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.  
The Call for Volunteers is open April 27th – May 27th.
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Volunteer for a Committee or Task Force Today!

Volunteer for AAPM committees and taskforces. The year runs from the Annual Meeting to the Annual Meeting. 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.

2027 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.
Staff liaison:  Tejuana (TJ) Baskerville

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

Alia Berlin, MSN,NP-BC

Nicholas Canzanello, MD

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

Jennifer Hah, MD

Kellie Jaremko, MD, PhD

Joshua Perese, MD

Jon Lee, MD

Lisa Luciani, PharmD, BCPS

Gagan Mahajan, MD

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

Nathan Neufeld, MD

Dare Olatoye, MD

Uzondu Osuagwu, MD

Jessica Oswald, MD

Scott Pritzlaff, MD

Nathaniel Schuster, MD

Ann Shah, MD

Prasad Shirvalkar, MD, PhD

Awards Committee

Promote award nominations to increase awareness across the AAPM membership. Identify and encourage strong candidates for our award program. Actively participate in reviewing and scoring award submissions as requested. Recommend updates to the awards program to improve clarity, accessibility, and participation. Support recognition efforts, including highlighting annual awardees through AAPM Communications.
Staff Liaison:  Alexandra Moya-Clark, MNM

Committee Chair

Professional Headshot Antje of Barreveld, MD, Immediate Past President

Antje Barreveld, MD

Chair – Immediate Past President

Behavioral Medicine Committee (BMC):

Address the need for education on behavioral medicine and psychological issues in the treatment of patients with pain. Expand the presence of behavioral pain medicine professionals in AAPM through membership. Monitor and report to the Executive Committee and the membership on developments and emerging research in behavioral pain medicine.

The 2026 Committee will focus on promoting the new Behavioral Medicine of Pain Certificate Course, launching during  May 2026, hosting a table at the annual SIG networking breakfast at PainConnect 2027, and identifying relevant behavioral medicine content for the Voices in Pain Medicine blog.
Staff Liaison:  Tejuana (TJ) Baskerville

Committee Chairs

Traci Speed, MD, PhD, Professional Photo

Traci Speed, PhD

Chair
Professional Headshot of Rena (Liz) Courney, PhD

Rena Courtney, PhD

Vice Chair

Bylaws Committee

Review and recommend changes to the Bylaws as necessary. The Academy amended its Bylaws in April 2026. No revisions are currently required.
Staff Liaison: Sharon H. Kneebone, IOM, FASAE, CAE

Committee Chair

Bylaws Chair Michael Hooten, MD

W. Michael Hooten, MD

Past 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.
Staff Liaison:  Sharon H. Kneebone, IOM, FASAE, CAE

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. Review Membership CME webinars and content ideas.
Staff Liaison: Tejuana (TJ) Baskerville

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. Draft the Executive Committee non-complete policy for the Board of Directors review and acceptance. The committee is also charged with drafting the Academy’s Disciplinary Action process as noted in the AAPM Bylaws.
Staff Liaison: Sharon H. Kneebone, IOM, FASAE, CAE

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.
Staff Liaison:  Sharon H. Kneebone, IOM, FASAE, CAE

Committee Chair

Professional Headshot Nathaniel Schuster, MD, AAPM Treasurer

Nathaniel Schuster, MD

Treasurer/Chair

Media & PR Committee

Review AAPM’s weekly eNewsetter to provide site-sourcing recommendations to ensure relevant content. Identify and maintain a list of reliable publications and sources for AAPM-curated content. Review and provide feedback on Voices in Pain Medicine blog posts and member-facing content for accuracy, tone, and relevance.
Staff Liaison: Alexandra Moya-Clark, MNM

Committee Chairs

Kristen MacKenzie, MD

Chair

Membership Committee

Develop and strategic marketing plans for recruiting and retaining members in collaboration with Academy staff to focus on increasing member diversity (age, ethnicity, gender, practice profile, etc.). Review monthly membership reports to provide insight and value-based recommendations. Conduct quarterly, member focus groups in collaboration with Academy staff to gather real-time feedback on member needs and experiences. Collaborate with the Academy’s staff to enhance our member value proposition based on quantitative and qualitative data.
Staff Liaison: Alexandra Moya-Clark, MNM

Committee Chair

Gerard Limerick, MD, PhD

Chair
Xavier Jiminez, MS, PhD, Professional Photo

Xavier Jimenez, MD, MA

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.
Staff Liaison: Sharon H. Kneebone, IOM, FASAE, CAE

Committee Chair

Professional Headshot Antje of Barreveld, MD, Immediate Past President

Antje Barreveld, MD

Chair – Immediate Past President

Pain Fellowship Committee

Identify and engage fellowship program directors to encourage participation in the nomination process. Actively participate in reviewing and scoring submissions using the standardized judging rubric. Review and recommend updates to the judging rubric annually to reflect changes in pain fellowship programs and priorities.
Staff Liaison: Alexandra Moya-Clark, MNM

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 and lead the Academy’s efforts in Patient Access Advocacy. The committee is active in responding to sign-on letter requests and seeks additional expertise to review and respond to access advocacy requests, as well as to identify the issues where AAPM must be proactive in its efforts. Based on our work over the past 18 months, the committee seeks additional AAPM members with expertise in interventional pain, health policy, and private practice/coding to augment our work to date.

  • 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
    • This work is led by the AAPM representatives to the AMA RUC & CPT advisory committees.
  • Sub Committee on Quality, Safety and Improvement Committee
    • To develop, identify, and disseminate guidelines and information to improve the quality of pain care.

Staff Liaison: Sharon H. Kneebone, IOM, FASAE, CAE

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. The committee leads journal club sessions in collaboration with the Resident Ambassadors.

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

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

Collaborate with Academy staff to set the annual scientific poster abstract and flash talk submission timeline and criteria. Review and select all poster abstracts for presentation acceptance at PainConnect. Review and select all Flash Talks for podium presentation acceptance at PainConnect. Collaborate with AAPM staff to schedule all presentations and ensure moderators are present for each session.
Staff Liaison:  Tejuana (TJ) Baskerville

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.
Staff Liaison:  Tejuana (TJ) Baskerville

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 and the AAPM Annual Operating Roadmap. 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. All members except International and Industry may lead and serve on committees. International members by serve on committees, and co-lead with Board approval. Industry members who meet the Corporate Relations Council Criteria may serve on the council and my serve on committees and task forces as approved by the Board.

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. Based on each committee’s annual objectives, committees may meet in person at PainConnect, the Academy’s Annual Meeting. PainConnect 2027 takes place March 18-21, 2027, at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cyprus Resort in Orlando, Florida. PainConnect 2028 takes place March 8-12, 2028, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana.

AAPM MISSION

ADVOCATE.
EDUCATE.
COLLABORATE.