Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine
Better Care for Children in Pain

The U.S. Pain Foundation is conducting a national survey, Growing Up With Chronic Pain, designed for children and teens ages 8 to 17 who live with chronic pain conditions.

The goal is to better understand their lived experiences and to elevate their voices in clinical care, education, and advocacy. The survey is anonymous and takes just a few minutes to complete.

We would greatly appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity with your pediatric patients.

Thank you for your support in empowering young pain warriors.

Casey Cashman

Director of Pediatric Pain Warrior

U.S. Pain Foundation

Are you interested in storytelling, media, or amplifying the voices of pediatric pain professionals? The SPPM Communications Committee is expanding—and we’re looking for members who want to learn, connect, and collaborate on projects that elevate our mission. We’re optimizing our social media presence, exploring different forms of media production, and showcasing the incredible work of our community.

If you’re passionate about giving our members a platform and helping us highlight all of our contributions, we’d love to have you on board. This is your chance to shape our voice and be part of a creative, engaged team.

If you are interested, please email Dr. Carole Lin at [email protected] or Jenny Patterson at [email protected].

What do you do when kids are in pain—and the system keeps letting them down?

Pediatric pain care wasn’t just behind; it was barely on the map. While adult treatments surged ahead, the providers caring for children were left without up-to-date tools, proper training, or a place to connect.

If you’re Dr. Rita Agarwal and a handful of like-minded specialists, you create something from the ground up. “There was so much growth happening in the field,” she told us, “but not a lot connecting us.”

In this behind-the-scenes interview, Dr. Agarwal shares how a half-day conference turned into the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine—a global hub for collaboration, research, and change. It’s a story of frustration turned into momentum, and how a small group of clinicians sparked a much-needed movement.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why isn’t anyone talking about this?”—they were. And now, they’re making sure the whole world is listening.

In recognition of the importance of wellness in medicine, the SPPM Annual Meeting in Orlando opened with a special event focused on connection and relaxation. On Wednesday, March 26th, attendees gathered at the Hawks Landing Golf Course driving range at the Orlando World Center for an evening of driving practice, light hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. Colleagues had the opportunity to reconnect, enjoy the outdoors, and — with a little practice — even “Hit Different.” Thank you to all who participated in making this a memorable and uplifting start to the meeting! Events like this are why we should come together.

Welcome, Dr. Carole Lin: New Chair of the SPPM Communications Committee

We are thrilled to introduce Dr. Carole Lin as the new Chair of the SPPM Communications Committee.

About Dr. Lin: Dr. Lin is a Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Stanford University, specializing in pediatric and regional anesthesiology. She is a recognized leader in sustainability initiatives and medical media, serving on multiple professional society committees and producing educational content for anesthesiology and pediatric pain audiences.

Under her leadership, the Communications Committee will expand into new media ventures including YouTube videos, webinars, infographics, podcasts, and social media campaigns. If you are creative, passionate about education, and want to showcase your work,
we invite you to join us!

Please contact Jenny Patterson [email protected] or Kim Battle [email protected] for more information about becoming part of the team.