AAPM is Evolving. With You! Read Highlights from our 2026 Membership Town Hall Meetings

Earlier this month, AAPM hosted two virtual Town Halls to share and discuss proposed updates to the Academy’s membership structure and supporting bylaws changes.

Led by President-Elect Dr. Marie Hanna and President Dr. Antje Barreveld, these conversations weren’t about announcing a final decision. They focused on sharing the proposed changes, listening, explaining the rationale, and inviting members into the process.

If you joined us live, thank you for being a part of the conversation. If you couldn’t attend, or what a clear recap, here is what we discussed and what it could mean for your AAPM membership going forward.

Why Is AAPM Updating Its Membership Structure?

Pain Medicine has changed, and so has our community.

AAPM has always been the home for multidisciplinary pain care, bringing together physicians, psychologists, advanced practice providers, researchers, and educators who share a commitment to improving the lives of people in pain. But, our membership categories haven’t been meaningfully updated since the mid-2000s; over time, they’ve become:

• Hard to explain
• Hard to navigate
• And, for some, a barrier to joining or staying involved

If you paused when you joined, or at renewal, and wondered, “Which category do I actually belong in?”, you’re not alone.

As one Town Hall Speaker put it:

 

“When a professional society is hard to explain, that’s a signal it’s time to simplify.”

 

The goal of this update is not to change for change’s sake. It’s about making AAPM easier to join, stay, and contribute to at every stage of your career.

What’s Changing? A Clearer, Career-Staged Membership Model

Streamlined Membership Categories

AAPM is proposing a streamlined, career-stage-based membership model designed to better understand how pain medicine actually works today.

Updated Categories:

• Physician: Board-certified or board-eligible MDs, DOs, or MBBS in clinical pain roles.

• Early Career Physician: New Category for physicians within 5 years of completing training, with reduced dues to support the transition into attending physician status.
• Non-Physician Clinician/Scientist: Includes advanced practice providers, psychologists, researchers, and other clinicians or scientists who treat patients or work in academic settings.
  • Full voting rights
  • Eligible to serve on committees and in leadership roles.
• Trainee: Remain unchanged.
• Resident: Remain unchanged.
• Student: One simplified category for students.
• Senior: Members aged 65+ with 10+ consecutive years of membership with reduced dues.
• International: Physicians practicing medicine outside of the United States.
• Industry: Individuals from companies that do not provide direct patient care but are involved in education, research, product development, or leadership. Industry members retain member benefits but are not eligible to vote or hold office.

This updated model removes outdated or duplicative categories and supports a more intuitive member journey, from training to leadership.

Expanded Voting Rights

Another key topic discussed during Town Halls was voting rights.

• Physicians, Early Career Physicians, and Fellows will retain voting rights
• Residents, Non-physician Clinicians/Scientists would gain full voting privileges.
• AAPM would remain physician-led, fully compliant with AMA governance requirements that physicians comprise at least 50% of the voting members
• Physician leadership on the Board of Directors is preserved
• We will continue to ensure that there is one PhD director on the Board.

As shared during the Town Hall:

Voting isn’t about power; it’s about engagement. If we want people invested in AAPM’s future, they need a meaningful voice in it.

This change reflects the reality of pain medicine today: team-based, collaborative care, where every role matters.

What Stays the Same?

Just as important, here’s what is not changing:

No loss of existing member benefits

• Continued and easier access to:
  • Pain Medicine journal
  • Education and CME
  • Advocacy and leadership opportunities
  • Clinical guidelines
• AAPM’s commitment to comprehensive, multidisciplinary pain care.
• This update focuses on clarity and inclusion, not on taking anything away.

Corresponding Bylaws Updates

• The Bylaws Committee has discussed expanding the President and President-Elect terms to two years for some time. We propose that the President and President-Elect serve two-year terms starting with the 2026-2027 governance year.
• Immediate Past President leads the Nominating & Awards committees and does not serve on the Board.
• Officers and Directors will serve up to three two-year terms (currently two three-year terms).
• The transition will extend terms rather than shorten them.
• Remove unfilled board positions.
• Membership categories will be updated based on the members’ feedback and final structure.

When Will These Changes Take Effect?

We are currently in the member feedback phase, which runs through the end of February 2026. In March, the AAPM Bylaws Committee, Membership Committee, and Board of Directors will review all feedback and finalize recommendations.

This summer, AAPM will implement a new Association Management System (AMS/database) designed to improve your member experience, including easier access to your journal subscription, education, and account tools. The new membership categories will officially launch alongside the new platform to ensure a seamless transition for all members.

Your Voice Matters – REALLY

We want your feedback! These Town Halls were not a final vote. They were the beginning of a conversation.

Your questions, concerns, and ideas are actively shaping what comes next. If you weren’t able to attend, or if something has come up since, we want to hear from you.

👉 Click here to share your feedback via SurveyMonkey

Your voice is essential to shaping the future of AAPM.

Thank You for Being Part of AAPM

AAPM exists because of its members: those who show up, speak up, mentor others, and keep pushing pain care forward even when the system makes it hard.

Whether you’re a long-time member, newly joined, or considering reconnecting, we’re grateful you’re part of our community.

Together, we can simplify membership, strengthen our collective voice, and build a future that truly reflects the field of pain medicine.

Ready to take the next step?

Renew your membership or recruit a colleague today at https://painmed.org/membership-types/.