|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Message from the Board
Welcome to the March 2025 SaskPain Newsletter. During a time of transitions in seasons (goodbye winter!), a refreshed website, and board roles, this newsletter will highlight some changes. Newsletters are scheduled to be delivered in October, December, March and June and provide information and updates about SaskPain activities and resources for chronic pain management locally, provincially, and nationally.
|
Board Changes
|
Outgoing Chair - Dr. Susan Tupper PT PhD
|
It is with sadness that the board accepted Dr. Tupper's resignation from the Chair role, and gratitude for her significant contributions and leadership to SaskPain since the inception of the organization. Susan is a provincial and national leader in the area of chronic pain and has, through her work with Pain Canada, and her current role as Manager, Professional Practice, Pain Strategy and Research with the Sask Health Authority positioned SaskPain to improve the lives of those living with pain in Saskatchewan. The entire board wishes Susan well in all future endeavors and look forward to benefiting from her continued mentorship and liaison with health care in the province.
|
New Chair - Dr. Cathy Jeffery RN(Retired) PhD has accepted the role of board Chair for a period of one year. Cathy has also been involved in SaskPain since inception and looks forward to continuing the board's great work done to date to strengthen SaskPain's contribution to the support of people living with pain in the province and their family and health care providers.
|
New Vice-Chair - Dr. Mark Labrecque BSc DC has accepted the role of board Vice-Chair for a period of one year. Mark joined the board in 2022 and brings a wealth of knowledge from his many years of clinical practice, participation in local and national professional chiropractic groups, and from his role as Head, Division of Chiropractic, Department of Family Medicine, Sask Health Authority. In addition, Mark is keenly interested and has been involved for many years in facilitating interprofessional continuing education on topics related to chronic pain treatment and management.
|
Interested in Joining our Board?
|
If you are interested in finding out more about being a SaskPain Board member and have lived experience with pain, and/or experience and skills particularly in the areas of business development, fundraising, legal, or social media please email SaskPain or view the SaskPain Board Member application at this link on the About Us page of our website SaskPain Board Member Application
|
|
|
|
SaskPain's Continued Areas of Focused Work
The board continues to explore partnerships and activities to move the four areas of focused work forward over the next two years.
|
- Supporting people living with pain
- Resources and capacity
- Raising visibility and collaboration
- Education for people living with pain and healthcare providers
|
Alongside many others in the province who strive to improve services and resources for people living with pain and their care providers, SaskPain will contribute to an important partnership through the Sask Health Authority newly launched Chronic Pain Provincial Clinical Network (PCN). Several SaskPain board members attended the kick-off event on March 14, 2025. Stay tuned for more information about the PCN including how you can contribute. To receive email updates about the Chronic Pain Provincial Clinical Network, sign up to the PCN Mailing List
|
|
|
|
SaskPain Website Refresh
|
The SaskPain website was refreshed effective March 9, 2025.
|
Did you happen to receive another copy of the SaskPain June 2024 Newsletter? Oops - sorry - we did too!! This was an unintended outcome of the newly refreshed SaskPain website. We still have a few bugs to work out but check out the SaskPain website for excellent content and resources for health care providers and people with lived experience of pain in the province.
|
|
|
|
Resources for Pain Management
National and Local
|
|
|
Pain Canada
Pain Canada has a lot of excellent information to explore. Find out more about what is being done across Canada to meet the recommendations of the Action Plan for Pain in Canada by selecting the Action Plan button on the Pain Canada website. The Resources tab includes lists of resources for people living with pain, resources for healthcare professionals, and awareness and advocacy campaigns across Canada. Check this link for a list of resources including free online courses: Pain Canada Resources
|
Canadian Pain Society
|
Check out the Canadian Pain Society (CPS) website for education opportunities and to review the curriculum for the May 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting being held in Toronto Canadian Pain Society
|
CPS also hosts monthly National Pain Rounds that are free of charge, on the last Friday of each month (except December). Check this page on the CPS website to find out more about content and dates and to register: CPS Pain Rounds
|
Power Over Pain Portal
The Power Over Pain Portal is the result of a coast-to-coast Canadian collaboration of people living with pain, clinicians, researchers, and representatives of community organizations with the common goal of improving access to chronic pain care in Canada. Power Over Pain is a direct response to Health Canada's Action Plan for Pain in Canada. The goal is to provide access to free resources in a one-stop shop. Resources include articles, videos, podcasts, courses, workshops, and peer support. Access the website here: Power Over Pain You will see there are resources for both adults and youth.
|
Pain BC
Pain BC offers many resources for persons who have lived experience and health care providers. Check out their website for array of resources and information: Pain BC
|
Pain Society of Alberta
The Pain Society of Alberta (PSA) offers education and resources. Check out their website here: PSA
|
Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans
|
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans is a research centre focusing on improving the well-being of Veterans with chronic pain.
|
People in Pain Network
People in Pain Network is a non-profit organization that promotes well-being for people living in persistent pain and those who care about them, by strengthening self-management programs, access to resources, and community support. Check out the Resources button on the website: People in Pain Network
|
|
Active Living for Pain is a resource for people living with pain who are looking for information on how to become and stay physically active. Our research team led by Dr. Nancy Gyurcsik and Dr. Susan Tupper is working with people who live with pain and community-based exercise instructors to co-design a physical activity program for people who have moderate to high impact pain. Follow us on social media and visit our website Active Living for Pain to follow our progress and learn about Active Living for Pain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and Improvement Updates
|
The national Chronic Pain Network (Chronic Pain Network) is one of five networks funded through a Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation Science Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategy for Patient-oriented Research (SPOR). SaskPain is a partner on this project and is collaborating with other national stakeholders to mobilize knowledge to people living with pain and healthcare providers in order to remove barriers to pain management.
|
|
|
|
|
The Improving Pain in Saskatchewan (IPSK) Research team is focusing on knowledge mobilization. Find study updates on our website at: SaskPain Research
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conferences
|
Pain Society of Alberta (PSA)19th Annual Conference
|
The PSA Annual Conference will be held October 17 - 18, 2025 with pre-conference workshops on October 16, 2025. This important annual conference focuses on pain diagnosis, treatment, and management best-practices. Check this link for more information about the conference location, agenda, speakers, and registration: Pain Society of Alberta 2025 Conference
|
|
Pain Canada Annual Putting the Pieces Together Conference
|
|
Pain Canada will again host a national online conference, organized for and by people living with pain, from November 3 - 7, 2025. This annual conference has been well attended by people from across Canada. Click on this link to check for updates on the 2025 conference or to watch recordings of the sessions that were offered at previous conferences: Putting the Pieces Together Conference
|
|
|
|
|
|
|