Clinical Care: I dedicate my clinical time to the evaluation and treatment of patients with persistent pain conditions, with activities that include screening and psychological evaluation for chronic opioid therapy, screening for interventional procedures, and cognitive behavioral interventions. Therapeutic goals include improvement in patient coping skills, maximizing adherence, and managing disability associated with chronic pain. I coordinate a time-limited behavioral group program, focusing on short-term, cost-effective strategies for the management of pain.

Education: Work in education and training includes coordination of behavioral science teaching for the MGH Pain Fellows and medical staff. Activities include directing the MGH Chronic Pain Rounds at the Ether Dome, as well as hosting other regional and national conferences on pain. Past education work has included membership and chairmanships of subcommittees through the American Pain Society, Presidency of New England Pain Association for two terms, and recent co-director of the Boston Pain Forum. Recent activities involve collaborative efforts with other institutions, including the Tufts and Harvard Dental Schools of Dental Medicine, and the Tufts Medical School.

Research: My earlier career was devoted to program development and quality improvement with private sector pain practice, while ongoing research has addressed public policy issues with access to pain care. This includes co-authorship of the book Managed Care in Pain and recent publications addressing access to cost-effective treatment. Recent published work has also addressed issues in forensic/medico-legal assessment, evidence in the courtroom, and risk management with opioid therapy in pain medicine practice.