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APS Bulletin • Volume 19, Number 1, 2009
APS Update
Liz Newman, Managing Editor
APS 2009 Annual Meeting: Uniting Diverse Interests
The APS 28th Annual Scientific Meeting is approaching! This year’s meeting will be held May 7-9, 2009, in beautiful San Diego. Each year, the APS Scientific Program Committee (SPC) works very hard to make the meeting the best it can be, offering as many opportunities for learning, sharing, and collaborating as possible. This year, the program committee, which is chaired by Knox Todd, MD MPH, has compiled an extraordinary lineup of symposia, workshops, and plenary and paper sessions for all attendees to enjoy.
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“As a whole, members of the program committee represent the diverse membership
of APS. Committee members were very successful in soliciting ideas for the 2009
meeting. As a result, proposal submissions increased by 23% compared to 2008, and the selection process was very competitive.” —Knox Todd, MD MPH, 2009 Scientific Program Committee Chair |
But the finished product takes quite a bit of work to create. While the actual meeting lasts only a few days, APS Education Manager Jennifer Reinard says that the planning process for each APS annual meeting begins 12 to 18 months in advance of the meeting. The SPC comprises members who are representative of each professional discipline within the society to ensure balance and expertise within the SPC. The group conducts a day-long meeting in Chicago, IL. Through the day-long meeting and several conference calls, SPC members identify practice gaps and areas of interest to be addressed at the upcoming meeting, Reinard says.
The group examines the previous year’s program to determine what is missing and what APS members and other attendees are interested in learning. Steve Biddle, APS Education Director, says, “Coupled with the Call for Symposia, which yields many high-quality and timely proposals, the SPC selects topics that best address the stated needs of the APS membership and contribute to the APS mission to improve pain treatment by advancing the education of clinicians, scientists, and other professionals in the treatment of individuals with acute/chronic pain, and by supporting the development of pain research.”
Dr. Todd says that the diversity of the group adds to the richness of the meeting. “As a whole, members of the program committee represent the diverse membership of APS. Committee members were very successful in soliciting ideas for the 2009 meeting. As a result, proposal submissions increased by 23% compared to 2008, and the selection process was very competitive.”
Reinard attributes the increase in submissions to the fact that the SPC started planning very early to identify the topics on which to focus at this year’s meeting. She says, “I think it was due in large part to the committee’s involvement in recruiting topics and faculty early on in the planning process. They met onsite at last year’s meeting in Tampa and they talked to colleagues about organizing symposia to address those important topics.” Being onsite at last year’s meeting made things easier for the committee in that they were able to access colleagues much more easily than if they were in different parts of the country using e-mail or telephone to communicate. Face-to-face, timely correspondence offered a greater impact and resulted in the submission of more proposals.
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“The SPC will be conducting formal and informal evaluations of the annual meeting
as well as follow-up surveys. In both cases, the aim is to learn the extent to which the meeting met its objective and if this material had a positive impact on pain care, research, or policy.” —Jennifer Reinard, APS Education Manager |
And the work continued throughout the year. The SPC and APS staff members worked closely with faculty members to ensure their presentations delivered the most relevant and timely topics. In some cases, Reinard says, the SPC members were charged with contacting proposed moderators and faculty members to request changes to content and scope.
The planning phase is extremely important and the committee hopes to achieve its goal of organizing a program that addresses the identified gaps and will appeal to all of the disciplines the APS comprises. And the planning doesn’t stop once the meeting is over. Reinard says, “The SPC will be conducting formal and informal evaluations of the annual meeting as well as follow-up surveys. In both cases, the aim is to learn the extent to which the meeting met its objective and if this material had a positive impact on pain care, research, or policy.”
Highlights of This Year’s Meeting
When attendees register for the meeting, they will have a variety of symposia, workshops, plenary and paper sessions, and other learning events from which to choose. It may seem overwhelming as the SPC has, due to their diverse perspectives, tried to provide something for everyone. To start the meeting, the Clinical and Basic Science Data Blitz will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, from 7-9 pm. The blitz gives attendees the opportunity to kick off their annual meeting experience by learning from young investigators who will present brief discussions about their research. Following the presentations, senior investigators and others will ask questions and discuss the research presented. The blitz was a success in 2008, and the SPC felt it was a great learning tool to use again for both younger investigators and those who may be more seasoned.
Also in the vein of imparting knowledge to junior investigators, Dr. Todd says that the workshop, Successful Grant Writing and Funding Opportunities in Pain Research, is one that all should plan to attend because it will teach how to successfully compete for research funding from both federal and private sources. It offers attendees of all skill levels and experience with grant writing the opportunity to learn about the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant application process, provides tips for successful grant writing, and guidance on NIH and private review of NIH funding opportunities for pain research. The workshop includes a review of funding mechanisms for early and midstage career development and an update of planned changes in the NIH grant review process. The workshop is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2009, from 8:30 am-12:15 pm.
