AAPM members are invited to nominate fellow members for our monthly AAPM Member Focus feature by filling out the form found here. Below is this month’s focus member.
This month, AAPM is proud to spotlight Dr. Rena “Liz” Courtney, a passionate leader in behavioral medicine and a tireless advocate for accessible, interdisciplinary care for chronic pain. As Co-Chair of AAPM’s Behavioral Medicine Committee, Dr. Courtney also leads the AAPM Pain Psychology course, helping to shape the future of pain medicine by bridging research, innovation, and education.
Dr. Courtney currently serves as Program Director of the PREVAIL Center for Chronic Pain, which she founded at the Salem VA Healthcare System in Virginia. She is also the Facility Point of Contact for Pain at Salem VAHCS and an Assistant Professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Her impact extends nationally through her faculty appointments with the VISN 6 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and the VA’s Pain Management and Opioid Safety Program’s ADEPT initiative.
A clinician-scientist at heart, Dr. Courtney’s work is centered on designing and evaluating low-burden, behavioral treatments for chronic pain and at-risk opioid use, especially for underserved and rural Veteran populations. Her flagship innovation, the PREVAIL Interdisciplinary Team Track, has been recognized as a “medical breakthrough in chronic pain” by AARP Magazine and featured in national outlets such as NPR and Pain Medicine News Magazine. The program was named a semi-finalist in the 2022 VA Shark Tank Competition.
Her work is currently supported by a VISN 6 Career Development Award, which is funding a randomized clinical trial evaluating the outcomes of the PREVAIL model.
When asked what makes her work meaningful, Dr. Courtney shared:
“By focusing on a person’s Mission, Aspiration, and Purpose (MAP) through Whole Health, I am privileged to come alongside them as they build a life worth living despite their pain.”
Beyond her clinical and academic roles, Dr. Courtney is a dedicated mentor, team builder, and athlete. She enjoys running, hiking, coaching competitive gymnastics, and spending quality time with her two young children.
Her leadership, innovation, and dedication exemplify the mission and spirit of AAPM. We are honored to feature Dr. Courtney as June’s Member Focus.
Nominate a fellow AAPM member who exemplifies our mission to advance multidisciplinary pain care innovation, education, advocacy, and research by completing the nomination form here.
