Join us on the last Friday of every month!
A discussion between scientists, health professionals, educators, and pain advocates on a myriad of topics related to chronic pain. Offering a platform for innovative minds to bring forward inspiring ideas and discover solutions to help you in your practice.
Before attending or watching any National Pain Round sessions, please read our disclaimers.
#CanadianPainRounds
National Pain Rounds
Introducing National Pain Rounds for Trainees! See the Schedule >
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Nancy Bowie
Born and raised in Rossland BC, I am grateful to live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sinixt people. My 36-year career as a registered nurse spanned both acute and community mental health, working primarily with adults suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and chronic pain. During my career I was part of a four-person team who developed a group therapy-based day hospital program which ran for 12 years. In the community I developed and ran various group therapies including an 8-week group for people struggling with chronic pain, which I ran for 6 years. I am a longtime volunteer with Pain BC. I participated in discussions which led to the development of the Live Plan Be+ program. In conjunction with the Divisions of Family Practice and Pain BC, I was part of a pilot project that placed a Pain Navigator in a Family practice clinic to help in managing complex pain patients. I was also involved in an education program with the Division of Family Practice and local GP’s to look at alternatives to opioids with pain management. I have been a peer facilitator for Pain Support and Wellness groups with Pain BC for the past 5 years and am currently a member of a joint quality improvement team with Pain BC and PainCare BC as a person with lived pain experience. In addition to volunteering with Pain BC, I am a volunteer team lead with Canadian Red Cross/ Emergency Support Services in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a volunteer with Skate Canada for our local skating club. I enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, mountain biking, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, traveling, sewing, crafting and spending time with family, especially my grandchildren. I live with a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile type which affects multiple systems and areas of my body. The laxity of my ligaments and tendons leads to chronic pain and issues. Maintaining regular fitness, diet, mental health, and therapies such as physio and massage help me to manage.
Isabelle LeClerc
Isabelle LeClerc is a Registered Nurse with thirty-nine years of nursing experience working in Ottawa. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in an interdisciplinary academic primary care setting. During the last decade, she has developed multiple chronic disease self-management programs, which also includes a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program. Isabelle has presented posters, given workshops and webinars in Canada, as well as internationally. According to Isabelle, the most rewarding part of sharing this knowledge is observing improvements in the quality of life of those who take on an active role in the self-management of their chronic disease.
Hillel Finestone
Dr. Hillel Finestone is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatrist) at Bruyere Health and Full Professor in Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Finestone treats patients experiencing chronic, musculoskeletal and neurologic pain. He also treats out-patients in the multi-disciplinary stroke rehabilitation clinic at Bruyere Health, Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Finestone’s research interests include: 1) Multidisciplinary pain care for patients in Family Medicine, 2) Opioids and Pain – the terrible problem that medicine and society has created with regards to opioids and addictions, 3) Mind-body issues- particularly how mental health problems like stress and anxiety may lead to multiple, peripheral painful conditions and how educating patients to become their own “pain detectives” is so important. Dr. Finestone’s book, The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story (published by Praeger ABC-Clio, 2009, Santa Barbara, CA) describes the roles that psychological and social factors may play in healing and recovery from a painful injury.
February National Pain Rounds for Professionals
Chronic Noncancer Pain Management: Integration of a Nurse-Led Program in Primary Care
We will describe a registered nurse (RN)-led chronic pain intervention, embedded within a family practice, which is not common in Canada. The RN explains to the patients what their pain diagnosis is, how it may have come about and what personal, community and societal resources could help them. Body weight, smoking history, and substance use, sleep, exercise, ergonomics, psychological and social factors are discussed with the patients. A hand-written Pain Explanation and Treatment Diagram then summarizes these “pain risk factors”, allowing the patients to self-manage their condition. Each time they consult the RN, this document is re-read and modified.
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Review the chronic disease model practiced in primary care and how chronic pain management fits within it
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Describe the fundamental components of an RN-led chronic pain program in primary care practice
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Explain the Pain Explanation and Treatment Diagram and the “pain risk factors”
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Discuss the importance of an RN-led program in primary care from the point of view of a person with lived experience.
David Kennedy
Dr. Kennedy is an assistant professor of exercise science at the University of Victoria. He is a US-licensed physiotherapist with over 25 years of clinical practice experience. His research explores the relationship between perception, movement, and function, with particular emphasis on pain science. His focus is on using innovative technology such as augmented reality, to explore our understanding of pain. He also leads national and international pain education projects for rural and underserved communities. Dr. Kennedy's research bridges the gap between basic science and practical application. His work advances our understanding of pain while making evidence-based education accessible.
