches to treating chronic pain.