Committee Descriptions

Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee identifies and recommends actions on policy and advocacy issues relevant to the mission of USASP. The committee monitors state and federal legislation, regulatory developments, and other initiatives that may impact the pain research and care communities. Based on this landscape, the committee advises the Board of Directors on potential positions, public statements, or strategic actions USASP should consider.

Current Initiatives & Upcoming Projects

· Advocacy Webinar Series: Planning and hosting webinars on timely policy topics, including the federal budget process, NIH funding outlook, and strategies for effective advocacy in support of pain research.

· Sign-On Letters: Drafting and coordinating organizational sign-on letters in partnership with other pain-focused organizations and stakeholders, urging continued investment in pain research and related public health priorities.

· Cross-Committee Collaboration: Working with the Communications Committee to amplify advocacy messaging through social media, newsletters, and podcast content.

· Monitoring Federal and State Policy: Tracking and summarizing proposed legislation and regulatory actions that impact pain research, care, and education to inform USASP leadership and membership.

· Membership Engagement: Developing tools and messaging—such as one-pagers, talking points, and email templates—to empower USASP members to take simple, impactful advocacy actions.

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee oversees USASP’s recognition programs, celebrating excellence and contributions to the field of pain research. The committee is responsible for managing the annual call for nominations, reviewing applications, and recommending award recipients to the Board of Directors.

In addition to stewarding existing awards, the committee may propose new awards for Board consideration to ensure continued recognition of achievement across career stages and disciplines. The committee also organizes the evaluation and presentation of poster awards at the annual meeting.

Notable initiatives have included the development of the Gold-Haythornthwaite Lifetime Achievement Award, the Early Career Investigator Poster Awards, and in 2025, the USASP Fellows.

The Continuing Education Task Force has been charged with investigating the need, feasibility, and cost of integrating continuing education (CE) programs into the organization’s educational programming. This task force will evaluate potential audiences and options and provide strategic recommendations to the board on whether and how to integrate CE programs into the organization. The goal is to enhance the professional development of members and ensure the highest standards of education in pain research and management.

The Committee on Committees identifies and proposes the names of and terms of all committee chairs and members to the Board of Directors. Recommendations are made to ensure diversity, including race, gender, age, and geographic and professional diversity across committees and within each committee. Its Charter can be viewed (HERE).

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee drives USASP’s outreach across social media and other platforms, connecting with the public, educators, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to raise awareness about pain research and treatment.

Members participate in monthly meetings and actively contribute to communication tasks such as social media content creation, posting, and multimedia outreach. Recent accomplishments include building USASP’s presence on Bluesky as well as growing our presence on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Interested individuals may also support our podcast, Ouch! Talking Pain with USASP (click here to listen), and help produce daily highlights and attendee interviews during the annual scientific meeting.

Looking Ahead - Communications Committee Goals

·  Strengthen cross-committee collaboration:
Partner with other USASP committees, such as Advocacy, to align messaging, support shared initiatives, and amplify impact.

·  Increase platform engagement:
Continue growing USASP’s reach and interaction across all communication channels through strategic content and targeted outreach. 

During the application submission, please select which subcommittees you would like to participate in if selected to serve on this committee.  
-Podcast
-Strengthen cross-committee collaboration
-Increase platform engagement

The Education and Professional Development Committee was established to support and enhance the education and professional development of pain research and clinicians at all stages of their careers.

There are four highly active subcommittees:
 

1) Early Career Form Planning Subcommittee: Starting in the fall, this subcommittee begins planning activities for the Early Career Forum, a half-day event before the Annual Scientific Meeting. The 2026 USASP Meeting, will be held on March 23 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This subcommittee typically meets monthly between October and March.

2) Webinar Subcommittee: This subcommittee plans monthly webinars on various pain-related topics. In addition to planning, members have opportunities to facilitate discussion with speakers. A list of past events can be found on the USASP website.
 

3) Leadership Academy Subcommittee: The Leadership Academy aims to develop the next generation of leaders in the pain field. Members of this working group will evaluate applicants for the Leadership Academy, work on refining the curriculum, and conduct program evaluations. The committee works to increase and enhance diversity and inclusion within USASP, by advancing the needs of all audiences, and ensuring accessibility for all pain researchers and clinicians. 
 

4) Certificate Program Task Force: This Task Force has been charged with recommending to the board a plan for developing basic and advanced educational content for the pain community. Content may include pain “basics,” pain assessment, and methodologies used in the full range of pain research from basic science to dissemination. To ensure the involvement of senior members in creating and delivering advanced content and expand virtual educational offerings to provide more flexibility and accessibility for members. 

During the application submission, please select which subcommittees you would like to participate in if selected to serve on this committee.  

