Boston University 25th Annual HCNE Boston Headache Symposium 2025

25th Headache Cooperative of the Northeast Boston Annual Meeting
Boston, MA US November 8, 2025

Headache and facial pain are highly prevalent, disabling, complex medical conditions that are frequently chronic and are often under-diagnosed and inadequately treated.  They continue to place a considerable burden on the medical system in both time and financial resources.  While the underlying pathophysiology and basic science mechanisms of migraine and other chronic pain disorders have made many advances, there is still much to be learned and understood about these very troublesome public health problems.
The evaluation, diagnosis and management of these pain disorders are a very important continuing education mission and one of the primary objectives of the Headache Cooperative of the Northeast (HCNE).

Target Audience

This program is design to educate practitioners who have an interest in the diagnosis and management of headache disorders.  This includes neurologists, primary care providers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, dentists, psychologists, and other health care providers with an interest in Headache Medicine.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participants will be able to:

Describe the approach to evaluation and management of the headache patient
Analyze recent guideline updates for treating headache disorders and recommend practice implementation
Evaluate the benefits and challenges of integrating PA/NPs into Headache Medicine practice
Identify presentation and workup of CSF leaks causing headache
Describe common headache presentations and their management
Identify vestibular symptoms of migraine and strategies to address them
Describe common presentations of orofacial pain seen by dental pain specialists
Describe how gender bias in the 19th century has influenced 20th century treatment of headache diseases
Assess and adapt communication strategies to manage the presentation and approach of a ‘difficult patient’

 

+ Topics:

7:50am – 8:00am
Welcome and Introduction

Part 1
Moderator
Dr. Herb Markley

8:00am – 8:45am
Session 1
Approach to the Headache Patient
Dr. Thomas Ward, Discussant Dr. Robert Shapiro

8:45am – 9:30am
Session 2
What is New on Guidelines for Headache
Dr. Melissa Rayhill, Discussant. Dr. James Otis

9:30am – 9:45am
Q&A

9:45am – 10:00am
Break 

Part 2
Moderator
Dr. Paul Rizzoli

10:00am – 10:45am
Session 3
Integrating PA/NPs into a Headache Medicine Practice
Mary O’Dwyer PA, Discussant Jennifer Cheng, NP

10:45am – 11:30am
Session 4
A Series of CSF Leaks
Dr Shuhan Zhu, Discussant Dr. Chris Gottschalk

11:30am – 11:45pm
Q&A

11:45pm – 12:00pm
Lunch Pick-Up Break

12:00pm – 1:15pm
Session 5
Case Discussions – introduced by Dr. Brian McGeeney – discussed by Dr. Andrea Harriott, Dr. Amanda
Macone, Dr. Patricia Olson and Dr. Minali Nigam

1:15pm – 1:30pm
Q&A

Part 3
Moderator
Dr. Kate Mullin

1:30pm – 2:30pm
Session 6
Vestibular Symptoms and Migraine
Dr. Richard Lewis,  Discussant Dr. Brian McGeeney

2:30pm – 3:15pm
Session 7
Orofacial Pain
Dr. Jeff Shaefer Discussant Dr. Thomas Cheng

                 3:15pm – 3:30pm
Q&A

3:30pm – 3:45pm
Break

Part 4
Moderator
Dr. Randy Weeks

3:45pm – 4:30pm
Session 8
Medication Overuse Headache Resulting from Medication Overuse
Dr. Alan Rapoport, Discussant Dr. Shivang Joshi

4:30pm – 5:15pm
Session 9
New England Women in 19th Century Medicine, Barriers to Evidence-Based Training and Their Consignment to “Non-Traditional” Practice
Dr. Ron Kulich, Discussant Dr. Steve Baskin

5:15pm-5:30pm
Q&A

Agenda is subject to change without notice