Pain Schools
Pain Schools are multidisciplinary and multi-professional educational events intended to promote the development of the next generation of basic science and clinical pain researchers.
The Australian Pain Society has established painSTAR - the Pain School for Translation And Research. painSTAR aims to bring together the brightest lights in early career and expert pain researchers.
Create a ‘Pain Think Tank’ to drive innovation; have committed and spirited minds in one place to define problems and identify avenues to find solutions; have access to latest results and discuss emerging trends; enable cross-disciplinary collaborations between researchers, clinicians, consumers, and industry in order to grow translational thinking.
painSTAR will do this by bringing together enthusiastic and skilled early career researchers from wet- and dry-lab research, from clinical areas, and from community areas. We will ‘hot house’ them with expert mentors from across the globe (travel restrictions permitting), and engage them with consumers (people living with pain) and industry to create a collective immersive experience that traverses from the benchtop to the bedside and beyond; facilitating the translation of research findings into clinical practice and the community.
The European Pain School (EPS), founded at the University of Siena (Italy) in 2002, is the first and still the premier school intended for students working on basic science and clinical topics related to acute and chronic pain. EPS has an interdisciplinary perspective and a distinct research orientation. Young scientists at the Ph.D. or postdoctoral levels (or equivalent) in all fields of pain science and pain medicine are encouraged to apply.
The North American Pain School (NAPS) brings together leading experts in pain research and management to provide a unique educational and networking experience for the next generation of basic science and clinical pain researchers. NAPS offers opportunities for scientific education, professional development, and connections with peers in a setting far removed from the lab, steeped in the character and culture of Quebec.
Yearly programs will have a different theme and will bring together 30 trainees with six dynamic, internationally recognized pain investigators from around the world and NAPS permanent faculty for an intensive four-day workshop.
The Latin American Pain School (LAPS 2024), 9- 10 January 2024, Santiago, Chile. LAPS 2024 was a two-day theoretical and practical course taking place at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and focused on basic science and clinical topics related to acute and chronic pain, with an interdisciplinary perspective and a distinct research orientation.
Propose a Pain School
Run your own IASP supported Pain School to promote the development of the next generation of basic science and clinical pain researchers. IASP is awarding up to $15,000 US to support Pain Schools.
Submission Deadline: 15 April
Please note: Pain Schools are in-person experiences not easily replicable in the virtual environment.
Pain Camps
Pain Camps are inter-professional residential educational events aimed at promoting interdisciplinary pain management by improving the knowledge and skills of young healthcare professionals in low-and-middle-income countries.
IASP African Pain Camp
Nairobi, Kenya
23 – 26 February 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 14 AUGUST
Apply Here >
IASP will host its first African Pain Camp to develop pain management knowledge, skills, and attitude in a range of domains focusing on the multidimensional nature of pain. All participants in the African Pain Camp will have completed the Essential Pain Management training, thus starting the camp having achieved the primary outcomes of:
- Understanding the basics of pain physiology.
- Assessment of pain: how to assess pain comprehensively, including the use of appropriate tools and techniques for evaluating pain intensity, location, quality, and impact on the patient's life.
- Multimodal pain management strategies: principles of various pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for pain management, including medications, nerve blocks, physical therapy, psychological interventions, and complementary therapies.
- Recognition and management of acute pain (postoperative pain, trauma-related pain, and pain associated with medical conditions or procedures).
- Recognition and management of chronic pain including assessment, diagnosis, and management over the long term, with a focus on improving function and quality of life.
- Safe use of opioid medications for pain management, including strategies to minimize the risk of opioid-related harm, such as opioid misuse, dependence, and overdose.
- Understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration in pain management.
Building on this fundamental knowledge, the curriculum of the IASP African Pain Camp training will include interdisciplinary training to improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Pain Camp graduates will develop knowledge in:
- The multidimensional nature of pain.
- Holistic pain assessment relevant to an African context.
- Pharmacological management of pain including safe prescribing of medications available in Africa.
- Non-pharmacological management of pain including lifestyle changes, exercise, mindfulness approaches and psychological approaches relevant to an African context.
- The principles of managing conditions with a high prevalence in the region including:
- Low back pain (acute and chronic).
- Pain in sickle cell disease.
- HIV-related pain.
- Burn related pain.
- Headaches and migraine pain.
- Caesarean section pain.
- Pain in trauma and polytrauma.
- Cancer-related pain and visceral pain.
Pain Camp graduates will develop skills in:
- Safe prescribing of opioids.
- Safe prescribing of analgesics and adjuvant drugs including central acting anti-depressants and anticonvulsants, NSAIDs, simple analgesics, and
- Communication skills to develop therapeutic relationships and holistic treatment plans.
