He attended the University of Southern California School of Medicine and completed his residency at USC/Los Angeles County Medical Center. Dr. Coombs has extensive clinical research experience in the area of regional anesthesia. Most recently, he was the site Principal Investigator on a national device trial that examined the efficacy of two different catheter-stabilization systems. Under Dr. Coombs’s leadership, UNC led all eight sites nationally in recruiting. He is also PI of an investigator-initiated study examining methods of relieving tourniquet pain. Since 2010, he has also served as a Co-Investigator for the POISE 2 Study at UNC, an international randomized controlled trial to improve outcomes after non-cardiac surgeries. His expertise includes regional anesthesia, and he pioneered the use of ultrasound for regional anesthesia at UNC.