Harvard 40th Annual Evaluation and Treatment of Pain Conference 2026

Transform your approach to pain management in this comprehensive, expert-led course as you explore the latest advances in pharmacologic, behavioral, and interventional therapies, and gain practical tools for treating chronic, acute, and cancer-related pain across diverse patient populations.

A significant amount of research has indicated that many, if not all, types of pain are undertreated. Some data indicate that only 25% of patients treated for pain receive adequate relief. In addition, several studies have shown that various pain-relieving techniques may be used inappropriately, which can result in patient harm.
Evaluation and Treating Pain is a live course held each spring in Boston. It provides a comprehensive review and update of the basic science and advances in the field of pain medicine.
The faculty includes specialists in many aspects of pain medicine including anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry and psychology, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedic surgery, interventional radiology, and neurosurgery.
Participants learn how to diagnose common pain problems and explore various options for treatment of chronic pain, acute pain and cancer-related pain. Pharmacologic, behavioral and interventional treatments of pain will be discussed. Ample time will be spent addressing the role of opioids in the management of pain.
Learning Objectives

Assess methods to manage end-of-life pain.
Compare and contrast various pain-relieving techniques.
Apply current guidelines for the management of pediatric pain.
Discuss the benefits and appropriate use of yoga and other non-pharmacologic pain-relieving options.

Who Should Participate

Psychologists, Primary Care Physicians, Specialty Physicians, CRNA, and Dental
Best for clinicians across multiple specialties who want a comprehensive, evidence‑based update on pain management. It emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches, practical treatment strategies, and integration of new research into clinical practice.

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Monday, June 29, 2026

Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Carol Warfield

8:00-8:05 am

Lessons from the Past for Providing State-of-the-Art Pain Management in the Present
Carol Warfield

8:05-8:45 am

How to Perform a Focused Musculoskeletal Evaluation of the Patient in Pain: Practical Techniques and Maneuvers
Emily Wang

8:45-9:30 am

Evaluating Abdominal and Pelvic Pain
Jyotsna Nagda

9:30-10:15 am

Break

10:15-10:30 am

Psychosocial Evaluation of the Patient in Pain
Samantha Meints

10:30-11:15 am

Practical Pointers for Performing a Disability Evaluation
Emily Wang

11:15 am-12:00 pm

Pose Your Questions to the Experts
Carol Warfield; Emily Wang; Samantha Meints; Jyotsna Nagda

12:00-12:30 pm

Lunch (on your own)

12:30-1:30 pm

Updates on Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain
Joseph Audette

1:30-2:30 pm

Herbal and Nutritional Supplements: What Works and What Doesn’t
Joseph Audette

2:30-3:15 pm

Break

3:15-3:30 pm

Acupuncture, Tai Chi and Yoga
Joseph Audette

3:30-4:15 pm

Pose Your Questions to the Expert
Joseph Audette; Carol Warfield

4:15-5:15 pm

Pain and Sleep (with questions)
Paul Mathew

5:15-6:00 pm

Workshop and Dinner

6:15-9:15 pm

A Show of Hands: The Art and Science of Musculoskeletal/Physical Examination
Paul Mathew; Joseph Audette; Emily Wang

6:15-9:15 pm

Day 2
Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Breakfast

7:00-8:00 am

Cancer Pain Management
Carol Warfield

8:00-8:45 am

Interventional Techniques for Cancer Pain Management
Sanjeet Narang

8:45-9:15 am

Pain Management – A Palliative Care Perspective
Janet Abrahm

9:15-10:00 am

Pose Your Questions to the Experts
Sanjeet Narang; Thomas Simopoulos

10:00-10:30 am

Break

10:30-10:45 am

Update on the Pathophysiology of Low Back Pain and How to Differentiate Its Cause
Thomas Simopoulos

10:45-11:30 am

How to Interpret Spinal Imaging
Rafael Rojas

11:30 am-12:15 pm

Pose Your Questions to the Experts
Thomas Simopoulos

12:15-12:45 pm

Lunch (on your own)

