David G. Borenstein

Dr. David Borenstein graduated with an AB degree from Columbia University in 1969. He received his Doctor of Medicine, and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine, on The Osler Medicine Service at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and The Johns Hopkins Hospital, respectively, from 1969 to 1976. His fellowship in rheumatology was completed at the Connective Tissue Division at Johns Hopkins under the mentorship of Lawrence Shulman, MD and Mary Betty Stevens, MD. Dr. Borenstein is board certified in internal medicine with subspecialty certification in rheumatology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians.

In 1978, shortly after completing his medical education, Dr. Borenstein became an assistant professor of medicine at The George Washington University Medical Center. In 1989, he was promoted to professor of medicine. During this period he was associate director for education and research in the Division of Rheumatology. From 1991 to 1995, he was professor of neurological surgery, an honorary appointment in recognition of his position as medical director of The George Washington University Spine Center. He was involved with a variety of activities in the Department of Medicine and Medical School, including the Department Clinical Competency Committee and the Medical School Admissions Committee. In 1997, he became a clinical professor of medicine on the voluntary faculty and joined Arthritis and Rheumatism Associates, a five-member rheumatology practice. He also established the Washington, D.C. branch of The Center for Rheumatology and Bone Research. Today, Arthritis and Rheumatism Associates spans four locations and includes 13 rheumatologists.

Dr. Borenstein has been active in a number of medical professional organizations. Currently, he is a member of the 250-physician International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, where he was chairman of the Membership Committee in 2003. He has also participated with activities of the American College of Physicians and was chairman of the Credentials Committee for the District of Columbia Chapter from 2001 through 2004. He was designated a Laureate of the ACP District of Columbia Chapter in 2005. He was President of the Rheumatism Society of the District of Columbia in 1993.

Dr. Borenstein has served as a consultant on lumbar spinal stenosis for the NIH, and in 2002 was a section leader on Back Pain for the NIH FDA Analgesic Development Conference. He has chaired low back pain symposia for a number of physician groups, including the ACR, ACP, and American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has lectured to the general public on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation on a wide variety of medical topics, including low back and neck disorders.

A committed member of the medical community in Washington, D.C., Dr. Borenstein served on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation from 1999 to 2007 and as its vice president from 2006 to 2007. He received the D.C. Arthritis Foundation chapter’s Henry Taylor Award in 2005 and its President’s Award for Lifetime Service in 2008.

Dr. Borenstein has also been involved in the civic affairs of the State of Maryland. From 1986 to 1994, he was appointed by Governor William Donald Schaefer to the Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission. The Commission selected panels of individuals who were presented to the Governor for appointment to the Appeals Court system of Maryland.

Dr. Borenstein is an author of Low Back and Neck Pain: Comprehensive Diagnosis and Management, 3rd edition, a textbook on spinal disorders for physicians. The second edition of this book has been recognized by the Medical Library Association of America—Brandon/Hill list as one of the 200 essential books for a medical library. He is also author of Heal Your Back: Your Complete Prescription for Preventing, Treating, and Eliminating Back Pain, a book written for the lay population.

Long an active member, Dr. Borenstein has volunteered for the ACR and its Research and Education Foundation in numerous capacities. He was a member of a number of program committees for the ACR’s southeast regional meetings and national annual meetings starting in 1982. He served on the Sponsored Program Committee from 1992 to 1996 and was the local liaison for the Committee on Rheumatologic Care Network from 1997 to 2000. He was a member of the Government Affairs Committee from 1998 to 2001 and its chairman from 2001 to 2004. He has been a member of the ACR board of directors from 2005 to the present. He was Treasurer of the American College of Rheumatology and REF and chairman of the Finance Committee from 2007 to 2009. He was the board liaison to the Quality of Care Committee from 2006 to 2007 and is the board representative to the European League Against Rheumatism Standing Committee for Clinical Affairs. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of The Rheumatologist from 2006 to the present. He was chairman of the ACR’s Pain Management Task Force from 2008 to 2010.

Dr. Borenstein earned the recognition and praise of the medical community when he was named an outstanding specialist in rheumatology in Washingtonian magazine, Washington Consumer’s Checkbook, Best Doctors in America, Who’s Who in Medicine and Health, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in the World.

Dr. Borenstein is married to Dorothy R. Fait, a family law attorney who has been honored as one of the 100 Outstanding Women of Maryland. They have been married for 38 years and have three daughters. Sylvia is an attorney who works in her mother’s law practice. Elizabeth is a fashion stylist. Rebecca is applying for a Masters in Business Administration degree. Dr. Borenstein has enjoyed playing squash as a means of relaxation for over 36 years. He and his family enjoy vacations in Aspen, Colorado, where they ski in the winter and hike in the summer and enjoy the music festival.