Representing scientists nationwide who collaboratively research, diagnose, and treat pain in the United States. Membership remains open to scientists, professionals, and community members interested in our mission to provide pain relief while placing people first.
Promoting 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.
About Us
John Farrar, MD, PhD
President
John T. Farrar, MD, PhD. is a Professor of Epidemiology (primary), Neurology (secondary), and Anesthesia (secondary) at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his MD from the University of Rochester, and MSCE and PhD in pharmacoepidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a funded investigator in clinical research for over 25 years with a major focus on studies of the efficacy of pain therapeutics and design of pain clinical trials. As a neurologist and a pharmacoepidemiologist, he has been involved in numerous studies including randomized trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and methodologic studies of pain and associated symptoms, making important contributions to the measurement, analysis, and interpretation of pain related studies. At the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, he has co-directed the Biostatistical Analysis Center and for 15 years the Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) program, a two-year masters program focused on training 25-30 fellows per year to launch their careers as independently funded scientists in clinical research. In his mentoring role he has worked with a diverse group of more than 25 fellows, been primary mentor on several career development awards and teaches courses in health measurement, clinical trials, and grant writing. He currently is a member of multiple Special Interest Groups in the IASP and was previously the co-Director of the Pain Measurement SIG for the APS as well as a member of the APS board. DISCLOSURES: Vertex Pharam (consulting fees)
President-Elect
Dr. Burel Goodin, PhD, is a tenured Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology within the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL). Before joining WUSTL in 2023, Dr. Goodin spent 11 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where they rose to the rank of Professor of Psychology and co-directed the Center for Addiction Pain Prevention & Intervention (CAPPI). Dr. Goodin is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in translational pain science, with broad expertise ranging from clinical psychology to behavioral neuroscience and a notable record of both building and leading transdisciplinary research teams. Currently serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) or Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI) on four R01 awards, as well as the site PI for an R37 MERIT award, and co-investigator on an R01 and an NIH HEAL Initiative Other Transactions Authority (OTA) award, Dr. Goodin's scientific expertise is centrally related to disparities in the pain experience and pain management based upon minority status. They have published extensively on psychological aspects of chronic pain outcomes, with recent work examining environmental conditions and contexts influencing pain. Dr. Goodin is a leading expert in the application of social neuroscience frameworks to understand the mechanisms driving pain disparities, particularly focusing on older African American/Black populations. Continually funded by NIH since 2010, serving as a member on the NIH/NIDA Career Development Education and Training (CDET) study section, and having published over 125 peer-reviewed publications with nearly 5,500 citations per Google Scholar, Dr. Goodin's career is defined by bringing together investigators from different disciplines to address scientific problems requiring innovative translational research perspectives.
Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, PhD
Treasurer
Yenisel Cruz-Almeida MSPH, Ph.D. was born in La Habana, Cuba. She completed a B.Sc. degree in Microbiology & Cell Science in 2001. In 2004 she completed her master’s degree in Epidemiology & Public Health with a concentration in Biostatistics, and in 2011, her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami MILLER School of Medicine. As a postdoc, she focused on pain phenotyping including investigating age and pain-related biomarkers of immune function and training in Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Florida. Yenisel is currently a tenured Associate Professor in the Departments of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology and Neuroscience in the Colleges of Dentistry & Medicine. Dr Cruz-Almeida also serves as the Associate Director of the UF Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence and the Core Leader of the Pilot & Exploratory Studies Core of the UF Older American Independence Calude D. Pepper Center. She is the Course Director of various pain (Neurobiology of Pain, Science and Clinical Management of Dental Pain), and translational research (Clinical Translational Sciences Journal Club) courses. She is a member of the executive committee of the North American Pain School (2022-2025), the Chair of the NIH Center for Scientific Review Neurobiology of Pain & Itch Study Section (2023-2025), and serves on the leadership of the “Pain In Older Persons SIG of the International Association for the Study of Pain (2022-present). DISCLOSURES: Journal of Pain (Associate Editor)
Claudia Campbell, PhD
Secretary
Dr. Claudia Campbell, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with a laboratory boasting a strong history of NIH-supported work in the neurophysiological assessment of pain responses and their interaction with psychosocial processes. Maintaining a robust multidisciplinary membership within the society is of great importance to Dr. Campbell. She holds a NIH K24 grant dedicated to mentoring future leaders in the pain field and recognize the vital role of the US Association for the Study of Pain (USASP) in it's development. Having joined the society’s predecessor, APS, as a graduate student, Dr. Campbell understands the impact societies have on facilitating the careers of young investigators. She attended every meeting from 2002-2019, contributing to various committees and serving as a board member in the last several years before its dissolution. Dr. Campbell thoroughly enjoyed her time on the board and is eager to take on the role of secretary in the USASP board. She aims to actively collaborate with energetic and invested leaders to guide the society, brainstorm and implement strategies for continuous innovation and improvement, and manage record-keeping and meeting minutes in conjunction with the society’s administration. Dr. Campbell believes she is well-suited to represent the needs of USASP members and the interests of individuals in the pain community who benefit from the society’s initiatives.
