Stanford Division of Pain Medicine

For much of history, pediatric pain was misunderstood—or outright ignored. Infants were once thought to experience pain only as a reflex, not as a sensory or emotional experience. Even into the 20th century, misconceptions delayed research, training programs, and advocacy efforts in pediatric pain medicine. At Pain Connect 2025, Stanford’s Dr. Amber Borucki will explore how far the field has come and where it’s headed next, from advancing pediatric pain research to improving access to evidence-based care. Join the conversation. https://hubs.ly/Q03ccbLc0

#TBT to these fellows presenting and teaching at #ASRASpring24! They're not just sharing research—they’re shaping the future of our field. Will you be joining us at #ASRASpring25? Check out what is happening at #ASRA50 by going to asra.com/raapm/program!

Orofacial pain is more than just TMJ—its causes range from neuralgic to muscular to inflammatory. In this podcast, Dr. Meredith Barad explains why a multidisciplinary approach is key to properly diagnosing and treating these complex conditions. https://hubs.ly/Q03cc7dy0

Pain doesn’t exist in your body—it exists in your brain. Dr. Sean Mackey breaks it down: When you twist your neck or strain a muscle, the pain isn’t happening at the site of injury. Instead, sensors in your tissues—nociceptors—detect pressure, heat, or chemical changes and send that information to your brain. Your brain interprets those signals and generates the experience of pain. Understanding this process is key to developing better treatments.

Dr. Beth Darnall, PhD joined Axios' “The Prognosis for Pain Management” event in San Diego to discuss the urgent need for innovation in pain treatment. While millions suffer from pain, the landscape of acute pain care has remained largely unchanged for decades. The conversation explored challenges in today’s treatment approaches and the evolving science of pain.

Pain treatments should address not just symptoms, but also the root causes, such as social adversity. In cases like bullying-induced stress, improving social connections and support is key to long-term relief.

At American Academy of Pain Medicine's Pain Connect 2025, Dr. Anuj Aggarwal will challenge pain physicians to rethink their role in medical education. Pain physicians bring expertise that extends beyond traditional domains—so why aren’t we leading conversations on communication, ethics, and the intersection of law and medicine? Key takeaways: ?How pain medicine fits into broader medical education goals ?Why pain physicians should advocate for teaching beyond clinical knowledge ?Strategies to engage leadership and expand our impact Join the session to learn how to shape the future of medicine. https://hubs.ly/Q03bYHsW0

Dr. Meredith Barad shares why pain medicine remains a deeply rewarding field to work in: ?Intellectual challenge and problem-solving ?Long-term patient relationships ?Multidisciplinary, comprehensive care ?Opportunities for innovation and research ?A balance between clinical care and personal life Read on: https://bit.ly/4iGAXxG

Join The Prognosis for America’s Pain Management for a discussion with Stanford pain psychologist-scientist Beth Darnall, PhD, on the challenges in today’s treatment landscape. Explore the future of pain medicine: https://hubs.ly/Q03bzqZ60

Drs. Beth Darnall and Meredith Barad joined the latest Central Line podcast to discuss the advances in pain medicine. They cover rewards and challenges of the field, explore its future, and highlight the growing role of biopsychosocial interventions. Tune in: https://bit.ly/4kH7QMr