Jennifer Daly-Cyr
Jennifer’s professional background is in marketing and strategic planning in higher education. Since a sudden onset of severe abdominal pain, she has been on a journey of learning to live with persistent acute episodes of pain and adapting to the dramatic changes this has brought to her daily life. She has leveraged her skills and experience to advocate, collaborate and share her perspective as a person with lived experience/patient partner/advisor with national and provincial pain research initiatives and projects, including with the Chronic Pain Network, Pain Ontario and the Canadian Pain Society. She advocates for the incorporation of the lived experience perspective into research, broadened awareness of chronic pain, improving understanding about the value of patient engagement in research and for improved access to health care and support for people living with pain.
Keith Meldrum
Keith is a civil engineer technologist and retired civil construction company vice president. He lives in Kelowna, is married to Barb, has a married adult stepson, Chris, and an Australian Labradoodle, Parker. Keith has lived with persistent pain since 1986 following a near-fatal motor vehicle accident. Further, in 2021 he was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic disease that also causes persistent pain. Keith has been actively involved in pain advocacy and research for 14 years, having presented at several national and international conferences, guest lectures at universities, and as a co-author and co-investigator in various pain research projects.
Josh Pate
Dr. Joshua W. Pate is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the University of Technology Sydney, specializing in pain science education and paediatric pain management. He developed the Concept of Pain Inventory (COPI) to assess learning about pain. Dr. Pate is also the author of the children's book series "Zoe and Zak’s Pain Hacks," aimed at making pain science accessible to younger audiences. He recently gave a TEDx Talk, and his TED-Ed videos, including "The mysterious science of pain," have garnered millions of views, reflecting his commitment to public education on pain. Additionally, he co-founded "One Thing," a platform featuring expert insights on pain management which is the focus of this session.
Sandra Hilton
Sandra (Sandy) Hilton graduated with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 1988 from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Des Moines University in 2013. Sandy has contributed to multiple book chapters and papers, including 2 books for understanding and treating pain: “Why Pelvic Pain Hurts” (OPTP) and “Self-Care for Pelvic Pain” (OPTP). She is an international instructor and an invited speaker on treating pain and pelvic health for all genders. Sandy is a regular contributor on health related podcasts, and is co-host of the Pain Science and Sensibility Podcast. She is also a regular contributor to PhysioNetwork, an evidence review for clinicians. She remains up to date with the emerging trends and evidence in the treatment of pain via The International Association for the Study of Pain and regular literature reviews. Since moving back to the Portland area in 2023, Sandy is spending her free time outside on hikes or exploring the local coffee and food options.
Maria Pavlova
Maria Pavlova is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at the University of Guelph. Her research program examines the intersection of pain and trauma, with a focus on child maltreatment, and ways to support parent-child dyads in processing these distressing experiences to prevent the development of traumatic stress. Dr. Pavlova's overarching goal is to create, examine, and disseminate efficacious and equitable family-centered interventions to prevent pediatric pain and child maltreatment from becoming distressing, chronic experiences and to empower youth in their health journeys.
March National Pain Rounds for Professionals
One Thing, Many Voices: Pain Science Through Collaboration
Persistent pain is complex—but how we talk about it can be transformative. The 'One Thing, Many Voices' Canadian Pain Rounds showcase a unique knowledge translation initiative that brings together researchers, clinicians, educators, and people with living/lived experience to share insights on pain science. By weaving these diverse perspectives into the One Thing video series, we look forward to meaningful conversations that shift how pain is understood and managed, both clinically and socially. Participants will leave with practical tools to improve knowledge, foster empathy, and integrate evidence-informed strategies into practice.
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Explain how a multidisciplinary approach to knowledge translation in the One Thing video series fosters collaboration across researchers, clinicians, educators, and people with living/lived experience with pain, enhancing our understanding of persistent pain.
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Describe the impact of including people with living/lived experience with pain in the One Thing interviews, highlighting how their lived experiences influence the dissemination of pain science and shift clinical and societal perspectives on persistent pain.
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Identify practical strategies for clinicians to incorporate One Thing video insights into their practice, improving patient education, fostering empathy, and promoting evidence-informed approaches to managing persistent pain.
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Nancy Bowie
Born and raised in Rossland BC, I am grateful to live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sinixt people. My 36-year career as a registered nurse spanned both acute and community mental health, working primarily with adults suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and chronic pain. During my career I was part of a four-person team who developed a group therapy-based day hospital program which ran for 12 years. In the community I developed and ran various group therapies including an 8-week group for people struggling with chronic pain, which I ran for 6 years. I am a longtime volunteer with Pain BC. I participated in discussions which led to the development of the Live Plan Be+ program. In conjunction with the Divisions of Family Practice and Pain BC, I was part of a pilot project that placed a Pain Navigator in a Family practice clinic to help in managing complex pain patients. I was also involved in an education program with the Division of Family Practice and local GP’s to look at alternatives to opioids with pain management. I have been a peer facilitator for Pain Support and Wellness groups with Pain BC for the past 5 years and am currently a member of a joint quality improvement team with Pain BC and PainCare BC as a person with lived pain experience. In addition to volunteering with Pain BC, I am a volunteer team lead with Canadian Red Cross/ Emergency Support Services in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a volunteer with Skate Canada for our local skating club. I enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, mountain biking, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, traveling, sewing, crafting and spending time with family, especially my grandchildren. I live with a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile type which affects multiple systems and areas of my body. The laxity of my ligaments and tendons leads to chronic pain and issues. Maintaining regular fitness, diet, mental health, and therapies such as physio and massage help me to manage.
