Committees & Task Forces

The dedicated efforts of committee members are not only invaluable in attaining AAPM’s strategic goals, committee service provides another forum for members to connect with one another and to develop as leaders within the organization.

Volunteer for a Committee or 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.

2026 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

David Copenhaver, MD, Professional Photo

David Copenhaver, MD

Chair
Traci Speed, MD, PhD, Professional Photo

Traci Speed, MD, PhD

Co-Chair

Timothy Furnish, MD

Co-Chair

Jeremy Adler, PA-C

Antje Barreveld, MD

Alia Berlin, MSN,NP-BC

Mary Jane Estrada-Lyder, MSN, RN, ANP-BC

Jessica Oswald, MD

Joshua Perese, MD

Jon Lee, MD

Lisa Luciani, PharmD, BCPS

Gagan Mahajan, MD

Theresa (Tracey) Mallick-Searle, MS, PMGT-BC, ANP-BC, FAANP

Zachary McCormick, MD

Nathan Neufeld, MD

Scott Pritzlaff, MD

Nathaniel Schuster, MD

Ann Shah, MD

Prasad Shirvalkar, MD, PhD

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

Charles Argoff, MD, AAPM President

Charles Argoff, MD

Chair – Immediate Past President

Behavioral Medicine Committee (BMC):

Address the need for education on behavioral medicine and psychological issues in treating patients with pain. 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 focus on pain psychology enduring education, hosting a webinar as part of the AAPM monthly webinar series, and collaborating with the Behavioral Medicine/Pain Psychology Shared Interest Group on blog posts and the SIG meeting during PainConnect in April 2025.

Committee Chairs

Traci Speed, MD, PhD, Professional Photo

Traci Speed, PhD

Chair

Rena Courtney, 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

Bylaws Chair Michael Hooten, MD

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

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 the effectiveness of the overall continuing education program. Periodically review online learning content remains current and accurate.

Committee Chair

Priyanka Singla, MD, Education Committee Vice Chair

Prinyanka Singla, MD

Chair

Kellie Jaremko, MD, PhD

Vice Chair

Ethics Committee

Provide input to the Board regarding ethical issues affecting the Academy. Review and make recommendations to the AAPM Annual Conflicts of Interest disclosures process.

Committee Chair

Coti Phillips, MD, Ethics 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

Sayed Emal Wahezi, 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

Kristen MacKenzie, MD

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, Membership Committee Chair

Sayed Wahezi, MD

Chair

Gerard Limerick, MD, PhD

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 are determined by the AAPM Bylaws.

Committee Chair

Charles Argoff, MD, AAPM President

Charles Argoff, MD

Chair – Immediate Past President

Pain Fellowship Committee

Develop criteria and select Pain Medicine Fellowship programs for recognition of excellence. Advance multidisciplinary pain care in fellowship training programs. Provide oversight for the Residents & Fellows Reception at AAPM’s annual meeting, PainConnect.

Committee Chair

Alexander Bautista, MD

Alexander Bautista, MD

Chair

Prentiss Lawson, Jr., MD

Vice Chair

Pain Medicine Policy Committee

The 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

James Babington, MD

Chair
Greg Polston, MD

Greg Polston, MD

CPT & RUC
J. Max Hendrix, MD

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.

Open 2025 Positions: Vice Chair, Secretary, Grants Review Liaison, Communication Liaison (2), Early Career Liaison (2), Publications Chair, Subcommittee Members (Entry-Level Roles).

Committee Chairs

Jennifer Hah, MD

Jennifer Hah, MD

Chair
Ryan D'Souza, MD, Professional Photo

Ryan D’Souza, MD

Vice Chair

Scientific Poster Abstract Committee

Solicit, evaluate, rank, and judge scientific poster abstract submissions. Solicit, evaluate, rank, and judge Flash Talk submissions.

Committee Chairs

Kara Segna, MD Portrait

Kara Segna, MD

Chair

Richard Barnhart, DO

Vice Chair

Beth Hogans, MD, PhD

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 AAPM Scholars Program Steering Task Force

Bhavana Yalamuru, MD

Co-Chair
Nick Canzanello, MD Co-Chair AAPM Scholars Program Steering Task Force

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.

AAPM MISSION

ADVOCATE.
EDUCATE.
COLLABORATE.