Board Representative
Alfonso Romero-Sandoval, MD PhD received a medical degree from Centro Universitario de Occidente, Quetzaltenango (Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala) in 1999 and a Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience from Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Spain, in 2003. Currently, Dr. Romero-Sandoval is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Social Sciences and Health Policy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC (U.S.). His laboratory explores neuroimmune interactions in surgical and neuropathic pain and neuropathies induced by trauma, diabetes, or chemotherapy. Additionally, Dr. Romero-Sandoval studies the endocannabinoid system in the context of pain, cannabis pharmacology, and how the cannabis market in the U.S. is shaped and could affect pain patients.
Executive Committee
Chief Administrative Officer
Brittany Knight, PhD
Director of Operations
Eileen Conroy
Virtual Administrative Assistant
Dedicated Staff
Engaging in meaningful conversation, self-reflection, collaboration, and information dissemination about diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism across the pain continuum and promote affirmative practices that address the needs and challenges faced by marginalized, minoritized, and diverse populations.
Chair: Martha Kenney, Duke University
Co-Chair: Troy Dildine, National Institutes of Health
Reducing pain burden through understanding the distribution and determinants of pain, promoting epidemiologic principles and methods in answering questions related to pain assessment, prevention and clinical care, collaboration with any individuals interested in population and clinical pain outcomes.
Chair: Kenneth Taylor, Duke University
Co-Chair: Rui Li, Seattle Children's Hospital
Advancing pain management across the lifespan by fostering innovative research and education collaborations coupled with promoting equitable and evidence-based pain management for older adults from all backgrounds.
Chair: Kelly Naugle, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Co-Chair: Larissa Strath, University of Florida
Mission Statement: The mission of the United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP) Pain, Movement, & Rehabilitation Science Special Interest Group (SIG) is to reduce the burden of pain through scientific advances in movement and rehabilitation research. Our goal is to unite diverse perspectives of all stakeholders–scientists, clinicians, policymakers, patients, and patient advocates–to stimulate and support the study of pain and movement and to translate that knowledge into improved pain relief and function across multiple populations.
As a body, USASP represents individuals nationwide who collaboratively research, diagnose, and treat pain in the United States. Correspondingly, membership in the Pain, Movement, & Rehabilitation Science SIG remains open to USASP community members interested in advancing the understanding of interactions between pain and movement.
Chair: Emma Beisheim-Ryan, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Co-Chair: Kyle Kosik, University of Kentucky
Mission statement: To bring together diverse perspectives on pediatric pain science to directly improve both acute and chronic pain management for children through research, advocacy, and education.
Core Values:
Collaboration among key stakeholders in the pediatric pain field including scientists, health care providers, policymakers, and parents and children with lived experiences.
Partnership with both international and U.S. based societies with similar missions to improve the management of children’s pain.
Commitment to advancing evidence-based clinical practices for children’s pain management from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Equip scientists and clinicians to advance pediatric pain science through research and collaboration
Chair: Amanda Stone, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Co-Chair: William Black, Nationwide Children's Hospital
The mission of the Sex Differences in Pain and Analgesia Special Interest Group (SIG) shall be to share and promote scientific knowledge and understanding of the role of sex and/or gender on pain and pain management. The overarching goal is to facilitate the study of sex and/or gender differences in pain research where appropriate and promote communication between researchers and other stakeholders on this topic.
Chair: Dayna Loyd Averitt, Texas Woman's University
Co-Chair: Diana Goode, University of New England
The goal of the Substance use and Addiction SIG is to advance the understanding and treatment of substance use and pain. This will be accomplished by: 1) promoting and advancing research, 2) partnering with advocacy organizations to improve patient care, 3) providing education to researchers, clinicians, trainees, and patients, and 4) providing a forum for collaboration.
Chair: Jennifer Nyland, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine
Co-Chair: Antoinette Spector, University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee
Learn more about these Chairs +
Recommends positions and/or action on issues of importance to the USASP. The committee will scan state and federal initiatives and pending legislation or legal decisions that fall within the mission of USASP and advise the Board of Directors regarding recommendations, positions, and/or actions required.
Chair: Diane Hoffmann, JD
Co-Chair: Cornelius (Neels) Groenewald, MD
Board Representative: Anna Woodbury, MD
Diane Hoffmann, MD, PhD, University of Maryland
Cornelius (Neels) Groenewald, MD, Stanford University
Anna Woodbury, MD, Emory University School of Medicine and Atlanta VA
Christine Sieberg, PHD, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Emily Wakefield, PsyD, Connecticut Children's Medical Center at University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Gary Walco, PhD, University of Washington
Jennifer De La Rosa, PhD, Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction, University of Arizona Health Sciences
Juan Hincapie-Castillo, PharmD, MS, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Julie Vignato, PhD, University of Iowa
Kate Nicholson, JD, National Pain Advocacy Center
Kevin Riggs, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Paramita Basu,PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Vidya Chidambaran,MD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Overseeing awards that recognize achievements in the field of Pain Science. The committee will develop and recommend awards to the Board of Directors, oversee the review of candidates and recommendations to the Board for each award.
