The National Pain Congress will provide an opportunity to foster new collaborative relationships and facilitate knowledge exchange between researchers, health care professionals, trainees, people living with pain, as well as policy and decision-makers, to further describe the impacts of chronic pain on Canadians. The Congress will also help inform the path forward to implement priority actions in pain-related areas with the common overall goal of improving health outcomes for people living with pain.
Late Breaking Abstracts
The Scientific Planning Committee seeks to offer a balanced, diverse, and cutting-edge scientific program that reflects different areas of science from all members of the pain community. Your participation is of the utmost importance and will be integral for the success of the 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting and continued progress in pain research and management. All abstracts must be submitted through the CPS abstract submission portal below before Tuesday February 28th by 2259h ET
8:30 a.m.
Congress Opening
John Pereira — Chair of the National Congress on Pain & President of the Canadian Pain Society
Elder Irene Compton
John Pereira — Chair of the National Congress on Pain & President of the Canadian Pain Society
Elder Irene Compton
8:40 a.m.
Setting the Scene – Living with Chronic Pain in Canada
Jennifer Daly Cyr — Vice-Chair, People with Lived Experience Committee, Canadian Pain Society
Jennifer Daly Cyr — Vice-Chair, People with Lived Experience Committee, Canadian Pain Society
8:50 a.m.
Remarks by the Canadian Medical Association
Dr. Kathleen Ross — President of the Canadian Medical Association
Dr. Kathleen Ross — President of the Canadian Medical Association
9:00 a.m.
Remarks by the National Pain Congress Vice-Chairs
Jean-Francois Leroux — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain & Manager of the Chronic Pain Policy Team, Health Canada
Maria Hudspith — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain and Executive Director, Pain BC / Pain Canada
Jean-Francois Leroux — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain & Manager of the Chronic Pain Policy Team, Health Canada
Maria Hudspith — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain and Executive Director, Pain BC / Pain Canada
9:10 a.m.
Canada – A Global Leader in Pain Research and Management
Allen Finley — Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine
Allen Finley — Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine
9:15 a.m.
The Impact of Chronic Pain in Canada and Potential Solutions
Hance Clarke — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain and President-Elect of the Canadian Pain Society
Hance Clarke — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain and President-Elect of the Canadian Pain Society
10:20 a.m.
Opioid Use for the Management of Chronic Pain
Moderator:
Carol Anne Chenard — Acting Director General, Controlled Substances Directorate, Health Canada
Speakers:
John Pereira — Chair of the National Congress on Pain and President of the Canadian Pain Society
Jason Busse — Professor, Associate Chair Research Canada Prevention and Management of Chronic Pain McMaster University
Moderator:
Carol Anne Chenard — Acting Director General, Controlled Substances Directorate, Health Canada
Speakers:
John Pereira — Chair of the National Congress on Pain and President of the Canadian Pain Society
Jason Busse — Professor, Associate Chair Research Canada Prevention and Management of Chronic Pain McMaster University
11:50 a.m.
Medical Cannabis and Chronic Pain in Canada, Present and Next Steps
Moderator:
Hance Clarke — President-Elect, Canadian Pain Society Director Pain Services and Pain Research Unit,
Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto General Hospital
Speakers:
Lesley Singer — Adjunct Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University
Mark Ware — Director, Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit, McGill University
Rahim Dhalla — Pharmacist, Cannabis Consultant, CEO
Moderator:
Hance Clarke — President-Elect, Canadian Pain Society Director Pain Services and Pain Research Unit,
Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto General Hospital
Speakers:
Lesley Singer — Adjunct Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University
Mark Ware — Director, Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit, McGill University
Rahim Dhalla — Pharmacist, Cannabis Consultant, CEO
2:40 p.m.
Plenary — Armchair Discussion
Moderator:
John Pereira — Chair, National Congress on Pain President, Canadian Pain Society
Speakers:
Virginia Mcintyre — Executive Director, People in Pain Network
Jennifer Saxe — Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch, Health
Canada
Tracy Wasylak — Chief Program Officer, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services
Arun Radhakrishnan — Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa
Maria Hudspith — Executive Director, Pain BC/Pain Canada
Moderator:
John Pereira — Chair, National Congress on Pain President, Canadian Pain Society
Speakers:
Virginia Mcintyre — Executive Director, People in Pain Network
Jennifer Saxe — Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch, Health
Canada
Tracy Wasylak — Chief Program Officer, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services
Arun Radhakrishnan — Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa
Maria Hudspith — Executive Director, Pain BC/Pain Canada
3:25 p.m.
Congress Wrap-Up
John Pereira — Chair, National Congress on Pain President, Canadian Pain Society
John Pereira — Chair, National Congress on Pain President, Canadian Pain Society
Livestream Agenda
Full Congress Agenda
7:30 a.m.