Isabelle LeClerc
Isabelle LeClerc is a Registered Nurse with thirty-nine years of nursing experience working in Ottawa. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in an interdisciplinary academic primary care setting. During the last decade, she has developed multiple chronic disease self-management programs, which also includes a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program. Isabelle has presented posters, given workshops and webinars in Canada, as well as internationally. According to Isabelle, the most rewarding part of sharing this knowledge is observing improvements in the quality of life of those who take on an active role in the self-management of their chronic disease.
Hillel Finestone
Dr. Hillel Finestone is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatrist) at Bruyere Health and Full Professor in Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Finestone treats patients experiencing chronic, musculoskeletal and neurologic pain. He also treats out-patients in the multi-disciplinary stroke rehabilitation clinic at Bruyere Health, Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Finestone’s research interests include: 1) Multidisciplinary pain care for patients in Family Medicine, 2) Opioids and Pain – the terrible problem that medicine and society has created with regards to opioids and addictions, 3) Mind-body issues- particularly how mental health problems like stress and anxiety may lead to multiple, peripheral painful conditions and how educating patients to become their own “pain detectives” is so important. Dr. Finestone’s book, The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story (published by Praeger ABC-Clio, 2009, Santa Barbara, CA) describes the roles that psychological and social factors may play in healing and recovery from a painful injury.
Pain Rounds for Professionals
February
Title Two
March
Title One
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Nancy Bowie
Born and raised in Rossland BC, I am grateful to live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sinixt people. My 36-year career as a registered nurse spanned both acute and community mental health, working primarily with adults suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and chronic pain. During my career I was part of a four-person team who developed a group therapy-based day hospital program which ran for 12 years. In the community I developed and ran various group therapies including an 8-week group for people struggling with chronic pain, which I ran for 6 years. I am a longtime volunteer with Pain BC. I participated in discussions which led to the development of the Live Plan Be+ program. In conjunction with the Divisions of Family Practice and Pain BC, I was part of a pilot project that placed a Pain Navigator in a Family practice clinic to help in managing complex pain patients. I was also involved in an education program with the Division of Family Practice and local GP’s to look at alternatives to opioids with pain management. I have been a peer facilitator for Pain Support and Wellness groups with Pain BC for the past 5 years and am currently a member of a joint quality improvement team with Pain BC and PainCare BC as a person with lived pain experience. In addition to volunteering with Pain BC, I am a volunteer team lead with Canadian Red Cross/ Emergency Support Services in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a volunteer with Skate Canada for our local skating club. I enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, mountain biking, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, traveling, sewing, crafting and spending time with family, especially my grandchildren. I live with a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile type which affects multiple systems and areas of my body. The laxity of my ligaments and tendons leads to chronic pain and issues. Maintaining regular fitness, diet, mental health, and therapies such as physio and massage help me to manage.
Isabelle LeClerc
Isabelle LeClerc is a Registered Nurse with thirty-nine years of nursing experience working in Ottawa. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in an interdisciplinary academic primary care setting. During the last decade, she has developed multiple chronic disease self-management programs, which also includes a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program. Isabelle has presented posters, given workshops and webinars in Canada, as well as internationally. According to Isabelle, the most rewarding part of sharing this knowledge is observing improvements in the quality of life of those who take on an active role in the self-management of their chronic disease.
Hillel Finestone
Dr. Hillel Finestone is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatrist) at Bruyere Health and Full Professor in Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Finestone treats patients experiencing chronic, musculoskeletal and neurologic pain. He also treats out-patients in the multi-disciplinary stroke rehabilitation clinic at Bruyere Health, Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Finestone’s research interests include: 1) Multidisciplinary pain care for patients in Family Medicine, 2) Opioids and Pain – the terrible problem that medicine and society has created with regards to opioids and addictions, 3) Mind-body issues- particularly how mental health problems like stress and anxiety may lead to multiple, peripheral painful conditions and how educating patients to become their own “pain detectives” is so important. Dr. Finestone’s book, The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story (published by Praeger ABC-Clio, 2009, Santa Barbara, CA) describes the roles that psychological and social factors may play in healing and recovery from a painful injury.