12:45-1:45 pm

Interventional Techniques for Spinal Pain
David Hao

1:45-2:45 pm

How to Deliver the Best Care for Neck and Back Pain
Sanjeet Narang

2:45-3:15 pm

Break

3:15-3:30 pm

When and Why to Consider Surgical Management of Spinal Pain
Eric Woodard

3:30-4:30 pm

Pose Your Questions to the Experts
Eric Woodard; David Hao; Sanjeet Narang

4:30-5:15 pm

Will Artificial Intelligence Transform Our Practice? (with questions)
Samir Kendale

5:15-6:00 pm

Break

6:00-6:15 pm

Workshop and Dinner

6:15-9:15 pm

Spine Intervention Essentials: Hands-On Familiarity With Common Procedures
David Hao; James Cho; Eileen Jin

6:15-9:15 pm

Day 3
Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Breakfast

7:00-8:00 am

Headache Diagnosis: It’s All in Your Head ..or Is It?
Paul Mathew

8:00-8:45 am

Updates in Headache Management in 2026
Sait Ashina

8:45-9:30 am

Trigeminal Neuralgia
Paul Mathew

9:30-10:15 am

Break

10:15-10:30 am

Cervicogenic Headache vs Occipital Neuralgia vs Migrainous Cervicalgia
Paul Mathew

10:30-11:15 am

The Treatment of Neuropathic Pain Based on the Pathophysiology of Pain
Zahid Bajwa

11:15 am-12:00 pm

Pose Your Questions to the Experts
Sait Ashina; Zahid Bajwa; Paul Mathew

12:00-12:45 pm

Lunch (on your own)

12:45-1:45 pm

Update on the Management of Painful and Peripheral Neuropathies
Thomas Simopoulos

1:45-2:30 pm

Post Herpetic Neuralgia and Post Herpetic Itch
Amanda Macone

2:30-3:00 pm

Break

3:00-3:15 pm

Update on the Evaluation and Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Thomas Simopoulos

3:15-4:00 pm

Ketamine for Chronic Pain
Farah Dadabhoy

4:00-4:45 pm

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain
Sukhman Shergill

4:45-5:15 pm

Pose Your Questions to the Experts
Thomas Simopoulos; Amanda Macone; Farah Dadabhoy; Sukhman Shergill

5:15-6:00 pm

Break

6:00-6:15 pm

Workshop and Dinner

6:15-9:15 pm

Learn How to Perform Botulinum Toxin Injections, Occipital Nerve Blocks and Trigeminal Nerve Blocks to Treat Headache and Neuropathic Pain
Sait Ashina; Amanda Macone; Paul Mathew

6:15-9:15 pm

Day 4
Thursday, July 2, 2026

Breakfast

7:00-8:00 am

Medical and Surgical Treatment of Shoulder and Knee Disorders (with questions)
Arun Ramappa

8:00-8:45 am

Regenerative Medicine: PRP and Stem Cells for MSK Pain (with questions)
Walter Sussman

8:45-9:15 am

Medical Marijuana: If, When, Why, and How to Prescribe for Pain
Brian E McGeeney

9:15-10:00 am

Break

10:00-10:15 am

Updates on NSAIDS & Cox-2 Inhibitors
Lee Simon

10:15-11:00 am

Pose Your Questions to the Experts
Lee Simon; Brian E McGeeney; Walter Sussman; Arun Ramappa; Carol Warfield

11:00-11:30 am

Opioids: Rational Prescribing and Medico-legal Considerations (with questions)
Edward Michna

11:30 am-12:15 pm

Lunch (on Your Own)

12:15-1:15 pm

Dealing with Opioid Addiction: Toxicology Screening, Opioid Tapering and Medication Assisted Treatment
Jungjin Kim

1:15-2:00 pm

Helping the Mind Heal the Body: Mind/Body Approaches to Pain Medicine
Ellen Slawsby

2:00-2:45 pm

The Relaxation Response: Meditation as an Approach to Pain Management
John Denninger

2:45-3:30 pm

Break

3:30-3:45 pm

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Elyse Rosenberg

3:45-4:30 pm

Dealing with Difficult Patients
Joanna Streck

4:30-5:15 pm

Pose Your Questions to the Experts
Jungjin Kim; Ellen Slawsby; John Denninger; Elyse Rosenberg; Joanna Streck

5:15-6:00 pm