Chair: Andrea Nackley, MD, PhD
Co-Chair: Yu Shin Kim, PhD
Board Representative: Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, PhD
Andrea Nackley, Duke University, PhD
Yu Shin Kim, University of Texas Health San Antonio, PhD
Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, University of Florida, PhD
Amy William, Indiana University School of Medicine, PhD
Feng Tao, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, PhD
Fletcher White, Indiana University School of Medicine, PhD
Geoffroy Laumet, Michigan State University, PhD
Kimberly Ostrow, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, PhD
Rebecca Seal, University of Pittsburgh, PhD
Sara Edmond, VA Connecticut Healthcare System at Yale School of Medicine, PhD
Staja Booker, University of Florida, PhD
Identifies and proposes the names of and terms of all committee chairs and members to the Board of Directors. Recommendations are made to ensure diversity, including race, gender, age, and geographic and professional diversity across committees and within each committee.
Chair: John Farrar, MD
John Farrar, University of Pennsylvania, MD, PhD
Burel Goodin, Washington University in St. Louis, PhD
Edwin Aroke, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, PhD
Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, Washington University, PhD
Janet Van Cleave, New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, PhD
Kimberly Stephens, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at The Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, PhD
Marco Loggia, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, PhD
Guides USASP initiatives and programs centered on educating the public, educators, health care providers, and government officials about pain research and treatment.
Chair: Don Daniel Ocay, PhD
Co-Chair: Anastasiia Gryshyna
Board Representative: Rachel Zoffness, PhD
Don Daniel Ocay, Boston Children's Hospital, PhD
Anastasiia Gryshyna, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Rachel Zoffness, University of California San Francisco, Stanford , PhD
Abdulhakeem Binhambali
Adewale Fadaka, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, PhD
Dikachi Osaji, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley SOM, MD
Erin Young, University of Kansas Medical Center, PhD
Fiona Tabe Agbor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
Harrison Stratton, University of Pittsburgh, PhD
Nathaniel Hernandez, Duke University
Rajesh Khanna, University of Florida, PhD
Thea Senger-Carpenter, University of Michigan, PhD
Victor Schneider, University of Florida
Established to support and enhance the education and professional development of pain researchers and clinicians at all stages of their careers through education, training, networking, and other activities. Working closely with the Scientific Program Committee to increase and enhance diversity and inclusion within USASP, by advancing the needs of all audiences, ensuring accessibility for all pain researchers/clinicians and encouraging a climate that supports their difference.
Co-Chair: Danielle Wesolowicz, PhD
Co-Chair: Edna Evington, PhD
Co-Chair: Kate Sadler, PhD
Co-Chair: Michael Jankowski, PhD
Co-Chair: Jennifer Haythornthwaite, PhD
Board Representative: Andrea Nackley, MD, PhD
Board Representative: Janiece Taylor, PhD
Board Representative: Katherine Martucci, PhD
Board Representative: Monica Gremillion, PhD
Danielle Wesolowicz, VA Connecticut Healthcare System at Yale School of Medicine, PhD
Edna Evington, Duke University, PhD
Kate Sadler, University of Texas at Dallas, PhD
Michael Jankowski, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, PhD
Jennifer Haythornthwaite, Johns Hopkins University, PhD
Andrea Nackley, Duke University, PhD
Janiece Taylor, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, PhD
Katherine Martucci, Duke University, PhD
Monica Gremillion, Medical College of Wisconsin, PhD
Areerat Suputtitada, MD
Chelsie Brewer, Stanford University, PhD
Corey Woldenberg, Washington University in St. Louis
Edina Szabo, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School, PhD
Emily Bartley, University of Florida, PhD
Francis Keefe, Duke University, PhD
Jelena Janjic, Chronic Pain Research Consortium at Duquesne University, PhD
Jessica Merlin, University of Pittsburgh, MD
Josh Crow, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, PhD
Keela Herr, University of Iowa, PhD
Lakeya McGill, University of Pittsburgh, PhD
Leena Kader, University of Kansas Medical Center, PhD
Michael Stroud, Veterans Affairs, PhD
Martha Kenney, Duke University, MD
Meaghan Creed, Washington University in St Louis, PhD
Michael Lacagnina, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, PhD
Scott Ravyts, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, PhD
Shevon Alexander, University of Texas at Dallas
Shreela Palit, Nemours Children's Health, PhD
Tayler Sheahan, University of Pittsburgh, PhD
Determines annual dues, prepares a budget, and makes recommendations on reserve funds and investments to the Board of Directors. When an audit is scheduled, the committee works with the independent auditor to ensure compliance with accounting rules and regulations.
