Publications
APS Bulletin • Volume 16, Number 3, Fall 2006
President’s Message
The Future of APS Is You
Judith Paice, PhD, RN
In the last issue of the APS Bulletin, Dennis Turk shared his thoughts about our organization in the President's Message, "The Future of APS Is Now." With my first President's Message, I would like to build upon Dennis's essay and stress that the future of APS is the membership—you.
The Vision
Almost 30 years have passed since the formation of APS, and the subsequent leadership and members have worked to advance the science of pain through annual meetings, clinical practice guidelines, the Journal of Pain, and many other activities. These efforts have advanced pain research, education, and clinical practice.
Now there are additional challenges facing the field of pain. Dennis had the vision to recognize the need to have a clearly articulated roadmap to meet these challenges. He initiated an extensive exercise in strategic planning, which was conducted by the board and began with the development of a vision statement: "APS envisions a world where pain prevention and relief are available to all people." The strategic plan provides a clear direction for how we wish to proceed as an organization in areas such as policy and advocacy, research, education, and practice. Look for more information regarding the strategic plan in upcoming months.
Funding for Research: An Imperative
The only way we can realize this vision is with adequate funding for basic and clinical research. If our field is to advance, and pain relief is dependent upon these advances, we must produce high-quality research. This requires funding. Toward that end, we need to increase awareness of the problem of pain among the public, policy makers, granting agencies, and leaders of other organizations. We have to build coalitions with policy and patientoriented groups to ensure that pain-related information is accurately represented. We also need to dialogue with political leaders, educating them about the problem of pain experienced by their constituents, along with the promise that funding for pain research will ultimately lead to improvements in the care of these individuals.
Most of us have had little training in building relationships with political leaders; many of us need to learn a new vocabulary. To achieve this, we will begin training board members at the midyear board meeting on effective strategies for delivering our message to a national audience. In future months, strategies to assist all APS members with these messages will be shared through E-News and the Bulletin. These vehicles will also be used to increase our awareness of legislation that affects funding for basic and clinical pain-related research.
Every APS member committed to advancing the science of pain shares the responsibility of communicating the problem of uncontrolled pain, our vision, and the role of research in alleviating pain. We hope that all members will take advantage of our meeting location in our nation's capital to meet with their state and local representatives. The APS is a group of like-minded, dedicated individuals who are passionate about the science and practice of pain management. It is time to convene as a community and act together as a force to accomplish these goals.
Speaking of politics and Washington, DC, I found this quote interesting: "The President is there in the White House for you, it is not you who are here for him" (Walt Whitman, 1855). This passage spoke to me because it illustrates my view of the APS President's role. Rest assured I have no allusions of grandeur; my home is a bit less majestic than the White House. Nor do I encourage comparisons with its present occupant.
Your Feedback
I am truly interested in your thoughts about the direction and future of our organization. I welcome suggestions for making this an effective community and a force to contend with. I hope you will join me in thanking Dennis Turk for his vision and leadership during these past two years. His contribution to the success of our society is immeasurable. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have served on the Board, as chairs or members of committees, on task forces or SIGs, and all the other volunteer activities that allow our organization to function. The future of APS is you!