Confederation
Breakfast sponsored by the Chronic Pain Network
Changing the Way Pain is Managed in Canada: The Impact of a Patient-Oriented Research Network
Moderator:
Rachael Bosma — Co-Chair of the Training and capacity Building Committee, Chronic Pain Network
Panelists:
Norm Buckley — Nominated Principal Investigator Chronic Pain Network
Jennifer Daly-Cyr — Executive Co-Chair, Chronic Pain Network
Nader Ghasemlou — Investigator Chronic Pain Network
8:30 a.m.
Confederation
Congress Opening
John Pereira — Chair of the National Congress on Pain & President of the Canadian Pain Society
Elder Irene Compton
8:40 a.m.
Confederation
Setting the Scene – Living with Chronic Pain in Canada
Jennifer Daly Cyr — Vice-Chair, People with Lived Experience Committee, Canadian Pain Society
8:50 a.m.
Confederation
Remarks by the Canadian Medical Association
Dr. Kathleen Ross — President of the Canadian Medical Association
9:00 a.m.
Confederation
Remarks by the National Pain Congress Vice-Chairs
Jean-Francois Leroux — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain & Manager of the Chronic Pain Policy Team, Health Canada
Maria Hudspith — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain and Executive Director, Pain BC / Pain Canada
9:10 a.m.
Confederation
Canada – A Global Leader in Pain Research and Management
Allen Finley — Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine
9:15 a.m.
Confederation
The Impact of Chronic Pain in Canada and Potential Solutions
Hance Clarke — Vice-Chair of the National Congress on Pain and President-Elect of the Canadian Pain Society
9:45 a.m.
Confederation Foyer
Refreshments
10:20 a.m.
Confederation
Opioid Use for the Management of Chronic Pain
• An Opioid Safety Net to support Canadians living with pain who are using chronic opioid therapy.
• New 2024 Canadian Opioid Guidelines: balancing the benefits and harms of opioids for chronic pain.
Moderator:
Carol Anne Chenard — Acting Director General, Controlled Substances Directorate, Health Canada
Speakers:
John Pereira — Chair of the National Congress on Pain and President of the Canadian Pain Society
Jason Busse — Professor, Associate Chair Research Canada Prevention and Management of Chronic Pain McMaster University
10:20 a.m.
Les Saisons
Chronic Pain and Primary Care
• Models for managing chronic pain and other complex chronic diseases in the Patient Medical Home.
• Barriers and facilitators for team-based care models at the primary care level.
• Chronic pain training and mentorship programs for primary care providers.
Moderator:
Lori Montgomery — Family Physician and member of the College of Family Physicians with focused practice in chronic pain
Speakers:
Arun Shrichand — Manager of Health Policy and Government Relations, College of Family Physicians of Canada
Megan MacNeil — Knowledge broker, Chronic Pain Network
Therese Lane — Patient Partner, Chronic Pain Network
10:20 a.m.
Quebec
Understanding Drug Processes in Canada - from Development to Post-market Surveillance, and Factors Impacting Decision-making
• Canada’s drug approval process – from clinical trials to market.
• Ongoing post-market monitoring of pain medications in a changing environment.
• Patient involvement and patient-centric decision making in drug reviews.
• Optimizing accessibility and affordability in the context of appropriate use of pain medications.
Moderator:
Dr. Supriya Sharma — Chief Medical Advisor, Health Canada
Speakers:
Emma Spreekmeester — Manager, Central Nervous System Division 1, Bureau of Cardiology, Allergy and Neurological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Canada
Sudha Kutty — Executive Vice-President, Evidence, Products and Services, Canada’s Drug and Health
Technology Agency
Anchalee Srisombun — Senior Manager, Negotiations and Outcomes, pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance
Laurie Proulx — Managing Director, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance; Person with Lived Experience
10:20 a.m.
Ontario
Co-creating Resources for Chronic Pain that Centre the Experiences and Needs of First Nations Peoples
• There is a need for improved access to culturally safer chronic pain care for First Nations communities.
• Significant time and resources are needed to implement community engagement and Indigenous data sovereignty in a good way.
• First Nations community members advocate for non-pharmacological approaches and tools to manage chronic pain.
• Solutions must come from First Nations Peoples and communities, and be implemented at all levels of healthcare.
• Everyone working in healthcare has a responsibility to uphold and prioritize Indigenous rights.
Moderator:
Hance Clarke — President-Elect, Canadian Pain Society Director Pain Services and Pain Research Unit,
Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto General Hospital
Speakers:
Jim Leonard — Drug Task Force - Consultant Community Lead Former Chief, Rainy River First Nation
Health Transformation Department Grand Council Treaty #3
Tassanee Weese — Community and Partner Relations Manager Health Transformation Department Grand Council Treaty #3
Michael King — Federal Health Policy Analyst Data Governance Committee Chair Health Transformation Department Grand Council Treaty #3
Emily Simmonds — Research Manager Ganawishkadawe, The Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health Women’s College Hospital
Maxine Brown — Research Coordinator Ganawishkadawe, The Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health Women’s College Hospital
Anna Lomanowska — Scientific Associate Transitional Pain Service Department of Anesthesia and Pain
Management, Toronto General Hospital University Health Network
Miki Peer — Scientific Associate Transitional Pain Service Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto General Hospital University Health Network
10:20 a.m.