Chair and Treasurer: Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, PhD
President: John Farrar, MD
President-Elect: Burel Goodin, PhD
Board Representative: Ericka Merriwether, PhD
JoP Assistant Editor: Greg Dussor, PhD
Secretary: Claudia Campbell, PhD
Chief Administrative Officer: Jennifer Haythornthwaite, PhD
Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, University of Florida, PhD
John Farrar, University of Pennsylvania, MD, PhD
Burel Goodin, Washington University in St. Louis, PhD
Ericka Merriwether, New York University, PhD
Greg Dussor, University of Texas at Dallas, PhD
Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, Washington University, PhD
Claudia Campbell, Johns Hopkins University, PhD
Jennifer Haythornthwaite, Johns Hopkins University, PhD
Strive to help build and maintain an inclusive, diverse environment where differences of opinion, beliefs, and values are sought, listened to, respected, and valued. Through IDEA efforts, USASP is dedicated to expanding membership, participation, and leadership that reflect our broad membership.
The USASP IDEA committee will be responsible for identifying ways to build and maintain an inclusive organization where differences of opinion, beliefs, and values are sought, listened to, respected, and valued. It will also provide resources, consultation, and feedback to USASP committees, volunteers and members in order to support their efforts toward building and maintaining an inclusive, welcoming environment within the organization. Lastly, it will assist in the development and implementation of IDEA events and initiatives at USASP Scientific Meetings to build a more diverse and inclusive meeting.
Chair: Alejandro Almarza, PhD
Co-Chair: Chung Jung Mun, PhD
Board Representative: E Alfonso Romero-Sandoval, MD, PhD
Alejandro Almarza, University of Pittsburgh, PhD
Chung Jung Mun, Arizona State University, PhD
E. Alfonso Romero-Sandoval, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, MD, PhD
Amber Rhee, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Barbara Benowitz
E. Javier Lopez Soto, College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, PhD
Kenny Roman, University of Pittsburgh, PhD
Marcia Shade, University of Nebraska Medical Center, PhD
Mary Bucklin, PhD
Michelle Failla, Ohio State University, PhD
Paramita Basu, University of Pittsburgh, PhD
Tahsin Khataei, University of Iowa
Vidya Chidambaran, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, MD
The primary charge of this committee is to increase USASP membership through the recruitment of new members and retention of existing members. It will be responsible for developing policies and procedures regarding the membership application process.
Chair: Lora Black, PhD
Co-Chair: Mark Bicket, MD, PhD
Board Representative: Claudia Campbell, PhD
Lora Black, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, PhD
Mark Bicket, University of Michigan, MD, PhD
Claudia Campbell, Johns Hopkins University, PhD
Adam Dourson, Washington University in St Louis, PhD
Carlene Moore, Duke University, PhD
Carrie Brintz, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Chloe Alexandre, PhD
Joao De Aquino, Yale University, MD
Keren Machol, Baylor Collage of Medicine, MD
Robert Edwards, Brigham and Women's Hospital, PhD
Solicit nominees for USASP board and Officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary). The Committee will generate the wording for the call for nominees to ensure that those running for elected positions represent the disciplines and composition of the membership. The committee will evaluate each nominee for qualifications and then present to the Association membership the names of all qualified candidates for election to the Board and to the Officers of the Association.
Chair: John Farrar, MD, PhD
Co-Chair: Burel Goodin, PhD
John Farrar, University of Pennsylvania, MD, PhD
Burel Goodin, Washington University in St. Louis, PhD
Barbara St Marie, University of Iowa, PhD
Bin Pan, University of Texas Medical Branch, PhD
Christine Sang, MD
Ellen Terry, University of Florida College of Nursing, PhD
Michael Gold, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PhD
Michelle Hook, PhD
Mohd Sami Ur Rasheed, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, PhD
Staja Booker, University of Florida, PhD
Ying Xu, Rutgers University, PhD, MD
Develop a network of partnerships with other professional societies and patient groups interested in working with the USASP to support pain research, management, and education. The committee will evaluate and recommend opportunities for collaboration to the Board of Directors and, once approved, develop a process for executing the collaboration with the identified partners. This committee will appoint/elect a Chair and co-Chair to facilitate projects.
One or both individuals are strongly encouraged to become members and/or attend meetings of the Advocacy Committee to enhance communication between the committees and support collaboration on projects that align with both committee’s charges when appropriate.
