Leading Pain Organization Changes Name, Brings Alternative Solutions to Complex Pain Challenges

SONORA, Calif., June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 16, 2016, the membership of the American Academy of Pain Management voted to change the organization's name to the Academy of Integrative Pain Management. For the last 28 years, the Academy was the only national professional organization dedicated to advancing the integrative pain care approaches that now define "best practice" in the National Pain Strategy published by NIH.

"Our mission and our name are finally aligned!" announced board president Joanna Katzman, MD, MSPH. Dr. Katzman is an associate professor of neurology, director of the University of New Mexico Pain Center, and co-director of the acclaimed UNM Project ECHO Chronic Pain Program. "The board recommended this change because we want all healthcare professionals who treat people with pain to know our organization is where to learn about effective, safe, and sane approaches to pain management."

Executive Director Robert Twillman, PhD, who took over leadership of the (now) Academy of Integrative Pain Management in 2015, has been engaged in updating, revamping, and expanding programs across the organization. He now adds rebranding to that list. In addition to reflecting the organization's mission to advance integrative care, Dr. Twillman also sees the name change as a strategic business decision. "Why should we hold onto a "generic" brand name that gets confused with other organizations? We have 28 years of equity in unique expertise as the only organization that has always promoted this comprehensive, multidisciplinary integrated, approach to delivering pain care. That is a great foundation to build upon."

Both Drs. Katzman and Twillman also said that dropping "American" from the name allows the organization to open up to global opportunities in the future. For now, driving improved pain management practices in the US is their sole focus. Given the national furor over opioid prescribing, the Academy of Integrative Pain Management provides a timely alternative for practitioners to learn a better way.

Following this announcement to the healthcare community at large, the Academy of Integrative Pain Management will be systematically replacing the old name with the new across its programs. The 27^th Annual Meeting of the Academy being held in September at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa will feature the celebratory debut of the new identity.

For more information go to http://meeting.aapainmanage.org.

SOURCE Academy of Integrative Pain Management

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