The University of Pittsburgh Pain Division is expanding programs. Pain medicine is the rapidly advancing subspecialty that focuses on the heart of medicine, the suffering patient. We are now developing and applying the most up-to-date technology and scientific knowledge to the age old problem of pain.
Interventional Cancer Pain Clinic at the Hillman Center – 300 K
This would be a center focused solely on cancer pain and the latest interventional techniques to the limit pain free cancer. Specialized pain physicians would staff this site but in order to function need a C-arm, fluoroscopic machine, x-ray table and radiofrequency generator. The donor would name the cancer pain clinic.
Fellowship Programs
One of the goals in the University of Pittsburgh Pain Division is to train the next generation of scientists and clinicians who will carry on the investigation of the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, patient care, and treatment of pain. In order to accomplish this goal, it will be important to recruit high quality trainees at the graduate and postgraduate level. Listed are two development opportunities:
Research Fellowship – $1.1 M
The goal of the biomedical research fellowship program is to provide a rigorous, exciting, and productive training experience for those individuals interested in developing careers as independent physician/scientists. This requires at least a two-year commitment to the study of molecular and cellular mechanisms of pain or to the development of novel therapeutic agents and care of pain patients. An extensive biomedical research program has been designed to encourage fellowship candidates who intend to pursue an academic research career. This endowment will support the Research Fellow’s salary, fringe, and a small allowance to be used for research supplies and/or travel to a research meeting to present the results of the trainee’s research.
The donor will name this research professorship.
Clinical Fellowship – $1.1 K
The clinical fellowship training program will train the leaders of pain in academic medicine, industry and community practice. Our training program is specifically designed to accomplish this goal. The program includes (1) a clinical training component that provides both the didactic and practical experience necessary to achieve a superior level of clinical competency in the subspecialty of Pain, (2) a research component tailored to the interests and future plans of the trainee, and (3) a teaching component that provides further experience for the trainees in the process of educating health professional students and practitioners. Our clinical training program provides experience with common pain syndromes as well as the less commonly seen pain problems. This endowment will support the salary and fringe benefits of the Clinical Fellow during this two-year training program.
The donor will name this clinical professorship.
Educational Programs
Educational programs include undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education programs for physicians and other pain health professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers and patient educators. A summary of selected professional educational programs is listed below:
Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute – $10 M
The primary objective of the Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute is to provide the most advanced health care for the diagnosis and management of patients with Pain.
Many ongoing research initiatives in the areas of TMJ pain, gene therapy for cancer pain, spinal cord injury, headaches, geriatric pain, and interdisciplinary care of pain patients.
The donor would name the Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute.
Professorship for Pain Research – $1.5 M
The University of Pittsburgh Pain Division is one of the nation’s leading centers in clinical care and research. The division’s physicians are engaged in a comprehensive patient care, teaching, and research program focusing on all aspects of pain. This endowed professorship position will be named to an outstanding and qualified individual who remains at the forefront of patient care and research initiatives and has adequate, stable research funding.
The donor will name this endowed professorship.
Outreach Clinic (underserved area within 150 miles) – $1 M
As part of our community outreach program, an outpatient center will be created to serve areas not currently receiving services of pain specialists.
The donor will name this outreach clinic.
Library for Pain Research – $500 K
A University Library will be named in honor of the donor and will be dedicated to pain research. One of the most important tools for performing pain research is a library containing copies of the most recent journals and books providing the latest information about research methods, diagnostic evaluation, disease classification, and treatments for pain and related diseases. Many of the books and journals needed for this purpose are highly specialized and cannot be found in the Medical School Library. Therefore, a library to be located in the University of Pittsburgh Pain Division is planned and will be devoted exclusively to the support of pain research. The endowment will be used for the establishment and maintenance of the Pain Research Library including the purchase of books, journals, and for other costs such as the binding of research periodicals.
The donor will name this library
Pain Medicine Grand Rounds (weekly) – $15 K/year or $500 session
The University of Pittsburgh Pain Division hosts weekly Pain Grand Rounds, which consists of a presentation and discussion of the diagnosis and/or management of difficult or interesting cases seen on inpatient consultation service or in the outpatient clinics. This conference is designed to provide a forum for faculty and fellows to broaden their clinical exposure and to tap the clinical expertise of more senior physicians. The format consists of a brief presentation followed by a formal discussion of the case by other fellows, full-time faculty, clinical faculty and guest faculty members from other divisions or departments depending on the type of case. The presenter reviews a limited number of relevant articles and provides an instructional handout. A guest speaker from outside the University is invited once a month to participate in the Pain Medicine Grand Rounds Conference.
The donor will be recognized for their contribution.
Visiting Professor Series (twice a year) – $6 K/year or $3 K/session
A guest speaker from outside the University is invited twice a year to participate in the Pain Medicine Grand Rounds Conference. A faculty member is the host for our guest and a special divisional luncheon is planned. All travel and overnight accommodations, as well as an honorarium, for our guest are included.
The donor will be recognized for their contribution.
Internet/Web Site – $50 K/year
This funding opportunity regards the use of the Internet to provide Continuing Medical Education (CME) to physicians and Community Education to patients in the greater Pittsburgh community. We would provide an internet-based CME program to include Pain conferences, lecture and discussion series. By having this format made available to the physicians in the greater Pittsburgh area, it would allow physicians to benefit from these weekly conferences without leaving their office. We would provide informational and interactive material for patients within the greater Pittsburgh area community. This forum would enable patients to access valuable and timely medical facts and resources. Both clinical and basic science research data would be made available to interested patients. The latest clinical trials would be posted, as well as information on the newest drug treatment therapies. One of the important features of the world wide web is its accessibility to a large audience on an as desired or needed basis. This has particular advantages for educational programs and provides an opportunity for the Pain Division to serve pain health professionals, as well as the lay public, by furnishing educational programs tailored to the needs of these two groups. One of the primary objectives of the Pain Division internet system is to improve health through the use of telecommunications systems. We will do this by moving pain research and education here, in the US, and across the world onto the information superhighway.
The donor will be recognized on the website for their contribution.
Computer Research Center – $75 K
A computer library would be established to keep pain research in the forefront of health care research. A computer system would be purchased to perform searches of the literature on specific research topics and for journals now available in an “on-line” format.
The donor will name this center.
Audiovisual Research Center – $75 K
The establishment of an Audiovisual Library will provide the Pain Division with an opportunity to realize the full potential of audiovisual aids. Audiovisual resources already play an important role at the Pain Division, but a comprehensive and fully equipped library is not yet a reality. The object of the library is to develop and coordinate the most effective and comprehensive audiovisual aids in all aspects of medical education, research, and patient care. The library will be a major educational resource for the School of Medicine; Department of Anesthesiology; Division of Pain Medicine. These audiovisual aids have the further advantage of conserving the precious time of the physician to the advantage of his or her patients.
One method that has proven indispensable to modern education is the use of audiovisual aids. Textbooks, lectures and laboratories must be supplemented with instructional films, videotapes, slides, printed materials, medical illustrations, and photographs. The University of Pittsburgh Pain Division Audiovisual Library will house a complete communications center.
The donor will have a plaque with their name on each piece of equipment donated.