Volunteer for a Committee & Task Force
Volunteer for AAPM committees and taskforces. The year runs from the Annual Meeting to the Annual Meeting; however, work will begin in January before PainConnect. The incoming president determines the committee and task force chairs, members, and charges in the months preceding the Annual Meeting.
The Academy encourages members to get involved with AAPM Committees and Task Forces to contribute to our vital work in achieving AAPM’s strategic goals through research, education, and advocacy. These committees and task forces are essential to advancing the field of pain medicine, driving forward multidisciplinary care, and influencing important healthcare policies. By joining, you will work alongside dedicated experts and leaders committed to improving the quality of life for patients in pain while enhancing your pain medicine career advancement.
Committees & Chairs
The following committees & task forces regularly report to the AAPM Board of Directors on particular areas of focus, such as research, governance and education.
2025 Annual Meeting Program Committee
Strategic planning and needs assessment related to the overall educational content selection, content review, faculty recruitment, and onsite program evaluation of Annual Meeting education-related activities.
Committee Roster
Jeremy Adler, PA-C
Charles Argoff, MD
Meredith Barad, MD
Paul DeJulio, MD
David Jevotovsky, MD, MBA
Antje Barreveld, MD
David Copenhaver, MD, MPH
Trent Emerick, MD, MBA
Salman Hirani, MD
Julio Vega, MD
Amitabh Gulati, MD
Traci Speed, MD
Jon Lee, MD
Brian Mayrsohn, MD
Awards Committee
➥ Select individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions in the field of pain medicine to receive awards.
➥ Develop ideas for new awards, as appropriate, for Board consideration.
➥ Select the recipient of the Addison Award
Committee Chair
Farshad Ahadian, MD
Chair
Behavioral Medicine Committee (BMC):
➥ Address the need for education on behavioral medicine and psychological issues in treating a pain patient.
➥ Expand the presence of behavioral pain medicine professionals in AAPM through membership.
➥ Monitor and report to the Executive Committee and membership on developments and emerging research in the area of behavioral pain medicine.
➥ The 2025 Committee will work on pain psychology enduring education, a webinar for the AAPM monthly webinar series, and collaborate with the Behavioral Medicine / Pain Psychology Shared Interest Group on blog posts and the SIG meeting during PainConnect in April 2025.
Committee Chairs
Ajay Wasan, MD, MSc, MA
Chair
Mirsad Serdarevic, PhD
Vice Chair
Bylaws Committee
➥ Review and recommend changes to the Bylaws as necessary.
➥ The Bylaws Committee is currently reviewing the Board of Directors composition and terms at the Nominating Committee’s request and will report its recommendations to the membership for feedback and to the AAPM Board of Directors.
Committee Chair
W. Michael Hooten, MD
Chair
Clinical Guidelines Committee
➥ Review and make recommendations on guidelines and other scientific matters presented to the Academy for consideration (position papers, consensus statements, etc.).
➥ Inventory current available practice parameters and guidelines in relation to pain.
➥ Develop criterion-based standards for guidelines to guide committee activities.
➥ Actively engage other organizations to participate or partner in activities related to practice parameters and guidelines.
➥ Collaborate with the Pain Medicine Policy Committee to review and comment on multi society clinical guidelines as requested. .
Committee Chair
Narayan Kissoon, MD
Chair
Education Committee
➥ Identify and evaluate continuing professional development needs of AAPM members.
➥ Formulate AAPM’s continuing education goals and priorities.
➥ Make recommendations to the board regarding new education initiatives, viable collaboration with other professional societies, online learning strategies and other ways to expand funding for the outreach of AAPM volunteers as experts in the field of Pain Medicine.
➥ Ensure that all AAPM-sponsored educational CME programming complies with ACCME policy.
➥ Evaluate effectiveness of the overall continuing education program.
➥ Periodically review online learning content remains current and accurate.
Committee Chair
Timothy Furnish, MD
Chair
Priyanka Singla, MD
Vice Chair
Ethics Committee
➥ Provide input to the Board regarding ethical issues affecting the Academy.
➥ Review and make recommendations to AAPM Annual Conflicts of Interest disclosures process.
Committee Chair
Coti Phillips, MD
Chair
Finance Committee
📢 Note: The composition of this committee is prescribed by the AAPM Bylaws.
➥ Develop and monitor the finances of the Academy, both operating and reserve funds.
➥ Work with the AAPM staff to develop the annual budget for approval by the Board.
➥ Provide oversight of the Academy’s investments, including the selection of an external financial advisor as appropriate, in conjunction with the board and staff.
Committee Chair
Marie Hanna, MD
Chair
Media & PR Committee
➥ Produce Pain Matters, AAPM’s podcast, the nation’s leading podcast for healthcare providers focused on providing the best care today, tomorrow, and beyond. (Executive Producer, Host, and Co-Host).
