The American Academy of Pain Medicine

Pain medicine physicians from the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) continued to advance the call for better pain care as they joined with physician leaders from across the country in a closed-door National Pain Summit that took place adjacent to an AMA meeting on November 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas.

The AMA Section Council Pain Summit was part of the pre-meeting activities of the AMA's Interim House of Delegates meeting in Houston, Texas, which takes place through Wednesday of this week. The Pain Summit was organized by the Pain and Palliative Medicine Specialty Section Council in response to Resolution 321, adopted by the American Medical Association House of Delegates in May of 2008 that expressed a strong commitment to better access and delivery of quality pain care through the promotion of enhanced research, education and clinical practice in the field of pain medicine.

In addition to over 28 prominent medical associations that participated in the overall summit process, representatives from the medical branches of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the United States Air Force, Army and Navy were present.

AAPM leaders have been vigilant in advocating for better pain care for patients. AAPM President Rollin M. Gallagher, MD, MPH, explained,"The Pain Summit confirmed that the felt need for better pain care in America reaches across all medical fields. Every day, tens of millions of U.S. citizens are suffering from immobilizing pain that affects their jobs, their families, and their spirit; frankly, our doctors are often not trained well enough and our health care system is not organized appropriately to be able to help these patients. We can offer better care. We have the clinical science to start the process. But, funding is needed to educate patients and the public, to streamline medical systems, and to improve and standardize the education of medical students, the training of residents in all specialties, and the training of pain medicine specialists.

"The sentiment at the meeting was that ‘the time is now' for better pain care," said AAPM Liaison Director Michel Y. Dubois, MD. "With the support of the summit attendees, we hope to expand this group of participants to include more medical and allied health organizations as well as government and insurance sectors in future Pain Summits. It is time to get the Pain Medicine specialty organized, to formally train all physicians in pain management, and to provide better care to patients," Dr. Dubois concluded. Read entire press release on the Pain Summit.

Attendees took part in team presentations and discussion sessions.



The Summit also reached out international with Dr. Michael Cousins, MD
of Australia participating.



Comments and questions were welcomed from participants throughout the Summit.



AMA President James Rohack, MD addresses Summit attendees.

Philipp Lippe, MD, Chair of the Pain and Palliative Medicine Specialty Section Council for the Pain Summit, makes introductions in the opening Plenary Session, also reviewing the overall process.



Physicians from over 28 prominent medical associations participated in the summit including representatives from the medical branches of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and the United States Air Force, Army and Navy.



After presentations from the five workgroups, attendees were able to comment or introduce questions.



Dr. Kenneth Follet, MD PhD summarizes his workgroup's discussion.



Dr. Michel Dubois, MD served as one of the Workgroup Moderators.



Representatives from the medical branches of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the United States Air Force, Army and Navy Armed Services attended the summit.



Dr. Rollin M. Gallagher, MD, MPH and Michel Dubois, MD greet guests.