United States Association For The Study Of Pain Inc

THE MISSION OF THE UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF PAIN IS TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES THAT REDUCE THE BURDEN OF PAIN. OUR GOAL IS TO BRING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, INCLUDING THOSE OF SCIENTISTS, CLINICIANS, HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS, AND POLICYMAKERS TOGETHER TO STIMULATE AND SUPPORT THE STUDY OF PAIN AND TO TRANSLATE THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO IMPROVED PAIN RELIEF.

WE CONDUCTED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SCIENTIFIC MEETING IN DURHAM, NC THAT INCLUDED ALMOST 600 PARTICIPANTS ON THE THEME "FROM BENCH TO BEDSIDE TO POPULATION: TRANSLATIONAL PAIN SCIENCE APPROACHES FOR THE WHOLE PERSON." SESSIONS INCLUDED NEW DISCOVERIES IN THE SCIENCE OF PAIN AND PRESENTERS DESCRIBED INNOVATIVE TO RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OF PAIN. IN ADDITION TO PLENARY LECTURES FROM LEADERS IN THE FIELD, MORE THAN 200 POSTERS PRESENTED FINDINGS FROM PRECLINICAL, BASIC SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE LABORATORY TO RACIAL AND SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE EXPERIENCE OF PAIN AND ITS IMPACT ON DAILY LIFE. PRESENTERS INCLUDED EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS WHO ARE STILL IN TRAINING AS WELL AS SEASONED RESEARCHERS AND SUBSPECIALTIES RANGED FROM NEUROSCIENCES TO PSYCHOLOGY, NURSING, PHYSICAL THERAPY AND DENTISTRY.

WE CONTINUE OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PRIMARILY DIRECTED TO EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS INTERESTED IN PURSUING A CAREER IN PAIN RESEARCH. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OUR EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WORK WITH THE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS TO IDENTIFY TOPICS FOR SEMINARS OF BROAD INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERSHIP AND THE PUBLIC. THIS YEAR WE CONDUCTED WEBINARS ON USING SOCIAL MEDIA, ALTERNATIVE (TO ACADEMIC) CAREERS, THE ART OF NEGOTIATION, SLEEP METHODS IN PAIN RESEARCH, BRINGING INTO RESEARCH AND CLINICAL CARE THE VOICE AND EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF PAIN. WEBINARS WERE TYPICALLY ATTENDED BY 30-40 ATTENDEES INCLUDING NON- MEMBERS. A PRIMARY EVENT SUPPORTING OUR EDUCATIONAL MISSION IS THE SCIENTIFIC MEETING (1 ABOVE), WHICH INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD TRAINEES. IN ADDITIONAL TO ATTENDING AN EARLY CAREER FORUM FOCUSED ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES, EXEMPLARY WORK BY EARLY CAREER PARTICIPANTS WAS RECOGNIZED THROUGH TRAVEL AWARDS AND POSTER AWARDS.

A THIRD ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS YEAR WAS CONTINUING THE SUCCESS OF THE JOURNAL OF PAIN. THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM CONTINUES INTO ITS SECOND YEAR, TRAINING EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS IN NUANCES OF PUBLISHING IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS AND PROVIDING EXPOSURE TO THE ENTIRE PROCESS INVOLVED IN CREATING EACH ISSUE OF THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL. FELLOWS WORK WITH EXPERIENCED JOURNAL EDITORS AND LEARN ABOUT PUBLISHING FROM SUBMISSION TO FINAL DECISION.