Chair and Board Representative: Anna Woodbury, MD
Co-Chair: Samantha Meints, PhD
Anna Woodbury, Emory University School of Medicine and Atlanta VA, PhD
Samantha Meints, Brigham and Women's Hospital, PhD
Benedict Alter, University of Pittsburgh, MD
Candler Paige, Doloromics Inc., PhD
Donna Kreher, University of Rochester School of Medicine - Strong Memorial Hospital, PhD
Melissa Makhoul, University of Florida, PhD
Shad Smith, Duke University, PhD
Chair: Christin Veasley
Co-Chair: Robert Edwards, PhD
Board Representative: Janiece Taylor, PhD
Christin Veasley, Chronic Pain Research Alliance
Robert Edwards, Brigham and Women's Hospital, PhD
Janiece Taylor, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, PhD
Amanda Stone, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, PhD
Janelle Letzen, National Institutes of Health, PhD
Karin Westlund High, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, PhD
Robert Kerns, Yale University, PhD
Sharon Waldrop, Fibromyalgia Association
Tom Norris, American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
Virginia McIntyre, People In Pain Network (PIPN)
Paul Zeltzer, Whole Child LA, MD
Evaluates oversee opportunities and invitations for collaboration with other groups, including but not limited to policy statements or briefs, guideline development, deliberations in advocacy efforts, and endorsement of best practice recommendations, guidelines or resources.
Chair: Kenneth Goldschneider, MD
Co-Chair: Keela Herr, PhD
Board Representative: Katherine Martucci, PhD
Kenneth Goldschneider, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, MD
Keela Herr, University of Iowa, PhD
Katherine Martucci, Duke University, PhD
Dan Wang, University of Virginia, PhD
Jijun Xu, Cleveland Clinic, MD, PhD
Nancy Crego, Duke University School of Nursing, PhD
Steve Davidson, University of Cincinnati, PhD
Chair: Theodore Price, PhD
Theodore Price, University of Texas at Dallas, PhD
Arkady Khoutorsky, McGill University
Candie Paulsen
Helen Lai, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, PhD
Seena Ajit, Drexel University College of Medicine, PhD
Yuanxiang Tao, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, PhD
Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, University of Florida, PhD
The primary charge of this Committee is the annual scientific meeting of the USASP, which includes everything ranging from the meeting format to running sessions (if necessary and appropriate). The committee will need to balance the needs of the SIGs, oversee content for Early Career professions, and evaluate satellite sessions. The goal will be to organize a meeting that best meets the needs of the USASP membership.
This committee will work closely with the Education Committee, as in the post-COVID19 era, a single event spread over three to five days may no longer be the only way to meet the needs of members.
Chair: Daniela Maria Menichella, PhD
Co-Chair: Peter Grace, PhD
Daniela Maria Menichella, Northwestern University, PhD
Peter Grace, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, PhD
Alexandra Szabova, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, MD
Andrew Shepherd, PhD
Burel Goodin, Washington University in St. Louis, PhD
Daniel Whibley, University of Michigan, PhD
Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, Washington University, PhD
Heberto Suarez-Roca, Duke University Medical Center, PhD
Jenny Wilkerson, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, PhD
John Farrar, University of Pennsylvania, MD, PhD
Juliet Mwirigi, Washington University School of Medicine, PhD
Kimberly Stephens, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, PhD
Laura Frey Law, University of Iowa, PhD
Marianna Gasperi, University of Washington, PhD
Mark Bicket, University of Michigan, MD, PhD
Martha Kenney, Duke University
Mei-Chuan Ko, Wake Forest School of Medicine
Michele Curatolo, University of Washington, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
Natoshia Cunningham, Michigan State University
Patrick Finan, University of Virginia
Rajesh Khanna, University of Florida
See Wan Tham, University of Washington School of Medicine
Yuanxiang Tao, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Zina Trost, Texas A&M University
Members are investigators who are experienced in conducting pain research that involves human subjects and most will have received external funding for this research.
Chair: John Farrar, MD, PhD
Co-Chair: Burel Goodin, PhD
Board Representative: Ericka Merriwether, PhD
John Farrar, University of Pennsylvania, MD, PhD
Burel Goodin, Washington University in St. Louis, PhD
Ericka Merriwether, New York University, PhD
Chen Chen, University of Arizona, PhD
Hailey Bulls, University of Pittsburgh, PhD
Janet Van Cleave, New York University Meyers College of Nursing, PhD
Kimberly Stephens, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Arkansas Children's Research Institute, PhD
Mitchell Knisely, Duke University, PhD
Olabisi Lane, Emory University School of Medicine, MD
Robert Jamison, PhD
Vitaly Napadow, Harvard Medical School, PhD
Committees and Task Forces
Thriving on the dedication of passionate member volunteers who drive our committees and working groups.
Their involvment plays a vital role in addressing both our policy and operational concerns, ensuring efficacy as an association. Without their expertise, our achievements would not be possible.
Special Interest Groups
Our diverse array of specialized interest groups, each advancing the understanding and treatment within the many niche facets of pain research.
Discover the collective expertise and passion driving innovation and progress in the field of pain science. Looking to join a SIG?
Annual Conference
Education
About USASP
Membership
Scientists, clinicians, health-care providers, and policymakers stimulate and support the study of pain that translates into improved care.
An association comprised of a of a diverse representation of researchers across the nation, each contributing invaluable expertise to our collective understanding of pain. Together, we pioneer advancements that not only enhance the lives of those suffering from pain but also shape policies and practices that promote equitable access to effective treatments and compassionate care.
