AAPM 2025 PainConnect: Innovation, Connection, and the Future of Pain Care
The 2025 AAPM PainConnect Annual Meeting brought together an extraordinary community of clinicians, researchers, innovators, and advocates committed to advancing the science and practice of pain medicine. Hosted in Austin, this year’s gathering served as a dynamic hub for learning, collaboration, and momentum-building in our shared mission to improve the lives of people living with pain.
Advancing Knowledge Across Disciplines
From state-of-the-art interventional techniques to emerging non-opioid therapies and biopsychosocial models, this year’s sessions reflected the complexity and multidimensional nature of pain. Attendees engaged in robust conversations about equity in care, the science of resilience, and the importance of patient-centered approaches—each theme grounded in the latest research and real-world challenges.
As Eric Johnson, MHA shared, “I’m still energized by the incredible presentations, meaningful conversations, and new connections made with outstanding pain medicine specialists from across the country… The growing range of non-opioid therapy options—both available now and emerging—offers real hope as we work collaboratively to address chronic pain and help patients reclaim their lives.”
A Gathering of Leaders and Learners
One of the greatest strengths of PainConnect is its people. As Dr. Antje Barreveld noted, “The connections with all of you are why this is my favorite pain meeting. Even with our diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and disciplines, we share the same mission: to promote access to evidence-based, innovative, and team-based care.”
Highlights included:
- The launch of the AAPM Foundation’s Restorative Function Expert Panel, a cross-disciplinary initiative to advance access to function-focused pain care.
- Maia Szalavitz’s keynote on reframing the opioid epidemic through the lens of harm reduction and recovery.
- Dr. Peter Goadsby’s deep dive into migraine mechanisms and what we learn from failed treatments.
- Dr. Scott Fishman’s powerful message on shifting our systems toward prevention and resilience as cornerstones of national health.
Innovation Challenge & Hacking Pain
Innovation took center stage with two major events that captured the imagination and expertise of our field:
Innovation Challenge (4th Annual, in partnership with MIT Hack Med)
- 1st Place: Personalized Pain Treatment – AI-powered algorithms to match patients with tailored interventions.
- People’s Choice: Monarch Technologies – A novel hybrid SCS lead, blending minimally invasive delivery with paddle-level stability.
Hacking Pain Hackathon
This first-of-its-kind event brought together students, engineers, and clinicians for 48 hours of fast-paced, empathy-driven innovation.
- 1st Place: P.L.A.C.E. – An adaptive learning system to detect and prevent chronic pain flare-ups.
- People’s Choice: PainPal – A support app connecting patients with help for daily tasks to promote restorative time.
- 2nd Place: Endura – A hormone-informed tracker for women-specific pain patterns and personalized interventions.
As one participant put it: “These weren’t just ideas. They were real solutions, shaped by lived experience and ready to change lives.”
Community, Mentorship, and Purpose
For many, PainConnect was more than a conference—it was a reunion, a catalyst, and a reminder of purpose. Dr. Moorice Caparo reflected: “Conferences like this remind me that while the learning never stops, it’s the people—the relationships, the shared passion, the community—that truly make this work so meaningful.”
From reconnecting with former fellows to mentoring the next generation of leaders, the spirit of collaboration permeated every hallway, breakout room, and networking event.
Thank You!
To every attendee, presenter, mentor, volunteer, and sponsor: thank you. Your energy, dedication, and vision made PainConnect 2025 a powerful, unifying moment for our field.
As we move forward, AAPM remains committed to elevating innovation, strengthening community, and expanding access to high-quality, evidence-based pain care for all.
Let’s continue to lead the way—together.
