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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)

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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)

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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.

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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

Understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and management of abdominal and pelvic pain by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, research, education, and advocacy.

Chair: Aaron Mickle, University of Florida

Co-Chair: Lakeisha Lewter, University of Texas in Dallas

Understanding of mechanisms, assessment, prevention, and management of acute pain, including the transition from acute to chronic pain.

Chair: Paramita Basu, Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research

Co-Chair: Mollie Meffert, Johns Hopkins University SOM

Sharing and promoting scientific knowledge and understanding of pain.

Chair: Imad Damaj, Virginia Commonwealth University

Co-Chair: Nicole Scheff, Pittsburg Center for Pain Research

Co-Chair: Matthew Sapio, National Institutes of Health

To promote scientific advances in pain clinical trials through high quality research design and development of professional competence to reduce the burden of pain.


Chair: Giovanni Berardi, University of Iowa

Co-Chair: Trevor Lentz, Duke University

Cultivating a collaborative approach for translational preclinical, clinical and population research specialties in pain.


“Advance Pain Management from Bench to Bedside.”

Chair: Anitha Saravanan, Northern Illinois University

Co-Chair: Neil Singla, Lotus Clinical Research

More details about this SIG will be available soon

Chair: Richard Harris, University of Michigan

Co-Chair: Norman Kettner, Logan University

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

More details about this SIG will be available soon

Chair: Lauren Atlas, National Institutes of Health

Co-Chair: Katherine Martucci, Duke University

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

Improving the lives of people with pain by understanding the role of psychosocial factors and interventions in the pain experience.

Chair: Taylor Taylor (Buchanan), University of Alabama at Birmingham

Co-Chair: Samantha Meints, Brigham and Women'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

Understanding of how sleep and circadian disturbances affect pain processing, regulation, and chronic pain development.

Chair: Chasity Brimeyer, Medical College of Wisconsin at Children's Wisconsin

Co-Chair: Alec Owens, University of Alabama at Birmingham

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?

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)

Burel-Goodin_edited_edited.jpg

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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Board of Directors

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