FEBRUARY
Chronic noncancer pain management: Integration of a nurse-led program in primary care
Pain Rounds for Professionals
MARCH
One Thing, Many Voices: Pain Science Through Collaboration
APRIL
Presentation details coming soon
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Nancy Bowie
Born and raised in Rossland BC, I am grateful to live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sinixt people. My 36-year career as a registered nurse spanned both acute and community mental health, working primarily with adults suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and chronic pain. During my career I was part of a four-person team who developed a group therapy-based day hospital program which ran for 12 years. In the community I developed and ran various group therapies including an 8-week group for people struggling with chronic pain, which I ran for 6 years. I am a longtime volunteer with Pain BC. I participated in discussions which led to the development of the Live Plan Be+ program. In conjunction with the Divisions of Family Practice and Pain BC, I was part of a pilot project that placed a Pain Navigator in a Family practice clinic to help in managing complex pain patients. I was also involved in an education program with the Division of Family Practice and local GP’s to look at alternatives to opioids with pain management. I have been a peer facilitator for Pain Support and Wellness groups with Pain BC for the past 5 years and am currently a member of a joint quality improvement team with Pain BC and PainCare BC as a person with lived pain experience. In addition to volunteering with Pain BC, I am a volunteer team lead with Canadian Red Cross/ Emergency Support Services in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a volunteer with Skate Canada for our local skating club. I enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, mountain biking, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, traveling, sewing, crafting and spending time with family, especially my grandchildren. I live with a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile type which affects multiple systems and areas of my body. The laxity of my ligaments and tendons leads to chronic pain and issues. Maintaining regular fitness, diet, mental health, and therapies such as physio and massage help me to manage.
Isabelle LeClerc
Isabelle LeClerc is a Registered Nurse with thirty-nine years of nursing experience working in Ottawa. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in an interdisciplinary academic primary care setting. During the last decade, she has developed multiple chronic disease self-management programs, which also includes a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program. Isabelle has presented posters, given workshops and webinars in Canada, as well as internationally. According to Isabelle, the most rewarding part of sharing this knowledge is observing improvements in the quality of life of those who take on an active role in the self-management of their chronic disease.
Hillel Finestone
Dr. Hillel Finestone is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatrist) at Bruyere Health and Full Professor in Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Finestone treats patients experiencing chronic, musculoskeletal and neurologic pain. He also treats out-patients in the multi-disciplinary stroke rehabilitation clinic at Bruyere Health, Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Finestone’s research interests include: 1) Multidisciplinary pain care for patients in Family Medicine, 2) Opioids and Pain – the terrible problem that medicine and society has created with regards to opioids and addictions, 3) Mind-body issues- particularly how mental health problems like stress and anxiety may lead to multiple, peripheral painful conditions and how educating patients to become their own “pain detectives” is so important. Dr. Finestone’s book, The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story (published by Praeger ABC-Clio, 2009, Santa Barbara, CA) describes the roles that psychological and social factors may play in healing and recovery from a painful injury.
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Nancy Bowie
Born and raised in Rossland BC, I am grateful to live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sinixt people. My 36-year career as a registered nurse spanned both acute and community mental health, working primarily with adults suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and chronic pain. During my career I was part of a four-person team who developed a group therapy-based day hospital program which ran for 12 years. In the community I developed and ran various group therapies including an 8-week group for people struggling with chronic pain, which I ran for 6 years. I am a longtime volunteer with Pain BC. I participated in discussions which led to the development of the Live Plan Be+ program. In conjunction with the Divisions of Family Practice and Pain BC, I was part of a pilot project that placed a Pain Navigator in a Family practice clinic to help in managing complex pain patients. I was also involved in an education program with the Division of Family Practice and local GP’s to look at alternatives to opioids with pain management. I have been a peer facilitator for Pain Support and Wellness groups with Pain BC for the past 5 years and am currently a member of a joint quality improvement team with Pain BC and PainCare BC as a person with lived pain experience. In addition to volunteering with Pain BC, I am a volunteer team lead with Canadian Red Cross/ Emergency Support Services in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a volunteer with Skate Canada for our local skating club. I enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, mountain biking, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, traveling, sewing, crafting and spending time with family, especially my grandchildren. I live with a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile type which affects multiple systems and areas of my body. The laxity of my ligaments and tendons leads to chronic pain and issues. Maintaining regular fitness, diet, mental health, and therapies such as physio and massage help me to manage.
Isabelle LeClerc
Isabelle LeClerc is a Registered Nurse with thirty-nine years of nursing experience working in Ottawa. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in an interdisciplinary academic primary care setting. During the last decade, she has developed multiple chronic disease self-management programs, which also includes a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program. Isabelle has presented posters, given workshops and webinars in Canada, as well as internationally. According to Isabelle, the most rewarding part of sharing this knowledge is observing improvements in the quality of life of those who take on an active role in the self-management of their chronic disease.
