Dear AAPM Members,

At AAPM, we recognize that effective pain care must be multidisciplinary, individualized, and grounded in evidence. Pain is shaped by biological, psychological, and environmental factors; no single approach meets the needs of every patient. As leaders in pain medicine, our responsibility is to approach this work with empathy, curiosity, and scientific rigor, empowering patients to manage pain while restoring function, purpose, and hope.

This commitment was well reflected at the recent Canadian Pain Society Meeting, where I had the opportunity to attend alongside Immediate Past President Dr. Antje Barreveld and AAPM Executive Director & CEO Sharon Kneebone. Our ongoing partnership with the Canadian Pain Society remains an important avenue for advancing education, sharing expertise, and strengthening cross-border collaboration.

During the meeting, I delivered two presentations:

• Transforming Perioperative and Critical Care Pain Management: From Evidence to Implementation
• The Evolution of Transitional Pain Services – 10 Years in Review

Dr. Barreveld contributed to an engaging women’s health panel on endometriosis, and Sharon Kneebone represented the Academy by highlighting AAPM membership value and upcoming initiatives.

International Engagement

Looking ahead, AAPM continues to expand its global presence through key partnerships, including:

• Menorca Plans – World Summit
• World Pain Forum – European Pain Foundation

Academy Bylaws Update – April 2026

Following more than two years of dedicated work led by AAPM volunteers, the Board of Directors approved amendments to the Academy’s bylaws.

This process prioritized member engagement through:

• Two virtual town halls in January
• Broad email communications and a recorded session
• Discussion during the Annual Business Meeting at PainConnect 2026

On April 22, members received a comprehensive summary along with access to the amended bylaws, formally adopted on April 8. Please join me in recognizing and thanking the Membership and Bylaws Committees for their thoughtful leadership and sustained effort.

Key Updates Include:

• Revised membership categories aligned with career progression
• Extended leadership terms, with the President-Elect and President each serving two-year terms
• A streamlined Board structure
• Clarified governance language to better protect and guide the Academy
• Board-Adopted Policies
• Member Leader Disclaimer Policy
  • To ensure clarity in representation, this policy distinguishes when AAPM leaders speak on behalf of the Academy versus in a personal or affiliated capacity. AAPM member leaders may represent the Academy only when explicitly authorized by the Board or its designee. In all public and professional communications, leaders are expected to clearly state whether their views are personal or represent AAPM. This applies to both current and former leaders and volunteers.
• Policy on AI Notetakers in Meetings
  • To safeguard confidentiality, accuracy, and data security, the use of AI-based notetaking tools, including transcription software and automated assistants, is prohibited during AAPM-sponsored meetings, whether virtual or in person. Participants are expected to rely on manual notetaking to ensure accuracy and maintain a single official record. Exceptions may be granted with prior approval, evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account meeting sensitivity, accessibility needs, and overall benefit versus risk.

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to advancing AAPM’s mission. I look forward to our ongoing work together.

Welcome to AAPM’s New Board Members

Traci Speed, MD, PhD: Dr. Traci Speed is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She earned her MD and PhD in Pharmacology and completed psychiatry residency and a T32 pain research fellowship at Johns Hopkins. She is the director of the inpatient Pain Treatment Program, the director of the world-first Chronic Pancreatitis Pain Program, and the director of psychiatric services of the Personalized Pain Program. Fun Fact: In her spare time, Dr. Speed enjoys gardening, cooking, and having dance parties with her son.

Kristen MacKenzie, MD: Dr. Kristen MacKenzie is Board-certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. She has specialty interests in chronic pelvic and abdominal pain, as well as peripartum pain. She is the co-director of the Stanford Pelvic Pain Program and part of the Stanford Pelvic Health Center, which provides interdisciplinary, multimodal care. She serves as the co-director for the Women’s Sexual Dysfunction Case Conference and recently completed a Stanford Faculty Medical Humanities Fellowship, focusing on the role of communication and the arts in modern medicine. Fun Fact: She met her husband on the fencing team in college! Now their two boys are learning to fence, and they deeply regret giving them pointy objects ;)

Amanda Toye, MD: Dr. Amanda Toye is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Chief of the Pain Management Division. She is proud of her Vanderbilt multidisciplinary pain team and is a strong advocate for fellowship and residency education. Recently, Dr. Toye played a key role in passing legislation with the Tennessee Pain Society aimed at improving patient access to pain treatment. She is actively involved at the institutional, local, and state levels to improve access to pain medicine and advance pain education for clinicians at all stages of practice. Fun Fact: Dr. Toye is an amateur cook, enjoys traveling, and loves spending time with her energetic 18-month-old German Shepherd

Warm regards

Marie Hanna, MD, MEHP

AAPM President