Awards & Scholarships

AAPM offers a number of awards and scholarships to promote pain medicine research, recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the field, and foster education for pain fellows.

Member Awards

Each year, AAPM chooses to recognize individuals who have provided exceptional service to the Academy or to the field of pain medicine.

Honorees are selected by the AAPM Awards Committee and presented during the AAPM Annual Meeting. Voting members may nominate individuals for the Awards Committee for consideration during the annual call for nominations.

Philipp M. Lippe, MD Award

The Philipp M. Lippe, MD Award is given to a physician for outstanding contributions to the social and political aspect of Pain Medicine.

Social and political accomplishments could be those that benefit the science, the practice or the recognition of the specialty.

Past Recipients

(2023) Joanna Katzman, MD, MSPH
(2022) Steven P. Stanos, DO
(2020) Vanila M. Singh, MD
(2019) Donna Bloodworth, MD
(2017) R. Norman Harden, MD
(2016) Daniel J. Clauw, MD
(2015) Clifford Wolff, MD, PhD
(2014) Steven P. Cohen, MD
(2013) Allan Basbaum, PhD
Chester ‘Trip’ Buckenmaier III, MD COL (ret) MC USA
(2012) Howard L. Fields, MD PhD

(2011) Daniel B. Carr, MD
(2010) David E. Joranson, MSSW
(2009) Nikolai Bogduk, MD PhD DSc
(2008) Michael J. Cousins, MD DSc FANZCA FRCA FAChPM(RACP) FFPMANZCA
(2007) Richard B. North, MD | (2006) Gerald F. Gebhart, PhD
(2005) Edward C. Covington, MD
(2004) James C. Eisenach, MD

(2003) Donald D. Price, PhD
(2002) Russell Portenoy, MD
(2001) Gary J. Bennett, PhD
(2000) Rollin M. Gallagher, MD MPH
(1999) Steven Feinberg, MD
(1998) Tony Yaksh, PhD
(1997) Peter Wilson, MBBS PhD
(1996) Wilbert Fordyce, PhD
(1995) Benjamin L. Crue, Jr., MD FACS

Founders Award

The Founders Award is given to an individual for outstanding contributions to the science or practice of Pain Medicine.

This award is given for continued contributions for the basic or clinical science of Pain Medicine or for demonstration of clinical excellence or innovation in the practice of Pain Medicine.

Past Recipients

(2023) Ajay Wasan, MD
(2022) Sean Mackey, MD, PhD
(2020) Ru-Rong Ji, PhD, PI
(2018) Robert H. Dworkin, PhD
(2017) R. Norman Harden, MD
(2016) Daniel J. Clauw, MD
(2015) Clifford Wolff, MD, PhD
(2014) Steven P. Cohen, MD
(2013) Allan Basbaum, PhD

(2012) Howard L. Fields, MD, PhD
(2011) Daniel B. Carr, MD
(2010) David E. Joranson, MSSW
(2009) Nikolai Bogduk, MD, PhD, DSc
(2008) Michael J. Cousins, MD, DSc, FANZCA FRCA FAChPM (RACP) FFPMANZCA
(2007) Richard B. North, MD
(2006) Gerald F. Gebhart, PhD
(2005) Edward C. Covington, MD
(2004) James C. Eisenach, MD

(2003) Donald D. Price, PhD
(2002) Russell Portenoy, MD
(2001) Gary J. Bennett, PhD
(2000) Rollin M. Gallagher, MD, MPH
(1999) Steven Feinberg, MD
(1998) Tony Yaksh, PhD
(1997) Peter Wilson, MBBS, PhD
(1996) Wilbert Fordyce, PhD
(1995) Benjamin L. Crue, Jr., MD, FACS

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual for commitment and contributions to the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

This award is given to an individual for specific outstanding contributions.

Past Recipients

(2023) Farshad Ahadian, MD; Michael Hooten, MD
(2022) Beth Darnall, PhD; Ajay Wasan, MD
(2020) Randall Brewer, MD; Michael Osborne, MD
(2018) James C. Watson, MD; Jeffrey M. Tiede, MD
(2017) Sean Mackey, MD, PhD
(2016) Yu “Woody” Lin, MD, PhD
(2015) Perry G. Fine, MD
(2014) Charles E. Argoff, MD; Marsha Stanton, PhD RN
(2013) Philip A. Saigh, Jr.
(2012) B. Todd Sitzman, MD MPH

(2011) Timothy R. Deer, MD
(2010) Scott M. Fishman, MD
(2009) Colleen M. Healy
(2008) David A. Fishbain, MD DFAPA
(2007) Eduardo M. Fraifeld, MD
(2006) Edward C. Covington, MD
(2005) Rollin M. Gallagher, MD MPH
(2004) Albert L. Ray, MD

(2003) Samuel J. Hassenbusch, MD PhD; Jeffrey W. Engle
(2002) Elliot Krames, MD
(2001) Joel R. Saper, MD FACP FAAN
(1999) Peter Wilson, MBBS PhD; Ruth Tiernan
(1998) Paul Gebhard, JD; Kristie Haley
(1996) Patricia Owen

Patient Advocacy Award

The Patient Advocacy Award recognizes the activity of an individual in advocating for appropriate evaluation and treatment of patients suffering from pain.

