Federal Pain Management Task Force Seeks Member Nominations

In 2016, the US Congress established a Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, assigned to examine pain management best practices within federal agencies and disseminate information about pain management practices to interested individuals and communities. Now, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks nominations for individuals interested in serving as members of this task force.

“This Task Force represents a critical piece of HHS’s five-point strategy to defeat the opioid epidemic, which includes advancing the practice of pain management,” said HHS Secretary Tom Price. “Top experts in pain management, research, addiction and recovery can help us reassess how we handle the serious problem of pain in America.”

Psychological scientists may wish to consider making nominations for task force members, given the important role that behavioral science can play in pain management.

“Social and behavioral influences and intervention strategies play a predominant role in prevention and disparities priorities,” said William Riley, Director of the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research at the National Institutes of Health, in a recent blog post. “Pain research priorities are a clear call to action for the social and behavioral sciences.”

Psychological scientists interested in nominating themselves or another for this task force should follow instructions in the Federal Register. Resumes or CVs should be sent via e-mail to Vanila M. Singh, MD, Chief Medical Officer at [email protected]; further instructions are available by clicking here.

Nominations are due by September 27, 2017.

To learn more about connections between psychological science and pain, click here.