Q&A: What to expect from PAINWeek 2022
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Following a hybrid conference last year, PAINWeek 2022 will be back in full swing, as this year’s meeting will be fully in-person.
This year’s conference begins Sept. 6 and will run through Sept. 9 in Las Vegas.
In preparation for PAINWeek 2022, Healio spoke with faculty members David Cosio, PhD, MS, clinical psychologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, and Kevin Zacharoff, MD, clinical professor of preventive medicine at Stony Brook University, to find out what to expect and program highlights.
Healio: What do you believe will be some highlights at this year’s meeting?
Cosio: The PAINWeek conference is always one of the highlights of my year. It’s an opportunity for me to socialize with colleagues from around the country and to learn about all the advances in pain management across all the different disciplines.
Zacharoff: Considering that once again the annual meeting is live, this will be very much more “normal” in terms of interacting with attendees and other faculty. It is very exciting to see a number of next-generation thought leaders presenting at this year’s conference, providing exciting and fresh perspectives
Healio: What are you expecting to see at this year's conference?
Cosio: I definitely will be checking out the behavioral pain management, the cannabinoids and the integrative pain management tracks, the special interest sessions and, of course, the keynote address.
Zacharoff: I am expecting to see a much more interactive meeting than last year, as the pandemic has shifted to an endemic state
Healio: What’s new for 2022?
Cosio: There is a master class on diagnosing back pain, which is so necessary and should be a must for any attendee.
Zacharoff: In some ways, what’s old is new again. The revision of the CDC opioid guidelines this year has received a lot of attention and reignited many debates and discussions. Additionally, issues surrounding stigma, bias, disparate care and equity are getting paid much more needed attention, and that is critical for patients and health care professionals now more than ever. Of course, appropriately, more attention is also being paid to complementary and alternative treatments for people with pain, in addition to biopsychosocial approaches to pain management.
For more information, visit painweek.org.
Editor's note: This article was updated Sept. 6, 2022, to better reflect information about the conference.