This award was created to honor those healthcare professionals whose deeds reflect their recognition of the importance and impact of the specialty of Pain Medicine.

Past Recipients

(2023) Cindy Steinberg
(2022) Christin Sanders Veasley
(2018) Paul Christo, MD MBA
(2017) Judith A. Paice, PhD, RN
(2016) Penney Cowan; Carmen R. Green, MD
(2015) Samir K. Ballas, MD, FACP
(2014) Edward Bilsky, PhD
(2013) Malene Davis, MBA MSN CHPN

(2012) Robert J. Saner II, JD
(2011) Will Rowe
(2010) Myra Christopher
(2009) Carmen R. Green, MD
(2008) Robert D. Kerns, PhD
(2007) Louis W. Sullivan, MD

(2005) John (Jack) C. Lewin, MD
(2004) Kenneth Moritsugu, MD MP
(2002) Robert Biscup, MS DO
(2001) Warner Wood, MD

Presidential Excellence Award For Education

The AAPM Presidential Excellence Award for Education honors an individual who has made major contributions to the education of others about Pain Medicine.

Past Recipients

(2023) Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA; Michael Osborne, MD
(2022) Daniel Tobin
(2018) Larry C. Driver, MD
(2017) Col. Kevin Galloway, U.S. Army (ret), BSN, MHA
(2016) Gagan Mahajan, MD

(2015) Michael Cousins, MD, DSc
(2014) Beth B. Murinson, MD PhD
(2013) Debra K. Weiner, MD

(2012) Lynn R. Webster, MD

Robert G. Addison, MD Award

The Robert G. Addison, MD Award was created to honor the memory of the late AAPM President, Bob Addison.

The award is given to an individual or organization in recognition of outstanding efforts to foster international cooperation and collaboration on behalf of the specialty of Pain Medicine.

Past Recipients

(2023) Jordi Moya Riera, MD, PhD
(2022) César Fernández de las Peñas, PhD, PT
(2020) Chester C. Buckenmaier III, MD; Winfried Meissner, MD; Sean Mackey, MD, PhD

(2019) Lone Knudsen, MSc Psych PhD
(2018) Xue-Jun Song, MD, PhD
(2017) Faculty of Pain Medicine ANZCA

(2016) Andrew Moore, DSc
(2015) ChildKind International
(2014) Tanja Erika Schlereth, MD PhD

Pain Medicine Fellowship Excellence Award

The Pain Medicine Fellowship Excellence Award recognizes Pain Medicine Fellowship Programs that provide exceptional learning experience to their fellows, preparing them to deliver the highest standard of care to patients with pain.

Past Recipients

(2023) University of Virginia; University of California Davis
(2020) Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship Program of the University of Chicago Medical Center
(2019) University of California San Diego Pain Medicine Fellowship Program
(2018) Johns Hopkins Pain Medicine Fellowship Program; NYU Langone Health Pain Medicine Fellowship Program

(2017) Stanford Pain Medicine Fellowship Program
(2016) Cleveland Clinic; Medical College of Wisconsin; University of California, Davis; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
(2015) Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Mayo Clinic

(2014) Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami
(2013) Brigham and Women’s Hospital Pain Medicine Fellowship

Award Criteria & Eligibility

The award is intended to recognize programs whose efforts coincide with AAPM’s mission.

Pain medicine fellowship programs within the United States, accredited by ACGME, that meet the following award criteria are encouraged to apply:

Exemplify educational excellence, including, but not limited to:
- High-quality, comprehensive and interdisciplinary training in both acute and chronic pain, including its evaluation, treatment and management.
- Development of research opportunities that target fellows’ goals and needs.
- Receiving feedback on fellows’ performance.
Demonstrate a commitment to providing evidence-based, safe, and patient-centered care.
Facilitate the most rewarding fellowship experience to trainees, including (but not limited to) work-life balance and opportunities to pursue interests and accomplish their professional goals.

Past recipients are eligible to reapply five years after receiving the award.

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