Hillel Finestone
Dr. Hillel Finestone is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatrist) at Bruyere Health and Full Professor in Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Finestone treats patients experiencing chronic, musculoskeletal and neurologic pain. He also treats out-patients in the multi-disciplinary stroke rehabilitation clinic at Bruyere Health, Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Finestone’s research interests include: 1) Multidisciplinary pain care for patients in Family Medicine, 2) Opioids and Pain – the terrible problem that medicine and society has created with regards to opioids and addictions, 3) Mind-body issues- particularly how mental health problems like stress and anxiety may lead to multiple, peripheral painful conditions and how educating patients to become their own “pain detectives” is so important. Dr. Finestone’s book, The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story (published by Praeger ABC-Clio, 2009, Santa Barbara, CA) describes the roles that psychological and social factors may play in healing and recovery from a painful injury.
Gillian McGuire
More information coming soon
April National Pain Rounds for Trainees
MaID in Chronic Pain Patients
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More information coming soon
We will describe a registered nurse (RN)-led chronic pain intervention, embedded within a family practice, which is not common in Canada. The RN explains to the patients what their pain diagnosis is, how it may have come about and what personal, community and societal resources could help them. Body weight, smoking history, and substance use, sleep, exercise, ergonomics, psychological and social factors are discussed with the patients. A hand-written Pain Explanation and Treatment Diagram then summarizes these “pain risk factors”, allowing the patients to self-manage their condition. Each time they consult the RN, this document is re-read and modified.
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Nancy Bowie
Born and raised in Rossland BC, I am grateful to live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sinixt people. My 36-year career as a registered nurse spanned both acute and community mental health, working primarily with adults suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and chronic pain. During my career I was part of a four-person team who developed a group therapy-based day hospital program which ran for 12 years. In the community I developed and ran various group therapies including an 8-week group for people struggling with chronic pain, which I ran for 6 years. I am a longtime volunteer with Pain BC. I participated in discussions which led to the development of the Live Plan Be+ program. In conjunction with the Divisions of Family Practice and Pain BC, I was part of a pilot project that placed a Pain Navigator in a Family practice clinic to help in managing complex pain patients. I was also involved in an education program with the Division of Family Practice and local GP’s to look at alternatives to opioids with pain management. I have been a peer facilitator for Pain Support and Wellness groups with Pain BC for the past 5 years and am currently a member of a joint quality improvement team with Pain BC and PainCare BC as a person with lived pain experience. In addition to volunteering with Pain BC, I am a volunteer team lead with Canadian Red Cross/ Emergency Support Services in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a volunteer with Skate Canada for our local skating club. I enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, mountain biking, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, traveling, sewing, crafting and spending time with family, especially my grandchildren. I live with a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile type which affects multiple systems and areas of my body. The laxity of my ligaments and tendons leads to chronic pain and issues. Maintaining regular fitness, diet, mental health, and therapies such as physio and massage help me to manage.
Isabelle LeClerc
Isabelle LeClerc is a Registered Nurse with thirty-nine years of nursing experience working in Ottawa. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in an interdisciplinary academic primary care setting. During the last decade, she has developed multiple chronic disease self-management programs, which also includes a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program. Isabelle has presented posters, given workshops and webinars in Canada, as well as internationally. According to Isabelle, the most rewarding part of sharing this knowledge is observing improvements in the quality of life of those who take on an active role in the self-management of their chronic disease.
Hillel Finestone
Dr. Hillel Finestone is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatrist) at Bruyere Health and Full Professor in Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Finestone treats patients experiencing chronic, musculoskeletal and neurologic pain. He also treats out-patients in the multi-disciplinary stroke rehabilitation clinic at Bruyere Health, Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Finestone’s research interests include: 1) Multidisciplinary pain care for patients in Family Medicine, 2) Opioids and Pain – the terrible problem that medicine and society has created with regards to opioids and addictions, 3) Mind-body issues- particularly how mental health problems like stress and anxiety may lead to multiple, peripheral painful conditions and how educating patients to become their own “pain detectives” is so important. Dr. Finestone’s book, The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story (published by Praeger ABC-Clio, 2009, Santa Barbara, CA) describes the roles that psychological and social factors may play in healing and recovery from a painful injury.
