Publications
APS Bulletin • Volume 18, Number 1, 2008
President’s Message
Judith Paice, PhD RN FAAN
‘Hope I Die Before I Get ...’
For many of us, these lyrics are embedded in our very being. We grew up singing this song and others to indicate our dissatisfaction with the way those older than us ruled the world. Now many of us are “elders” (Remember the admonition not to trust anyone over 30?). I have to admit, I have a creeping sense of dread when I think about the definition of “old,” hoping in some superstitious way that I have not jinxed my chances at longevity by singing along.
What does this have to do with APS? Although many of you know this song by heart, there are others who have little appreciation for The Who. Most likely those of you who have not yet developed gray hair instead prefer Wilco or Linkin Park or Nickelback. APS is a diverse community of professionals, and this diversity reflects disciplines, specialties, gender, ethnicity, as well as age. Nowhere are the differences in age more apparent than in the way we approach learning and education.
Along with research, treatment, and advocacy, education is one of the fundamental pillars of our organization. We provide education through a variety of methods, including the annual meeting, The Journal of Pain, APS Bulletin, and Web-based offerings. I would like to alert you to some of these exciting strategies to engage learners of all ages and experience interested in pain and to ask your assistance as we plan future educational endeavors.
27th Annual Scientific Meeting
The annual meeting has several new features this year. The Essentials of Pain Management: Principles and Practice, very ably directed for the seventh year by Charles Argoff, will be held May 6 and 7. This course seeks to engage resident physicians and other trainees in the science and practice of pain early in their careers. New this year will be the posting of the audio and slides for each session, which will be publicly available after the meeting via the APS Web site. Anyone interested in pain, whether in advancing their own education or in training others, will find these materials of great benefit.
Another addition to the meeting is the Data Blitz for Clinical and Basic Science Research, scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, May 7. Presenters will have 10 minutes each (5 minutes to share new findings and 5 minutes to answer questions from the audience). Young investigators and junior faculty are particularly encouraged to participate.
For many, learning needs are best met by 90-minute symposia focused on very specific topics. For others, concentrated workshops of longer duration allow more intense understanding of a topic. Along with a variety of superb symposia throughout the annual meeting, there will be three concurrent workshops scheduled over a 3 1/2-hour period on topics such as pediatric pain, safe and effective use of opioids, and voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels. These are offered on Friday, May 9. Many thanks to Tim Brennan and the entire Scientific Program Committee, along with staff members Ruth Tiernan and Jennifer Reinard, for all their efforts in producing what promises to be a stimulating and informative meeting.
The Journal of Pain and APS Bulletin
The Journal of Pain now has an exciting new look. This highly regarded scientific publication serves as a forum for scientists and clinicians to publish superior original research. Jerry Gebhart is an outstanding editor, incorporating innovations to make this the premier journal for pain-related publications. The impact factor is one of the highest in the pain field and it continues to grow. Under Steve Sanders’ exceptional editorial direction and with the work of the Bulletin Editorial Board, the APS Bulletin provides high-quality, up-to-date information about our society and the pain field.
Web-Based Materials
The APS Web site lists training and educational opportunities for members, along with online continuing education courses. In addition, several presentations from the 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting are available online, including slide materials. Currently, we have one enduring educational offering, Pain: Current Understanding of Assessment, Management and Treatments, developed by a grant from National Pharmaceutical Council, Inc. The program includes didactic material along with a post-test and answers. Although this activity is no longer available for continuing education credit, the content is useful for general education and teaching purposes.
We truly need your input. What educational materials would be helpful to you, and in which format (e.g., podcasts, online videos)? At APS, we actively strive to engage young investigators and junior faculty—the future leaders in pain—while we deeply value our seasoned members, who have already contributed so much to the field. Although our learning styles, and possibly our music, may differ, we remain united by our common goal to provide pain relief to all people.