Action On Pain

In this episode of Action on Pain, we revisit our conversation with Dr. Rachael Bosma, a leading pain scientist and advocate. Dr. Bosma explores innovative approaches to chronic pain care in Canada, including patient-centred research, education, and strategies to reduce wait times. She shares insights on bridging research and clinical practice, empowering patients, and advancing equity in pain man...

In this week's episode of Action on Pain, Keith, Jennifer, and Virginia welcome retired physiotherapist and long-time pain advocate Mary Brachaniec, who shares her journey living with inflammatory arthritis and in leading national efforts to improve chronic pain care in Canada. Mary discusses her pioneering work in patient engagement, research, and advocacy—especially for seniors and those wit...

In this week's episode of Action on Pain, Keith, Virginia and Jennifer spotlight innovative efforts to improve chronic pain care in Newfoundland and Labrador. Guest Julie Sullivan, the Director of the Strategic Health Network for Complex Pain discusses the province’s new hub and spoke model, designed to bring pain services closer to rural communities and reduce barriers to care. The conversati...

In this episode, we revisit Keith and Virginia's conversation with physiotherapist, educator, researcher, and lived-experience advocate Lesley Singer. Lesley shares how some outdated beliefs about work-related injuries shaped her early career until her own journey with chronic neuropathic pain transformed everything. Together, they explore some of the challenges within physiotherapy education,...

In this week's episode, we are revisiting our conversation with with Dr. Andrea Furlan, a leading physician scientist and educator in chronic pain management. Dr. Furlan discusses her work developing clinical guidelines, supporting clinicians through Project ECHO, and creating accessible educational resources for people living with pain. The conversation highlights the importance of patient-ce...

In this episode of Action On Pain , Virginia, Keith, and Jennifer speak with Melanie McDonald and James Boseley from Pain BC about the Trades and Pain campaign — a BC government-funded initiative tackling chronic pain among construction and trades workers. With over 50% of trades workers living with chronic pain, the campaign challenges workplace stigma through direct messaging, education, and acc...

In this episode of Action On Pain, Virginia, Keith, and Jennifer welcome Doctors Patricia Poulin and Yaadwinder Shergill, co-leads behind Canada's first comprehensive chronic pain management portal — "Power Over Pain". The guests share how the portal was developed, from identifying gaps in pain care access to securing funding through Health Canada. Built on a stepped care model, the po...

In this episode of Action On Pain, podcast, Keith, Jennifer, and Virginia welcome Graham Lord, a Toronto-based advocate living with chronic pain following a devastating 2002 motorcycle accident. Graham candidly shares his 17-year journey with high-dose opioid treatment, the challenges of inadequate early care, and his path to recovery through a transitional pain program. His story highlights the c...

In this week's episode of Action on Pain, Virginia, Keith, and Jennifer speak with Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, president of the Canadian Nurses Association, about the vital role of nurses in chronic pain management. The discussion covers the importance of patient-centred care, equitable access, nursing education, and advocacy for marginalized groups. Dr. LeBlanc emphasizes listening to patients, add...

In this week's episode of Action On Pain, Virginia, Keith, and Jennifer welcome Dr. Arun Radhakrishnan, a family physician specializing in chronic non-cancer pain. Dr. Radhakrishnan shares his work building mentorship networks across Canada, designed to help healthcare providers improve their knowledge, confidence, and compassionate care skills. The conversation explores how digital health too...

In this episode of Action on Pain, Jennifer, Keith, and Virginia speak with guests Linda Wilhelm and Delane Linkiewich about a newly developed tool called "My Pain Assessment and Communication Tool: MPaCT". Created collaboratively by people living with chronic pain, the tool moves beyond the traditional 0-to-10 pain scale to capture the full physical, emotional, and social impact of pain....

In this week's episode, Jennifer, Keith, and Virginia welcome Dr. Lydia Hatcher, a family physician, pain management specialist, and president of the Canadian Academy of Pain Management (CAPM). Dr. Hatcher discusses the Academy's 30-year mission of educating clinicians and patients using a biopsychosocial approach—treating the whole person, not just the pain. The conversation highlights th...

