Celebrating Excellence: 2026 AAPM Award Winners Announced at the Gala

Each year at PainConnect, the American Academy of Pain Medicine recognizes individuals whose leadership, scholarship, advocacy, and service strengthen our field and our community. The AAPM Awards Gala, taking place this weekend at PainConnect in Salt Lake City, provides an opportunity to pause and celebrate those who embody the breadth and depth of pain medicine.

We are pleased to announce the 2026 AAPM Award honorees.

Patient Advocacy Award

Liz Courtney, PhD

The Patient Advocacy Award recognizes extraordinary dedication to patients living with pain.

Liz Courtney has been a strong advocate for integrating pain psychology into comprehensive pain care. Through her leadership on the Behavioral Medicine Committee and her contributions to AAPM educational programming, she has helped ensure that behavioral medicine remains central to patient-centered care. Her commitment to improving access to care in rural communities further reflects her dedication to equitable treatment for all patients.

Mac Gallagher Journal Award

Steven Cohen, MD

The Mac Gallagher Journal Award honors dedication to scientific excellence and advancement of pain medicine through scholarship.

Dr. Steven Cohen’s leadership, research contributions, and editorial work have strengthened the rigor of pain and spine medicine. His commitment to thoughtful inquiry and high standards in research continues to elevate the field and support evidence-based practice.

Presidential Excellence in Education Award

Ryan D’Souza, MD

The Presidential Excellence in Education Award recognizes meaningful and sustained contributions to education in pain medicine.

Dr. Ryan D’Souza has demonstrated exceptional commitment to teaching through academic leadership, clinical mentorship, and innovative educational initiatives. His work with learners across career stages reflects a dedication to building confidence and competence in the next generation of pain specialists.

Distinguished Service Award

Nathaniel Schuster, MD

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes extraordinary commitment to AAPM.

Dr. Nathaniel Schuster has contributed vision and leadership to the Academy, particularly through thoughtful partnership development and strategic engagement efforts that support AAPM’s mission while maintaining its integrity.

Founders Award

Prasad Shirvalkar, MD, PhD

The Founders Award recognizes clinical excellence and innovation in the practice of pain medicine.

Dr. Prasad Shirvalkar’s work in intracortical approaches to pain relief reflects innovative thinking grounded in neuroscience and patient-centered care. His interdisciplinary collaborations continue to advance understanding and treatment of complex pain conditions.

 

Philip Lippe Award

Bob Wailes, MD

The Philip Lippe Award honors contributions to the social and political dimensions of pain medicine.

Dr. Bob Wailes has provided steady leadership and governance expertise to AAPM and has represented pain medicine within the AMA House of Delegates. His policy and advocacy work ensures the specialty’s voice is represented thoughtfully and responsibly.

 

Robert Addison Award

Paul Hodges, PhD

The Robert Addison Award recognizes international collaboration in advancing pain medicine.

Paul Hodges is internationally recognized for his work in pain classification systems and pelvic pain research. Through collaborations across institutions and countries, he has expanded global understanding of pain, movement, and function.

Presidential Commendations: Recognizing Collective Impact

In addition to individual awards, we recognized the many teams whose work powers AAPM:

• Board of Directors
  • W. Michael Hooten, MD
  • Salman Hirani, MD
  • Beth Hogans, MS, MD, PhD
• Pain Matters Podcast Team
  • Sudheer Potru, MD
  • Zafeer Babed, MD
  • Mustafa Broachwala, MD
• AMA Representative
  • Michael Lubrano, MD
• Education Committee
  • Priyanka Singla, MD
  • Kellie Jaremko, MD
• AAPM Foundation Leadership
  • Jeremy Adler, PA-C
  • Theresa (Tracey) Mallick-Searle, MS, PMGT-BC, ANP-BC, FAANP
• Media & PR
  • Kristen MacKenzie, MD
• Resident Ambassadors
  • Ashlyn Brown, MD, MBA, MS
• Abstract Review Committee
  • Richard Barnhart, MD
  • Kara Segna, MD
• Innovation Leadership
  • David Jevotovsky, MD, MBA
• Membership Committee
  • Gerard Limerick, MD
  • Sayed Wahezi, MD

These groups reflect the extraordinary dedication, collaboration, and volunteer leadership that sustain and energize our Academy.