Publications
APS Bulletin • Volume 17, Number 2, 2007
APS Annual Meeting Highlights
APS Annual Scientific Conference Gains National Media Attention
This year’s APS Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, attracted significant media attention. Seventeen journalists registered for the meeting. Public relations leading up to the conference emphasized the panel session, The Battlefield and Beyond, which covered the timely topic of pain management for wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Writers for the Associated Press (AP), Newsweek, and JAMA covered the session and conducted follow-up interviews with speakers Chester Buckenmaier, Michael Clark, Rollin Gallagher, and Robyn Walker.
On May 7, the AP issued a national wire story, “Doctors Urge Better Pain Care for Troops.” AP Science Writer Lauren Neergaard’s piece was picked up by more than 80 newspapers, Internet news services, and other media with an estimated combined audience of more than 20 million. Media outlets for the story included MSNBC, CBS News, Fox News, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, Newsday, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Denver Post, Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, and Seattle Post Intelligencer.
The cover story of Newsweek’s June 6 edition was “The New War on Pain.” Correspondent Mary Carmichael also covered the battlefield pain care session. She and her colleagues followed up after the meeting with extensive phone interviews with APS sources including panelists from the battlefield session: Judy Paice, Dennis Turk, Chuck Inturrisi, Gil Fanciullo, and Edward Covington.
APS was the major influence on the tone and direction of the Newsweek story, “The Changing Science of Pain.” The piece communicates several key APS messages:
- Pain is a treatable medical condition by itself and is a major health problem in the U.S.
- Pain research is advancing medical understanding of why people hurt and offers the best hope for the future.
- Prompt pain intervention can prevent development of severe chronic pain.
- The multidisciplinary approach succeeds in making pain patients functional and productive, but poor insurance coverage is hindering patient access to multidisciplinary pain care.
- Chronic pain is a multifaceted medical problem and there are no magic bullets, technologies, or quick fixes that are universally successful.
Who Attended the Annual Scientific Meeting?
Fourteen hundred attendees represented 29 countries at the 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC. Attendees reflected the multidisciplinary nature of the society’s membership—represented specialties included medicine (anesthesiology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, internal medicine), psychology, nursing, pharmacy, basic science, policy analysis, and others in which clinicians, researchers, educators, consultants, and administrators work.
APS Annual Awards
APS President Judith Paice was pleased to present the 2007 Annual Awards on Saturday, May 5.
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George Wilcox, PhD, received the Frederick W.L. Kerr Basic Science Research Award. He presented his award lecture, “Analgesic Synergies in the Spinal Cord: Neurochemical Dissection and Clinical Implications,” at the meeting. |
President Judith Paice presented Robert Gatchel, PhD, the Wilbert E. Fordyce Clinical Investigator Award. Dr. Gatchel’s lecture discussed the biopsychosocial approach to chronic pain. |
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Allen Lebovits, PhD (left) and Kathleen Sluka, PhD, were honored for their outstanding volunteer efforts in the American Pain Society. They each received the 2007 Distinguished Service Award. |
APS President Judith Paice (right) presented the Jeffery Lawson Award for Advocacy in Children’s Pain Relief to Leora Kuttner, PhD. |
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Christina Spellman, PhD, Mayday Fund Executive Director, received the John and Emma Bonica Award for Public Service. |
Kathleen Foley (left) presented the Kathleen Foley Journalist Award to Scott Finn (not shown) and Tara Tuckwiller (right) of the Charleston (WV) Gazette. |
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Bryan Hains, PhD, received the John C. Liebeskind Early Career Scholar Award. |
APS honored Marion Good, PhD RN FAAN, for her outstanding educational achievements in the pain field with the Elizabeth Narcessian Award. |
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Advocacy Visits
APS and American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) leaders joined forces on Wednesday, May 2, to target Capitol Hill.
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Leaders from both organizations met with legislative counselors Adam Chrisney and Bob Saner of Powers, Pyles, Sutter and Verville for training about effective advocacy. |
APS and AAPM leaders scheduled visits with their legislators. After a morning of training, they set out individually to make their visits. |
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More information about advocacy efforts and legislative issues will be reported in the Bulletin as they become available. To read more about the APS advocacy program, visit http://ampainsoc.org/advocacy/legislative.htm.
Fun Run/Walk to Support the Dreams Campaign
Nearly 100 walkers and runners put on their panda t-shirts and gym shoes and hit the trails at the National Zoo.
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Participants stretched to prepare for the 5K event to support the Dreams Campaign. |
APS accepted a generous $100,000 donation from Endo Pharmaceuticals in support of the Dreams Campaign. |
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Exhibitors
APS extends appreciation to the exhibitors that participated in the 2007 program. Visit the APS Web site to find links to the 2007 exhibitors.
2007 Scientific Program CommitteeAPS thanks the 2007 Scientific Program Committee members for their efforts in planning the successful annual meeting. Mary Ersek, PhD RN, Chair, Swedish Medical Center Tim Brennan, MD PhD, Chair-elect, University of Iowa Carolyn Fairbanks, PhD, University of Minnesota Debra Gordon, MS RN, University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics Luc Jasmin, MD PhD, University of California San Francisco John Kusiak, PhD, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Kenneth S. Latta, RPh BS, Duke Compounding Facility Linda Porter, PhD, National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke Barbara Rakel, PhD RN, University of Iowa College of Nursing Kathleen Sluka, PhD, University of Iowa Steven Stanos, DO, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Raymond Tait, PhD, Saint Louis University School of Medicine Knox Todd, MD MPH, Beth Israel Medical Center Gary Walco, PhD, Hackensack University Medical Center Mark Wallace, MD, University of California at San Diego Robert Yezierski, PhD, University of Florida Ex-OfficioJudith Paice, PhD RN FAAN, APS President, Northwestern University Medical School |