In this episode of Action on Pain, the hosts welcome Dr. Timothy Wideman, a physiotherapist and McGill University associate professor, to discuss innovative approaches to pain education in Canada. Guided by Health Canada’s Action Plan for Pain, the conversation explores how involving people living with chronic pain in healthcare training improves provider empathy and competency. Dr. Wideman shares...

This week, we are revisiting our conversation with Delane Linkiewich, a passionate advocate and researcher living with chronic pain. Delane shares her personal journey and discusses her work developing peer support programs for youth with chronic pain. The conversation highlights the importance of integrating patient voices into research and care, reflecting Health Canada’s Action Plan for Pain. L...

This week, we are revisiting our conversation with Jacques Laliberté and Linda Wilhelm, discussing the progress and ongoing challenges of Canada’s Action Plan for Pain. The guests share insights from their work with the Canadian Pain Task Force, highlighting the importance of collaboration, patient-centered care, and equitable access to pain management. The conversation explores the economic impac...

This week, we are revisiting our conversation with Dr. Mike Hildebrand, a leading pain researcher at Carleton University, about innovative approaches to understanding and treating chronic pain in Canada. Dr. Hildebrand discusses his lab’s groundbreaking work with human spinal tissue, collaborative research with patient partners, and creative animal models. The episode highlights the importance of...

This week, we are revisiting our conversation with Dr. Nader Ghasemlou from Queen’s University about the future of chronic pain research in Canada. Dr. Ghasemlou shares how patient experiences are shaping his lab’s innovative approach, bridging basic science and clinical care. The discussion highlights the importance of collaboration, patient involvement, and increased investment to advance pain m...

In this week's episode of Action on Pain, the hosts sit down with Dr. Hance Clarke and Dr. Tania Di Renna to discuss the Canadian Pain Society’s (CPS) new strategic plan and its alignment with Health Canada’s An Action Plan for Pain in Canada. They highlight CPS’s commitment to improving pain management, advancing research, and fostering education and engagement with people living with pain. T...

In this week's episode, Virginia, Jennifer, and Keith speak with physiotherapist Tori Etheridge about advancing chronic pain care in Canada. The discussion explores gaps in pain education, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of new core competencies for clinicians. Tori emphasizes patient-centred care and the need for shared knowledge among healthcare profess...

In today's episode of Action on Pain, Jennifer, Keith, and Virginia welcome Dr. Christine Chambers, a leader in pediatric pain research. Together, they discuss the evolution of children’s pain care in Canada, the creation of the Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP) network, and the importance of translating research into real-world solutions. The episode highlights the power of collaboration and...

In this week's episode of Action on Pain, Jennifer and Keith welcome Dr. Jennifer Stinson, a nurse clinician-scientist and leading pediatric pain expert from SickKids Hospital in Toronto. The discussion highlights innovative tools, digital resources, and educational programs designed to improve equitable access and outcomes for children and youth living with chronic pain in Canada. Dr. Stinson...

In this week's episode, Jennifer, Virginia, and Keith welcome Dr. Katie Birnie to discuss advances in equitable pain management for children and youth in Canada. The conversation highlights the importance of early intervention, national standards, and collaborative research. Personal stories underscore the need for better support and awareness. The episode emphasizes the collective progress be...

In this week's episode of Action on Pain, Keith, Jennifer and Virginia welcome guest Jenny Lorca, an advocate living with chronic pain. The discussion explores Jenny’s personal journey, the importance of community support, and the value of integrating lived and living experience into research, policy, and education. The episode highlights the power of peer connection, advocacy, and collaborati...

In today's episode of Action on Pain, Virginia, Keith, and Jennifer welcome Dr. Jaris Swidrovich, an Indigenous pharmacist and advocate, to discuss chronic pain in Canada. Dr. Swidrovich shares insights on the importance of equity, storytelling, and community engagement in pain management, highlighting the role of pharmacists as accessible healthcare partners. The conversation explores the imp...

In this episode of Action on Pain, Virginia, Keith, and Jennifer speak with Dr. Tania Di Renna, a leading pain medicine expert. Dr. Di Renna discusses innovative, patient-centered approaches to chronic pain care, highlighting the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAMPI) model and the importance of collaboration, education, and equitable access. The conversation explores how data-driven str...