Time Commitment: The full committee meets quarterly. Subcommittees typically meet every 1-2 months.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee

The IDEA committee strives to help build and maintain an inclusive, diverse environment where differences of opinion, beliefs, and values are sought, listened to, respected, and valued. Through IDEA efforts, USASP is dedicated to expanding membership, participation, and leadership that reflects our broad membership. 

Key responsibilities include:
-Providing resources, consultation, and feedback to support IDEA-related goals
-Identifying and implementing initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and accessibility across the organization
-Reviewing applicants of the USASP High Priority Awards for Early Career Investigators (formerly known as the DEI Scholarship). 

Current Initiatives & Upcoming Projects - IDEA Committee

· Create a proposal for "IDEA Connect" Program:
Over the past year, the IDEA Committee has explored the development of a new extended professional development and mentoring program for High Priority (formerly DEI) Scholars. In the coming year, the committee plans to formalize a proposal to present to the Board, with the goal of launching the program at the 2026 USASP Meeting (March 23-26).

· Scholar Engagement & Community Building:
Hosting webinars, virtual networking events, and alumni activities to foster long-term engagement and peer support among DEI/High Priority Scholars and the broader USASP community.

 Membership Committee

The Membership Committee is responsible for supporting the growth and engagement of a multidisciplinary and diverse community of pain science professionals, patients, and advocates. The committee leads efforts to recruit new members, retain existing members, and enhance the overall member experience.

Key responsibilities include:
-Developing and reviewing policies and procedures related to membership applications and renewals
-Monitoring member needs and priorities to help shape USASP programming and services
-Work with other USASP Committees to ensure that the member experience, programming, and services align with USASP's mission and are of value to its members

Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee is responsible for managing the nomination process for USASP’s Board of Directors and Officer positions. The committee ensures that the slate of candidates reflects the diversity, disciplines, and composition of the USASP membership.

Key responsibilities include:
-Soliciting and reviewing nominations for open Board and Officer positions
-Evaluating nominees for eligibility and qualifications
-Presenting a slate of qualified candidates to the membership for election
-The committee plays a critical role in shaping USASP leadership and ensuring inclusive representation across the organization.

Organizational Partnerships Committee

The Organizational Partnerships Committee builds and strengthens relationships between USASP and external organizations that share an interest in advancing pain research, education, and clinical care. These partners may include professional societies, advocacy groups, and patient organizations.

Key responsibilities include:
-Identifying and evaluating potential partners aligned with USASP’s mission
-Recommending opportunities for collaboration to the Board of Directors
-Developing processes to formalize and implement approved partnerships
-Supporting joint initiatives that enhance impact and visibility across shared goals

Current Initiatives & Upcoming Projects - Organizational Partnerships Committee

· Outreach to Potential Partners:
Actively distributing a formal partnership invitation letter to relevant professional societies, advocacy groups, and patient organizations to initiate reciprocal relationships and collaborative opportunities.

· Establishing Partnership Frameworks:
Developing standardized collaboration options—such as shared conference participation, liaison memberships, and website cross-promotion—to support ongoing relationship-building and expand USASP’s national visibility.

Project Collaborations Committee

The Project Collaborations Committee evaluates and oversees external invitations for collaboration on initiatives such as policy statements, guidelines, best practice recommendations, and other shared resources aligned with USASP’s mission.

Key responsibilities include:
-Reviewing opportunities for USASP to participate in joint projects with external organizations
-Making recommendations to the Board regarding the scope and alignment of proposed collaborations
-Upon approval, identifying and recommending qualified USASP representatives to the Board for final approval
-Ensuring that USASP’s involvement reflects the organization’s values, scientific integrity, and commitment to advancing pain research and care

This committee plays a critical role in shaping how USASP contributes to and influences national and international efforts in the field of pain.

Scientific Programming Committee (SPC)
The Scientific Programming Committee (SPC) is responsible for developing the scientific content of the USASP Annual Scientific Meeting. This committee brings together members from diverse backgrounds in research, clinical care, and education to ensure a robust, inclusive program that reflects the full breadth of the pain field.

Key responsibilities include:
• Identifying the annual meeting theme (summer)
• Recommending and inviting plenary speakers (summer)
• Reviewing and selecting symposia proposals (late fall)
• Reviewing and scoring poster abstracts (December-January)
• Reviewing and selecting travel award recipients (January-February)

The 2026 USASP Annual Scientific Meeting will be held in Philadelphia, PA, from March 23-26. The SPC meets regularly throughout the year, with increased activity in late fall to review symposia proposals and in December and January for abstract review. The meeting theme and plenary speakers are discussed and confirmed during the summer months.

Small Grants Review Committee

The Small Grants Review Committee is responsible for evaluating applications for the USASP-MAYDAY Clinical/Translational Research Award, which supports innovative pain research involving human subjects. The committee conducts an annual review of proposals and provides funding recommendations to the USASP Board of Directors, which makes the final funding decisions.

Committee members are experienced investigators with expertise in clinical and translational pain research.