FEBRUARY
Chronic noncancer pain management: Integration of a nurse-led program in primary care
Pain Rounds for Professionals
MARCH
One Thing, Many Voices: Pain Science Through Collaboration
APRIL
Presentation details coming soon
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Nancy Bowie
Born and raised in Rossland BC, I am grateful to live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sinixt people. My 36-year career as a registered nurse spanned both acute and community mental health, working primarily with adults suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and chronic pain. During my career I was part of a four-person team who developed a group therapy-based day hospital program which ran for 12 years. In the community I developed and ran various group therapies including an 8-week group for people struggling with chronic pain, which I ran for 6 years. I am a longtime volunteer with Pain BC. I participated in discussions which led to the development of the Live Plan Be+ program. In conjunction with the Divisions of Family Practice and Pain BC, I was part of a pilot project that placed a Pain Navigator in a Family practice clinic to help in managing complex pain patients. I was also involved in an education program with the Division of Family Practice and local GP’s to look at alternatives to opioids with pain management. I have been a peer facilitator for Pain Support and Wellness groups with Pain BC for the past 5 years and am currently a member of a joint quality improvement team with Pain BC and PainCare BC as a person with lived pain experience. In addition to volunteering with Pain BC, I am a volunteer team lead with Canadian Red Cross/ Emergency Support Services in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a volunteer with Skate Canada for our local skating club. I enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, mountain biking, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, traveling, sewing, crafting and spending time with family, especially my grandchildren. I live with a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile type which affects multiple systems and areas of my body. The laxity of my ligaments and tendons leads to chronic pain and issues. Maintaining regular fitness, diet, mental health, and therapies such as physio and massage help me to manage.
Isabelle LeClerc
Isabelle LeClerc is a Registered Nurse with thirty-nine years of nursing experience working in Ottawa. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in an interdisciplinary academic primary care setting. During the last decade, she has developed multiple chronic disease self-management programs, which also includes a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program. Isabelle has presented posters, given workshops and webinars in Canada, as well as internationally. According to Isabelle, the most rewarding part of sharing this knowledge is observing improvements in the quality of life of those who take on an active role in the self-management of their chronic disease.
Hillel Finestone
Dr. Hillel Finestone is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatrist) at Bruyere Health and Full Professor in Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Finestone treats patients experiencing chronic, musculoskeletal and neurologic pain. He also treats out-patients in the multi-disciplinary stroke rehabilitation clinic at Bruyere Health, Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Finestone’s research interests include: 1) Multidisciplinary pain care for patients in Family Medicine, 2) Opioids and Pain – the terrible problem that medicine and society has created with regards to opioids and addictions, 3) Mind-body issues- particularly how mental health problems like stress and anxiety may lead to multiple, peripheral painful conditions and how educating patients to become their own “pain detectives” is so important. Dr. Finestone’s book, The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story (published by Praeger ABC-Clio, 2009, Santa Barbara, CA) describes the roles that psychological and social factors may play in healing and recovery from a painful injury.
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Nancy Bowie
Born and raised in Rossland BC, I am grateful to live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sinixt people. My 36-year career as a registered nurse spanned both acute and community mental health, working primarily with adults suffering with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and chronic pain. During my career I was part of a four-person team who developed a group therapy-based day hospital program which ran for 12 years. In the community I developed and ran various group therapies including an 8-week group for people struggling with chronic pain, which I ran for 6 years. I am a longtime volunteer with Pain BC. I participated in discussions which led to the development of the Live Plan Be+ program. In conjunction with the Divisions of Family Practice and Pain BC, I was part of a pilot project that placed a Pain Navigator in a Family practice clinic to help in managing complex pain patients. I was also involved in an education program with the Division of Family Practice and local GP’s to look at alternatives to opioids with pain management. I have been a peer facilitator for Pain Support and Wellness groups with Pain BC for the past 5 years and am currently a member of a joint quality improvement team with Pain BC and PainCare BC as a person with lived pain experience. In addition to volunteering with Pain BC, I am a volunteer team lead with Canadian Red Cross/ Emergency Support Services in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a volunteer with Skate Canada for our local skating club. I enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, mountain biking, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, traveling, sewing, crafting and spending time with family, especially my grandchildren. I live with a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile type which affects multiple systems and areas of my body. The laxity of my ligaments and tendons leads to chronic pain and issues. Maintaining regular fitness, diet, mental health, and therapies such as physio and massage help me to manage.
Isabelle LeClerc
Isabelle LeClerc is a Registered Nurse with thirty-nine years of nursing experience working in Ottawa. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in an interdisciplinary academic primary care setting. During the last decade, she has developed multiple chronic disease self-management programs, which also includes a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program. Isabelle has presented posters, given workshops and webinars in Canada, as well as internationally. According to Isabelle, the most rewarding part of sharing this knowledge is observing improvements in the quality of life of those who take on an active role in the self-management of their chronic disease.