A new addition to the annual meeting is the debate on Saturday, May 9, 2009, from 8:30-10 am. The discussion, Controversy: Opioids for Breakthrough Pain in Chronic, Noncancer Patients, will be presented from the clinicians’ perspective, and presenters will interact with attendees to provide important perspectives about how regulators should consider labeling and surveillance for the safe and appropriate use of opioids in chronic, noncancer pain management. Bob Rappaport, MD, Director of the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Rheumatology Products at the Food and Drug Administration also will weigh in on the debate.
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“Coupled with the Call for Symposia, which yields many high-quality and timely proposals, the SPC selects topics that best address the stated needs of the APS membership and contribute to the APS mission to improve pain treatment by advancing the education of clinicians, scientists, and other professionals in the treatment of individuals with acute/chronic pain, and by supporting the development of pain research.” —Steve Biddle, APS Education Director |
Another can’t-miss symposium, according to Dr. Todd, is Pain Perspectives in Sickle-Cell Anemia: From Bench to Management in Children and Adults and the Emergency Department Experience. He says, “I am very excited about this symposium because, as an emergency physician, I find this an extremely complex area of pain management.” It will take place Thursday, May 7, 2009, from 10:45 am-12:15 pm. This symposium will review current research on the biology and mechanisms of pain animal models of sickle-cell anemia and present research that addresses pain in children and adults and ways to manage their pain. Efforts to improve emergency department analgesic management through a research project and learning collaborative also will be discussed. Dr. Todd adds that collaboration is imperative. “Bringing researchers and clinicians with diverse interests together is what APS is all about.”
Collaboration also will occur as the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and APS present an update on the practice guidelines for the management of chronic pain. Practice Guidelines for Chronic Pain Management: An Updated Report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Chronic Pain Management will take place on Thursday, May 7, 2009, from 2:15-3:45 pm. Dr. Todd feels that this is a great symposium for APS members to stay aware of the progress of the guidelines and to offer their opinions. He says, “Both APS and ASA are involved the development of these guidelines, and this forum will allow APS members to provide the ASA feedback on the guidelines.”
Among the topics that Dr. Todd feels will create a buzz are aging and pain (Pain and Aging in America: The Future is Now, Thursday, May 7, 12:30-2 pm; Aging and Pain: Mechanisms, Models, and Clinical Effects, Thursday, May 7, 10:45 am-12:15 pm). Brain stimulation for chronic pain is another on Dr. Todd’s list of hot topics (Brain Stimulation for the Management of Neuropathic Pain: Noninvasive, Deep Brain, or Both, Saturday, May 9, 1:45- 3:15 pm), as well as pediatric palliative care (Beyond Opioids: Advanced Pain and Symptom Management in Pediatric End-of-Life Care, Thursday, May 7, 2:15-3:45 pm). In addition, Dr. Todd cites the Role of Sleep in Hyperalgesia and Persistent Pain (Thursday, May 7, 10:45 am-12:15 pm) as an important symposium.
The Social Scene
If you’re looking for a way to relax during the meeting, San Diego is the perfect place to do it. San Diego is best known for its wonderful climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches, and an array of world-class family attractions. Popular attractions include the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Sea World San Diego, and LEGOLAND California. San Diego offers an expansive variety of things to see and do, appealing to guests of all ages.
If you’re interested in San Diego’s nightlife and culinary culture after a long day of learning and networking, you can visit any of the restaurants near the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel, which is centered in downtown San Diego. With more than 100 restaurants in the area, you’re sure to find a menu that will satisfy whatever you’re craving. There also are four restaurants located within the Manchester Grand Hyatt if you would rather stay in and enjoy the hotel.
The Manchester Grand Hyatt also is the location of the APS Awards Gala, which will be held Thursday, May 7, 2009, from 6:30-10 pm. The evening will focus on celebrating the accomplishments of the award recipients through a formal award presentation. Guests will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner. The cost of the gala is $75 per person.
And again this year, The Pain Sensations will be playing on Friday, May 8, 2009, at 9:30 pm in the Hyatt Ballroom. The Pain Sensations consider themselves the “baddest cover band in neuroscience!” They are back by popular demand and attendees are invited to join them for a fun night of music, dancing, and complimentary beverages.
California is wine country, after all, and there are many wineries in the area that offer tastings and tours. The San Diego Wine and Culinary Center is located in downtown San Diego, which makes tasting Southern California’s great wines even more convenient for those attending the APS annual meeting.
San Diego’s pristine climate is perfect for golfing, and San Diego County features 92 golf courses. Hit the links before or after the meeting to relax and unwind with your colleagues. Golf Digest named San Diego “One of the Top 50 Golf Destinations in the World.” There are more than 90 courses located throughout the San Diego region, from seaside settings to desert mountains to inland valleys. With a wide range of courses, there is a course for every type of golfer and a range of greens fees that will fit every budget. Visit the San Diego Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors to learn more about San Diego.
To register for the 2009 APS Annual Scientific Meeting or to learn more, visit www.ampainsoc.org/meeting. We hope to see you there!