Promoting the scientific advances that reduce the burden of pain.
John Farrar, MD, PhD
President
John T. Farrar, MD, PhD. is a Professor of Epidemiology (primary), Neurology (secondary), and Anesthesia (secondary) at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his MD from the University of Rochester, and MSCE and PhD in pharmacoepidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a funded investigator in clinical research for over 25 years with a major focus on studies of the efficacy of pain therapeutics and design of pain clinical trials. As a neurologist and a pharmacoepidemiologist, he has been involved in numerous studies including randomized trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and methodologic studies of pain and associated symptoms, making important contributions to the measurement, analysis, and interpretation of pain related studies. At the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, he has co-directed the Biostatistical Analysis Center and for 15 years the Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) program, a two-year masters program focused on training 25-30 fellows per year to launch their careers as independently funded scientists in clinical research. In his mentoring role he has worked with a diverse group of more than 25 fellows, been primary mentor on several career development awards and teaches courses in health measurement, clinical trials, and grant writing. He currently is a member of multiple Special Interest Groups in the IASP and was previously the co-Director of the Pain Measurement SIG for the APS as well as a member of the APS board. DISCLOSURES: Vertex Pharam (consulting fees)
President-Elect
Dr. Burel Goodin, PhD, is a tenured Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology within the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL). Before joining WUSTL in 2023, Dr. Goodin spent 11 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where they rose to the rank of Professor of Psychology and co-directed the Center for Addiction Pain Prevention & Intervention (CAPPI). Dr. Goodin is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in translational pain science, with broad expertise ranging from clinical psychology to behavioral neuroscience and a notable record of both building and leading transdisciplinary research teams. Currently serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) or Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI) on four R01 awards, as well as the site PI for an R37 MERIT award, and co-investigator on an R01 and an NIH HEAL Initiative Other Transactions Authority (OTA) award, Dr. Goodin's scientific expertise is centrally related to disparities in the pain experience and pain management based upon minority status. They have published extensively on psychological aspects of chronic pain outcomes, with recent work examining environmental conditions and contexts influencing pain. Dr. Goodin is a leading expert in the application of social neuroscience frameworks to understand the mechanisms driving pain disparities, particularly focusing on older African American/Black populations. Continually funded by NIH since 2010, serving as a member on the NIH/NIDA Career Development Education and Training (CDET) study section, and having published over 125 peer-reviewed publications with nearly 5,500 citations per Google Scholar, Dr. Goodin's career is defined by bringing together investigators from different disciplines to address scientific problems requiring innovative translational research perspectives.
Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, PhD
Treasurer
Yenisel Cruz-Almeida MSPH, Ph.D. was born in La Habana, Cuba. She completed a B.Sc. degree in Microbiology & Cell Science in 2001. In 2004 she completed her master’s degree in Epidemiology & Public Health with a concentration in Biostatistics, and in 2011, her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami MILLER School of Medicine. As a postdoc, she focused on pain phenotyping including investigating age and pain-related biomarkers of immune function and training in Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Florida. Yenisel is currently a tenured Associate Professor in the Departments of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology and Neuroscience in the Colleges of Dentistry & Medicine. Dr Cruz-Almeida also serves as the Associate Director of the UF Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence and the Core Leader of the Pilot & Exploratory Studies Core of the UF Older American Independence Calude D. Pepper Center. She is the Course Director of various pain (Neurobiology of Pain, Science and Clinical Management of Dental Pain), and translational research (Clinical Translational Sciences Journal Club) courses. She is a member of the executive committee of the North American Pain School (2022-2025), the Chair of the NIH Center for Scientific Review Neurobiology of Pain & Itch Study Section (2023-2025), and serves on the leadership of the “Pain In Older Persons SIG of the International Association for the Study of Pain (2022-present). DISCLOSURES: Journal of Pain (Associate Editor)
Claudia Campbell, PhD
Secretary
Dr. Claudia Campbell, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with a laboratory boasting a strong history of NIH-supported work in the neurophysiological assessment of pain responses and their interaction with psychosocial processes. Maintaining a robust multidisciplinary membership within the society is of great importance to Dr. Campbell. They hold an NIH K24 grant dedicated to mentoring future leaders in the pain field and recognize the vital role of the US Association for the Study of Pain (USASP) in their development. Having joined the society’s predecessor, APS, as a graduate student, Dr. Campbell understands the impact societies have on facilitating the careers of young investigators. They attended every meeting from 2002-2019, contributing to various committees and serving as a board member in the last several years before its dissolution. Dr. Campbell thoroughly enjoyed their time on the board and is eager to take on the role of secretary in the USASP board. They aim to actively collaborate with energetic and invested leaders to guide the society, brainstorm and implement strategies for continuous innovation and improvement, and manage record-keeping and meeting minutes in conjunction with the society’s administration. Dr. Campbell believes they are well-suited to represent the needs of USASP members and the interests of individuals in the pain community who benefit from the society’s initiatives. NEW
Andrea Nackley, PhD
Director
Andrea Nackley, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology’s Center for Translational Pain Medicine (CTPM) at Duke University School of Medicine. She is Director of the Translational Pain Research Laboratory, where her program marries pain neurobiology, behavioral pharmacology, and molecular genetics in mouse and man to to better understand mechanisms of and identify treatments for chronic ‘primary’ overlapping pain conditions. Her lab was the first to demonstrate a critical role for peripheral adrenergic receptor beta-3 in the development of chronic pain and neuroinflammation, which remains a primary research focus. In recognition of her research and scholarly activity in the pain field, Dr. Nackley received the John C. Liebeskind Early Career Scholar Award in 2010 from the American Pain Society. She has remained actively engaged in the pain community, serving as Co-Chair of the American Pain Society’s Genetics and Pain Special Interest Group, Member of the Nominating Committee, and Chair of the Early Career Forum. She is an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Pain Research and Member of the USASP Board of Directors. In her role on the Board of Directors, she will work to emphasize translational aspects of basic science research and education as well as to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in line with the vision of the USASP.