Hillel Finestone
Dr. Hillel Finestone is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatrist) at Bruyere Health and Full Professor in Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Finestone treats patients experiencing chronic, musculoskeletal and neurologic pain. He also treats out-patients in the multi-disciplinary stroke rehabilitation clinic at Bruyere Health, Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Finestone’s research interests include: 1) Multidisciplinary pain care for patients in Family Medicine, 2) Opioids and Pain – the terrible problem that medicine and society has created with regards to opioids and addictions, 3) Mind-body issues- particularly how mental health problems like stress and anxiety may lead to multiple, peripheral painful conditions and how educating patients to become their own “pain detectives” is so important. Dr. Finestone’s book, The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story (published by Praeger ABC-Clio, 2009, Santa Barbara, CA) describes the roles that psychological and social factors may play in healing and recovery from a painful injury.
Previous President of the Canadian Pain Society, previous President of the Pain Society of Alberta, and a Founding Co-Chair of the Alberta Pain Strategy. He is a past Ronald Melzack Fellow of the McGill Pain Center and has spoken on the topic of chronic pain both nationally and internationally, including at the Centers for Disease Control, ANZCA Auckland, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Mayo Clinic. He represented Western Canada on the committee of physicians who wrote our country’s National Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia. Dr. John Pereira was the physician lead of FibroFOCUS, an interdisciplinary chronic pain program that won a 2016 Patient Experience Award from the Health Quality Council of Alberta. He was a member of the Canadian Pain Task Force's External Advisory Panel and a current member of Pain Canada's National Advisory Council. He has personally visited more than sixty pain clinics worldwide to learn best practices.
John Pereira
Ms Dominique Gilbert has been working as a physiotherapist for 40 years. In private practice since 1996, her innovative approach emphasizes proper education of patients, as well as focusing on active treatment for pain management and returning to function. In fact, she believes that encouraging her patients to adopt active lifestyles during treatment encourages a more realistic self-evaluation of the patient's own physical capabilities.
Dominique Gilbert
Arthur Woznowski-Vu has been a practicing physiotherapist since 2013, in Montreal, QC. He focused on developing his expertise in non-pharmacological management and rehabilitation of chronic pain by pursuing advanced education in the application of pain science to physiotherapy. He completed his PhD in Rehab Science at McGill University in 2023. His thesis focused on sensitivity to physical activity, which refers to the challenge of having increased pain or other negative reactions when trying to do physical activity as a treatment for pain conditions such as back pain. He has been the recipient of several scholarships, such as from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Fonds de Recherche du Québec en Santé, Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail, Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation, and Louise and Alan Edwards Foundation. In addition to his experiences in clinical practice and research, Arthur is currently teaching pain management strategies as a part-time faculty member at Concordia University, and has also done some teaching previously at McGill University and Université de Montréal. Arthur is also a leader in his field, having been Chair of the Pain Science Division at the Canadian Physiotherapy Association in 2021-2023 where he led several initiatives including a national physiotherapy advocacy position paper in response to the Canadian Pain Task Force’s Action Plan for Pain in Canada. In 2023, Arthur opened his own solo practice, “The Chronic Pain Rehab Clinic”. See www.chronicpainrehab.ca for more info. Arthur has also done radio and podcast interviews, and the recordings are getting posted on his website.
Arthur Woznowski-Vu
Information for this speaker is on the way!
Krissy Bell
FEBRUARY
Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension – A curable cause of medically refractory headaches and chronic pain
Open to learners in the field of pain medicine, sessions will enhance medical education by promoting standardized pain management practices, fostering collaboration among those practicing pain medicine, and improving patient outcomes through evidence-based pain assessments and treatment practices.
JUNE
Presentation details coming soon
Open to learners in the field of pain medicine, sessions will enhance medical education by promoting standardized pain management practices, fostering collaboration among those practicing pain medicine, and improving patient outcomes through evidence-based pain assessments and treatment practices.
APRIL
Presentation details coming soon
Open to learners in the field of pain medicine, sessions will enhance medical education by promoting standardized pain management practices, fostering collaboration among those practicing pain medicine, and improving patient outcomes through evidence-based pain assessments and treatment practices.
Pain Rounds for Trainees
Our National Pain Rounds Committee
Our National Pain Rounds Committee is made up of experienced healthcare professionals who strive to uphold and maintain the integrity of the Canadian Pain Society as dedicated volunteers.
Co-Chair
Dr. John Xavier Pereira
Previous President of the Canadian Pain Society, previous President of the Pain Society of Alberta, and a Founding Co-Chair of the Alberta Pain Strategy. He is a past Ronald Melzack Fellow of the McGill Pain Center and has spoken on the topic of chronic pain both nationally and internationally, including at the Centers for Disease Control, ANZCA Auckland, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Mayo Clinic. He represented Western Canada on the committee of physicians who wrote our country’s National Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia. Dr. John Pereira was the physician lead of FibroFOCUS, an interdisciplinary chronic pain program that won a 2016 Patient Experience Award from the Health Quality Council of Alberta. He was a member of the Canadian Pain Task Force's External Advisory Panel and a current member of Pain Canada's National Advisory Council. He has personally visited more than sixty pain clinics worldwide to learn best practices.