Alberta
The National Pediatric Pain Management Standard – Opportunities for Effective Implementation
• Provide an overview of the National Pediatric Pain Management Standard (CAN/HSO 13200:2023).
• Identify opportunities to support effective implementation of the standard.
• Draw connections to broader, related policy priority areas (i.e., child health, mental health, substance use, health equity, health workforce).
• Learn from the experience of standard development in other areas (i.e., mental health and substance use), including potential for pain standards across the lifespan.
Moderator:
Katie Birnie — Associate Scientific Director, Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP); Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Speakers:
Fiona Campbell — Co-director, Pain Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children; Professor, University of Toronto,
former co-chair, Canadian Pain Task Force
Stephanie Paravan — Family partner, Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP)
Emily Gruenwoldt — Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Healthcare Canada
Kaye Phillips — Executive Director, Health Standards Organization
Dr. Samuel Weiss — Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addictions
10:20 a.m.
Newfoundland
Successes and Opportunities – Pain Networks in Canada
• Highlighting successes and opportunities with national and provincial pain networks.
• Best practices for implementing and maintaining strong networks
• Involvement of people with lived and living experience in pain networks.
Moderator:
Norm Buckley — Nominated Principal Investigator Chronic Pain Network
Panel Discussion:
Tania DiRenna — President Elect, Canadian Pain Society Medical Director, Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI), Ontario Chronic Pain Network Co-Chair
Kristine Juck — Executive Director, Pain Care BC
Anaïs Lacasse — Co-Director, Clinical Affairs, Quebec Pain
Research Network — Full professor, Department of Health Sciences, University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)
Jacques Laliberté — Founding Director, Association québécoise de la douleur chronique
10:20 a.m.
Health Break
11:50 a.m.
Confederation
Medical Cannabis and Chronic Pain in Canada, Present and Next Steps
• Provide perspectives from the patient, physician-researcher and pharmacist viewpoint on findings and recommendations of the Expert Panel on the Cannabis Act Legislative Review.
• Discuss current and future medical cannabis research initiatives.
Moderator:
Hance Clarke — President-Elect, Canadian Pain Society Director Pain Services and Pain Research Unit,
Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto General Hospital
Speakers:
Lesley Singer — Adjunct Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University
Mark Ware — Director, Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit, McGill University
Rahim Dhalla — Pharmacist, Cannabis Consultant, CEO
11:50 a.m.
Les Saisons
A Conversation with CIHR: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities in Pain Research and Knowledge Mobilization
• Recent successes in pain research in Canada.
• Challenges and opportunities associated with the cross-cutting nature of pain as a research area.
• The important role of knowledge mobilization as part of the pain research continuum.
Moderator:
Yves De Koninck — Chair, Institute Advisory Board, CIHR-INHMA
Speakers
Christine Chambers — Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health
Katherine Frohlich — Scientific Director, CIHR Population and Public Health (IPPH)
Samuel Weiss — Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Addictions
11:50 a.m.
Alberta
Importance of Addressing the Needs of Populations Disproportionately Impacted by Pain
• Integrating care to address pain, mental health and substance use health.
• Addressing systemic health inequities for racialized peoples.
• Addressing policy opportunities to support the needs of injured workers.
• Discuss priorities and identify opportunities to optimize health outcomes.
Moderator:
Alexander Caudarella — Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addictions
Speakers
Kim Corace — Vice-President, Innovation and Senior Scientist, Canadian Centre on Substance Use
and Addictions
Kerry Waddell — Scientific Lead, Evidence Synthesis and Support, McMaster Health Forum
Jude Mary Cénat — Associate Professor, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa
11:50 a.m.
Newfoundland
Virtual Approaches and Peer Support Programs for the Management of Chronic Pain
• Effective virtual tools and approaches for pain management.
• Role of peer support for effective pain management.
• Challenges and opportunities for effective implementation of virtual approaches and peer support programs for pain care.
Moderator:
Jennifer Lorca — Committee Member, Lived Experience Advisory Committee, Power Over Pain Portal
Speakers:
Melanie McDonald — Director of Support Services, Pain BC/Pain Canada
Patricia Poulin — Clinical, Health, and Rehabilitation Psychologist, The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic Associate Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Ottawa
Yaadwinder Shergill — Clinical Research Associate, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Chiropractor, One Elephant Integrative Health Team Inc.
Anna Lomanowska — Scientific Associate Transitional Pain Service Department of Anesthesia and Pain
Management, Toronto General Hospital University Health Network
Beth Darnall — Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain, Stanford Health Care
Sean Mackey, MD, PhD — Redlich Professor, Chief of the Pain Medicine Division, Stanford Health Care
11:50 a.m.
Ontario
Intersections between Chronic Pain and the Overdose Crisis
• Historical perspectives on the intersection between chronic pain and the overdose crisis.
• Best practices to support people living with concurrent chronic pain and substance use disorders.
• Discuss possible solutions highlighting current successes in Canada.
Rob Tanguay — Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Launette Rieb — Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia
Claudine Adlington — Person with lived experience