Rachel Zoffness, PhD
Director
Rachel Zoffness, Ph.D. is a pain psychologist, medical educator, and leader in the field of pain education. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF, a Visiting Professor at Stanford, and a Mayday Fellow. Dr. Zoffness is the author of The Pain Management Workbook, a treatment protocol for adults and healthcare providers, and The Chronic Pain and Illness Workbook for Teens, the first pain workbook for kids. She has served on the boards of the U.S. Association for the Study of Pain, The American Association of Pain Psychology, and the Society of Pediatric Pain Medicine, and consults on the development of integrative pain programs around the world. A passionate pain educator, her pain science podcast episodes have over 5 million downloads. Dr. Zoffness was trained at Brown, Columbia, UCSD, NYU, and Mt. Sinai Hospital.
Ericka Merriwether, PT, DPT, PhD
Director
Ericka Merriwether, P.T., D.P.T., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy and Medicine and is the Director of the Inclusive and Translational Research in Pain Laboratory (I-TRIP) at New York University. The goal of her research is to identify targets for culturally responsive, multimodal interventions for chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain in adults with a diversity of body sizes and phenotypes. To achieve this goal, Dr. Merriwether's current projects focus on identifying key biopsychosocial and socioecological drivers of pain variability, and how these candidate drivers of pain variability respond to weight change. This highly interdisciplinary work employs a variety of clinical and translational research methodologies. Also, Dr. Merriwether is a proud native of Chicago’s Austin Community on the city’s West side, and is the mother of two amazing children. Dr. Merriwether earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She went on to earn her DPT from the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, and her PhD in Movement Science from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Merriwether completed postdoctoral fellowship in pain neuroscience in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Iowa prior to her current faculty appointment. Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Foundation for Physical Therapy, and most recently, the NYU CoHRR. Dr. Merriwether has several publications in pain and rehabilitation journals, and currently serves as an Editorial Board member for the Journal of Pain, Frontiers in Pain Research, and the Neurobiology of Pain. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP), has served as an Early Career Reviewer for the Neurobiology of Pain and Itch Study Section at NIH, and is an executive member of the Anti-racism CoaliTION in Pain Research (ACTION-PR).
Anna Woodbury, MD
Director
Anna Woodbury, MD, MSCR, C.Ac. founded the Division for Pain Management at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS) in Atlanta and currently serves as the Associate Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Anesthesiology at Emory University. She is double-board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and licensed to practice Acupuncture. She is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at Emory University School of Medicine and active in research at both Emory and VAHCS. She has been a member of the national Committee on Pain Medicine for the American Society of Anesthesiologists and has served on institutional and federal grant review committees including NIH and VA study sections. She has presented nationally and written book chapters, articles and clinical reviews on integrative medicine and neuromodulation, including applications for chronic pain management, anesthesia and neuroprotection. She has also edited a Pain Management Board Review book. Her clinical expertise and research interests include the use of non-pharmacologic therapies for the management of pain, and she has a specific interest in understanding and treating chronic widespread pain conditions with non-invasive brain stimulation. She is one of the original members of the USASP and was recently elected to its Board of Directors. She is also a Charter Member of the Vagus Nerve Society and serves as its Secretary. DISCLOSURES: Elsevier book royalties, Lumina Health royalties
Katherine Martucci, PhD
Director
Katherine Martucci, PhD is Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology, Director of the Human Affect and Pain Neuroscience (HAPN) Lab, faculty member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, and faculty member of the Center for Translational Pain Medicine (CTPM) at Duke University. At Duke University, Dr Martucci’s lab uses a combination of neuroimaging techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain and cervical spinal cord, as well as sensory, behavioral, and psychological tests to study acute pain processing and chronic pain in humans. Dr Martucci received her BS, majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology, from the University of Connecticut, and her PhD in Neurobiology and Anatomy (with graduate mentor, Dr Robert Coghill; and dissertation committee chair, Dr James Eisenach) from Wake Forest School of Medicine. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr Sean Mackey at Stanford University. Collectively, Dr Martucci has over 15 years in neuroimaging and collaborative pain research. Her established research program on the neurophysiology of chronic pain and opioid use has been funded by the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS), a DREAM Innovation Grant, and multiple NIH NIDA awards (F31, K99/R00, R01). In addition to her role on the Board of Directors for USASP, Dr Martucci’s service to the field of pain research includes her roles as member of the Early Career Advisory Group and Membership Committee for the former American Pain Society (APS), member of the 2020 Global Year Task Force for the Prevention of Pain and the Digital Strategy and Content Working Group for the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), and member of the Nominations Committee, Diversity Inclusion and Anti-Racism in Pain SIG, Substance Use and Addiction SIG, and 2023 meeting local organizing committee for the USASP.