Co-Chair
Dr. Helena Daudt
Director of Education at Pain BC/Pain Canada. She leads Pain BC/Pain Canada’s educational initiatives including Making Sense of Pain, a self-management program designed for people living with pain, who experience marginalization and face barriers to accessing care and support. As an educator and researcher, Dr Daudt has been supporting healthcare improvement through patient engagement and knowledge exchange in different settings. She is also a person living with chronic pain and brings the lived experience lens to the work she does. Dr Daudt is passionate about building capacity among people with lived experience, their support network, and healthcare providers to ensure people receive high-quality care and experience the best quality of life possible.
Co-Chair
Dr. Bradley Kerr
Dr. Bradley Kerr received his BSc in Psychology from McGill University. He then went on to obtain a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of London-King’s College in the UK. His PhD research was aimed at understanding the role of novel modulatory peptides, growth factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines in persistent pain. Dr. Kerr went on to do postdoctoral work at the California Institute of Technology and at McGill University where his work focused on studying inflammatory responses after nervous system injury. Dr. Kerr joined the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Alberta in 2007 and is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Psychiatry. The focus of research in his lab is aimed at addressing the mechanisms of chronic pain after injury or disease with a major focus on chronic pain associated with Multiple Sclerosis.
Dr. Eugene Maida
Assistant Clinical Professor in the Departments of Medicine (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) with a cross appointment in the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster University. Dr. Maida is a physiatrist and interventional pain physician with a special interest in spine and musculoskeletal medicine. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and later completed subspecialty training in the Pain Medicine residency program under the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster University. He has also completed a sports medicine research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, with a focus on Ultrasound Guided Musculoskeletal and Peripheral Nerve Interventions, as well as his diplomat in Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician through the Canadian Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine (CASEM). Dr. Maida is currently the Medical Director of the Michael G. DeGroote pain clinic at McMaster University and Head of Service at Hamilton Health Sciences for Pain Behaviours for the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In addition to being the co-chair of National Pain Rounds for trainees, Dr. Maida is also part of the National Pain Rounds Committee.
Dr. Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She is also the Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and an Anesthesiologist at UHN. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
Jennifer Daly-Cyr
Jennifer’s professional background is in marketing and strategic planning in higher education. Since a sudden onset of severe abdominal pain, she has been on a journey of learning to live with persistent acute episodes of pain and adapting to the dramatic changes this has brought to her daily life. She has leveraged her skills and experience to advocate, collaborate and share her perspective as a person with lived experience/patient partner/advisor with national and provincial pain research initiatives and projects, including with the Chronic Pain Network, Pain Ontario and the Canadian Pain Society. She advocates for the incorporation of the lived experience perspective into research, broadened awareness of chronic pain, improving understanding about the value of patient engagement in research and for improved access to health care and support for people living with pain.
Co-Chair
Dr. Eugene Maida
Assistant Clinical Professor in the Departments of Medicine (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) with a cross appointment in the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster University. Dr. Maida is a physiatrist and interventional pain physician with a special interest in spine and musculoskeletal medicine. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and later completed subspecialty training in the Pain Medicine residency program under the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster University. He has also completed a sports medicine research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, with a focus on Ultrasound Guided Musculoskeletal and Peripheral Nerve Interventions, as well as his diplomat in Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician through the Canadian Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine (CASEM). Dr. Maida is currently the Medical Director of the Michael G. DeGroote pain clinic at McMaster University and Head of Service at Hamilton Health Sciences for Pain Behaviours for the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Maida has worked as a team physician with the McMaster University varsity soccer and football teams, Canadian Junior National Basketball Team (NEDA) and is currently the Head Team Physician for the Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL). Dr. Maida is also actively involved in resident and medical school education. He currently serves as Section Coordinator for pain medicine teaching in the department Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Education Coordinator for the Pain Medicine residency program under the department of Anaesthesia. Dr. Maida is also the current Chair of the Anesthesia pain rounds, and Lecturer for undergraduate introductory pain session for McMaster University medical students. In addition to being the co-chair of National Pain Rounds for trainees, Dr. Maida is also part of the National Pain Rounds Committee.
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Co-Chair
Dr. David Clinkard
Dr. Clinkard is an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist based in Kingston Ontario. He did his anesthesia training at University of Toronto and his Pain Medicine residency at McMaster. Currently his research and clinical interests focus on peripheral joint pain and its treatments.
Our Trainee Chairs
A platform for innovative minds to bring forward inspiring ideas and discover solutions to help you in your mentorship programs.
Providing educational resources for learners in efforts to prepare the next generation of pain management clinicians for the full scope of practice opportunities, from basic science research transitioning into clinical practice.