The Irish Pain Society, Chapter of the International Association for the Study of Pain, is a non-profit organization comprised of multidisciplinary health care professionals and scientists, dedicated to research, and educational and clinical aspects of pain management.

The theme this year's Irish Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting was Integrative Pain Care, the organisers were delighted have Keynote Speaker Professor Vania Apkarian, North Western University, Chicago, USA deliver the keynote address. Professor Apkarian’s interests include cortical dynamics of pain as well as brain plasticity. His overall goal is the uncovering of brain mechanisms underlying PAIN QUALIA. This work aims to alleviate clinical pain conditions and achieve a more profound theoretical and mechanistic understanding of the brain.

Photo from Left: Dr Siobhain O'Mahony, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience and Principal Investigator in APC Microbiome Ireland, Dr Therese O’Connor, President of the Irish Pain Society, HSE Liaison Committee Chair and Consultant in Pain Medicine at Sligo University Hospital, Professor Vania Apkarian, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,Feinberg School of Medicine North Western University, Chicago, Dr Colm Henry, Consultant Geriatrician and Chief Clinical Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE), Mr Wail Mohammed, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Cork University Hospital. National Programme Director Neurosurgery, Dr John Browne, Consultant Pain Specialist, Cork University Hospital, Marymount Hospice & South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Professor George Shorten, Professor of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine University College Cork and President College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland. 

After a  friendly and busy registration and meet and greet in the Western Gateway Building the first event of the conference got underway. President of the Irish Pain Society Dr Therese O'Connor, President of the Irish Pain Society, HSE Liaison Committee Chair and Consultant in Pain Medicine at Sligo University Hospital, was joined by local committee members Dr John Browne, Consultant Pain Specialist, Cork University Hospital, Marymount Hospice & South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and Dr Siobhain O'Mahony, Senior Lecturer and PI Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, and APC Microbiome Ireland, to open the event. The committee members also welcome Dr Colm Henry, Consultant Geriatrician and Chief Clinical Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE), who delivered the opening address.  Professor George Shorten, Professor of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine University College Cork and President College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland chaired the Guest Lecture event with guest Keynote Speaker Professor Vania Apkarian, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Feinberg School of Medicine North Western University, Chicago. 

The conference dinner followed the first sessions and on Saturday 21st October events continued with a Trade and Poster exhibitions and speakers included Dr Franziska Denk, Kings College London, who spoke on a neuro-immunological perspective on chronic pain followed by Dr Cormac Mullins, Cork who spoke about recent advances in neuromodulation.

A busy day included clinical workshops guided by experts, and sessions chaired by Dr Mary Jane O’Leary, Consultant in Palliative Medicine Marymount University Hospice; Professor Dominic Harmon, Consultant Anaesthesiology & Pain Management University Hospital Limerick and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital; Dr Hugh Gallagher, Anaesthesia & Pain Medicine St Vincent's Private Hospital, Dublin; Dr Michelle Roche, Neuroscientist and Senior Lecturer in Physiology, NUIG; and Dr Damien Murphy, Consultant in Pain Management & Anaesthesia, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. 

Further information:

Download the Irish Pain Society 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting Programme 

Download Irish Pain Society 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting Poster

Visit the Irish Pain Society website