Daniela Salvemini, PhD
Director
Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D is William Beaumont Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience and Director of SLU’s Institute for Translational Neuroscience. Dr. Salvemini received her BSc in Pharmacology from Kings College in London and her PhD in Pharmacology from the University of London under the mentorship of the late Nobel Prize winner Professor Sir John Vane. She pursued postdoctoral studies at the William Harvey Research Institute in London and in the Department of Discovery Pharmacology at Monsanto in Saint Louis. Before joining SLU in 2005, Dr Salvemini spent 15 years in the private sector where she led drug discovery efforts on novel anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics. Dr Salvemini’s research interests are to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning neuropathic pain and developing therapeutics to target these mechanisms. Her highly translational approaches combine behavioral pharmacology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, toxicology and drug discovery. Her work led to several seminal discoveries that resulted in the development of novel therapies that entered clinical trials. She has published over 270 peer-reviewed articles and holds many U.S. patents. Dr. Salvemini is founder of BioIntervene Inc, which is developing first-in-class selective A3AR agonists for the treatment of chronic pain and neuroinflammatory diseases and founding Director of the Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Center for Neuroscience at SLU. She is a board member of the United States Association for the Study of Pain. Dr. Salvemini has been honored with several awards for her basic science and translational research in pain and inflammation, including the Novartis Award in Pharmacology, the Outstanding Scientist Award from the Saint Louis Academy of Science and the Pharmacia-ASPET Award in Experimental Therapeutics. Dr. Salvemini is a fellow of the Saint Louis Academy of Science, a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and a fellow of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Her research has been funded consistently by the NIH, foundations and the private sector. DISCLOSURES: Biointervene Inc.
Director
Dr. Janiece Taylor, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University in the School of Nursing. She draws the foundation for her commitment and passion for pain research from personal, clinical, and professional experiences. Witnessing the enduring struggle of her mother and grandmother with chronic debilitating pain in her early life left a profound impact. As a bedside nurse, Dr. Taylor formed intimate connections with patients navigating varying degrees of undermanaged pain. Her role as a researcher provided opportunities to listen and collaborate with participants, gaining insight into the exhaustive impact pain had on their overall quality of life. Each of these encounters fuels Dr. Taylor's unwavering dedication and aspiration to enhance pain outcomes for marginalized groups, particularly middle-aged and older adults from underrepresented backgrounds such as African Americans and individuals with disabilities. Consequently, her career and research mission are centered on addressing the historical inequities faced by these groups concerning pain-related outcomes.
Director
Monica Gremillion, PhD, is a pediatric psychologist who collaborates within interdisciplinary pain treatment teams in both outpatient clinics and intensive pain treatment programs. Committed to enhancing the health and quality of life for patients with chronic pain, Dr. Gremillion's clinical work and research prioritize elevating patient voices and fostering partnerships in pain care. Their clinical research specifically targets reducing perceptions of pain dismissal. Alongside their clinical practice, Dr. Gremillion serves as the Associate Director of the Pediatric Psychology Practicum Program, where they oversee the training of graduate-level psychology students, provide supervision, contribute to curriculum development for didactics, and lead program evaluation efforts. They have spearheaded a workgroup dedicated to developing a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative for psychology residents, with the goal of integrating awareness of individual and cultural differences into professional settings. Dr. Gremillion finds mentoring trainees to be profoundly rewarding within the realm of academic medicine, recognizing its importance in cultivating a new generation of pain scholars.
Director
Alfonso Romero-Sandoval, MD PhD received a medical degree from Centro Universitario de Occidente, Quetzaltenango (Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala) in 1999 and a Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience from Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Spain, in 2003. Currently, Dr. Romero-Sandoval is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Social Sciences and Health Policy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC (U.S.). His laboratory explores neuroimmune interactions in surgical and neuropathic pain and neuropathies induced by trauma, diabetes, or chemotherapy. Additionally, Dr. Romero-Sandoval studies the endocannabinoid system in the context of pain, cannabis pharmacology, and how the cannabis market in the U.S. is shaped and could affect pain patients.