➥ Provides oversight and expertise to present AAPM’s monthly webinar series. (Subcommittee Co-Chairs)
➥ Leads AAPM’s Social Media Ambassadors, charged with creating and amplifying content for and on AAPM’s social media properties such as LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook. (Subcommittee 00-Chairs)
➥ Identifies and assists with directing media requests for pain medicine expertise and comment. (Subcommittee Co-Chairs)
Committee Chairs
Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA
Chair
Michael Hooten, MD
Vice Chair
Membership Committee
➥ Develop and implement strategic marketing plans for recruiting and retaining members, with a focus on increasing member diversity (age, ethnicity, gender, practice profile, etc.).
➥ Recommend membership policy to the Board of Directors.
➥ Conduct periodic needs assessments of the members in order to deliver value to AAPM members based on their current wants and needs.
➥ Serve as liaison between members/potential members/applicants and AAPM volunteer/staff leadership.
➥ Current projects include a strategic review of AAPM members’ future needs, providing relevant value, and recommended category updates based on its work.
Committee Chair
Sayed Wahezi, MD
Chair
Trent Emerick, MD, MBA
Vice Chair
Nominating Committee
➥ Secure candidates for all available positions on the Board of Directors and Nominating Committee and present a slate of qualified candidates to the membership for a vote.
➥ The Nominating Committee structure and membership is determined by the AAPM Bylaws.
Committee Chair
Farshad Ahadian, MD
Chair
Pain Fellowship Committee
➥ Develop criteria and select Pain Medicine Fellowship programs to recognize for excellence.
➥ Advance multidisciplinary pain care in fellowship training programs.
➥ Provide oversight for the Residents & Fellows Reception at AAPM’s annual meeting, PainConnect.
Committee Chair
Lynn Kohan, MD
Chair
Alexander Bautista, MD
Vice Chair
Pain Medicine Policy Committee
Mission is to direct all pain policies for AAPM
Sub Committee on Editorial Guides
The purpose of the AAPM Editorial Guides Committee is to provide the AMA with the best possible information about pain medicine.
Sub Committee on Substance Use and Pain
The purpose of the AAPM Substance Use and Pain Committee is to advocate for multidisciplinary care for patients with substance use disorders and chronic pain.
Sub Committee on Coding and Reimbursement
Coding and Reimbursement Subcommittee is to provide members with the most up-to-date information about changes in coding and reimbursement.
➥ Accurately describe the procedures used in Pain Medicine for the CPT coding process.
➥ Survey and recommend relative values to the AMA RUC Committee in its advisory role to CMS.
➥ Increase awareness by the RUC Committee of the unique practice and procedural issues facing pain medicine physicians
Sub Committee on Quality, Safety and Improvement Committee
To develop, identify and disseminate guidelines and information to improve the quality of pain care.
Committee Chair
Steven Stanos, DO
Chair
Greg Polston, MD
CPT & RUC
Joseph Max Hendrix, MD
CPT & RUC
Research Committee
➥ The Research Committee investigates and identifies opportunities for the Academy to invest, support or participate in research initiatives. It seeks to improve understanding of AAPM members’ research needs and interests.
➥ Improve scientific quality of abstract submissions to the Annual Meeting, including but not limited to improvements to the scientific poster abstract call.
➥ Collaborate with other organizations on research or scientific initiatives and programs.
➥ Review nominations for Scientific Membership and recommend eligible candidates to the Board for approval.
➥ Operate as the research grant review Committee.
➥ Open 2025 Positions: Vice Chair, Secretary, Grants Review Liaison, Communiation Liaison (2), Early Career Liaison (2), Publications Chair, Subcommittee Members (Entry-Level Roles).
Committee Chairs
Jennifer Hah, MD
Co-Chair
Ryan D’Souza, MD
Co-Chair
Scientific Poster Abstract Committee
➥ Solicit, evaluate, rank, and judge scientific poster abstract submissions.
➥ Solicit, evaluate, rank, and judge Flash Talk submissions.
Committee Chairs
Beth Hogans, MD, PhD
Chair
Kara Segna, MD
Vice Chair
AAPM Scholars Program Steering Task Force
➥ Develop course curriculum modules and secure faculty.
➥ Identify pain medicine skills gaps that will benefit from didactic and hands-on training.
➥ Serve as mentors to future AAPM Scholars cohorts.
Committee Chairs
Bhavana Yalamuru, MD
Co-Chair
Nick. Canzanello, DO
Co-Chair
AAPM Committee & Taskforce Purposes
Committee & Taskforce chairs guide the committee in directions that are consistent with the published charge. Any proposed change to a committee charge must be submitted to the AAPM Board of Directors for consideration.
Volunteering on a committee or task force is a benefit of membership and an opportunity to showcase your leadership ability. Affiliate members may co-chair committees with an Active member. Active, Affiliate, Scientific, International, Trainee, Resident, and Student members may serve on committees.
Committees meet in person or via teleconference as needed. Committees may make recommendations to the board. Recommendations will be reviewed for alignment with Academy priorities and budget implications. AAPM exclusively uses Asana project management software to facilitate all committee and task force initiatives.