- Nonpharmacological treatment skills of breathing, magic glove, graded motor imagery, sleep hygiene, distraction, relaxation/mindfulness, activity scheduling.
- Clinical reasoning for pain.
Pain Camp graduates will demonstrate a shift:
- From a biomedical to a biopsychosocial understanding of pain.
- From a biomedical to a biopsychosocial approach to pain assessment and management.
- Towards person-centered care.
- Towards working in interdisciplinary teams.
Who Should Apply:
- Healthcare professionals working in Sub-Saharan Africa and who have excellent English skills.
Applicants Must:
- Be a current member of IASP.
- Have at least 2 years’ experience in their healthcare career.
- Work as a healthcare professional at any level of a governmental or university hospital or clinic in their country.
- Be currently or previously involved in organizing a local pain education activity or has plan to start a pain service or working in pain and related fields.
- Not have received an IASP award in the last 3 years.
- Commit to attending the full Camp in person.
Latin American Pain Camp is a four-day educational program, held in Guayaquil-Ecuador from 5 to 8 July, divided into three sections. The first section includes a theoretical approach featuring master talks with renowned speakers. The second addresses the theoretical-practical approach. Finally, the third section is an analysis of clinical cases, allowing for global medical education. Latin American Pain Camp is oriented toward the training of management from acute to chronic pain, with a holistic concept from the basic to the complex.
The number of students is limited to 30, 15 from the organizing country and 15 from the rest of Latin America. The folders will be submitted for evaluation by the Pain Camp committee, and the selected candidates will be notified as soon as possible.
The IASP-Southeast Asian Pain Management Camp
27 April - 1 May 2025
Singapore
Cost: $1,600 U.S.
Are you Interested in the different models of care, initiatives, programs and treatment afforded to chronic pain patients within Southeast-Asia? Are you keen to meet with like-minded health professionals and foster new collaborations? Are you open to acquire new knowledge and upskill in care delivery?
The ASEAPS 2025 Pain Camp Pain Camp is an experience not to be missed. Applications Closed.
The ASEAPS Pain Camp Will:
- Afford yourself a rewarding experience of self-development.
- Build knowledge and skillsets to provide holistic pain care to your patients.
- Co-create the development of pain education/services in your practice.
- Develop a stronger position for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team-based care.
Included in the Pain Camp:
- Four days of intense didactic and role play training in basic pain education and evoking change, in a small group setting with a faculty. Participant ratio of 1:2 to 3.
- Access to different subspecialty experts and pain experts on the world stage including paediatrics, interventions, epidemiology, oncology, neuropathy, movement and psychology, amongst others.
- Opportunities to collaborate, build and bring pain education and resources to your institution/country with the guidance and facilitation of international faculty.
- Networking opportunities with like-minded individuals in this region.
- Personal mentorship with regional pain experts.
- Induction into a Community of Practice (CoP) in Pain Management.
Who Should Attend:
Healthcare professional, just starting out in a career in pain management and practicing in South-East Asia and the surrounding areas.
Please apply through this Google Form with a reference letter.
Subsidized rates are available in special circumstances. Please email us to ascertain your eligibility.
Applications Closed
2nd South Asian Regional Pain Camp
22 - 24 September 2025
Delhi
This intensive camp equips healthcare professionals with essential skills for managing chronic pain. Through small-group learning, expert-led discussions, role-playing, and interactive activities, participants gain a strong foundation in pain assessment, examination, and interdisciplinary management.
In addition to hands-on training, attendees build lasting professional networks, enhancing collaboration in pain education, research, and clinical practice.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Age: Below 40 years
- Open to IASP members from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan etc.
- Maximum Participants: 30
Who Can Participate:
- Anaesthesiologists
- PMR
- Physiotherapists
- Orthopaedicians
- Psychologists
- Pain Nurses
- Any clinician looking to learn pain medicine
How to Participate:
- Complete the free EPM Course before applying for the Pain Camp.
- Complete and submit the application form.
Propose a Pain Camp
Run your own IASP supported Pain Camp to promote interdisciplinary pain management, improve the knowledge and skills of young healthcare professionals, and facilitate the formation of new IASP chapters by building a critical mass of multidisciplinary clinicians in low-and-middle-income countries. Funding from IASP for any Pain Camp will be between $20,000 US to $30,000 US based on the IASP final approved budget which varies from year to year.
Submission Deadline: 15 April
Please note: Pain Camps are in-person experiences not easily replicable in the virtual environment.
Past Pain Schools and Camps
Held from April 7-11, 2019, in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, this intensive residential course was followed by the 8th ASEAPS Congress April 11-14, 2019.
The pain camp aimed to boost understanding of pain concepts and the basics of interdisciplinary pain management for health care workers starting pain services or working in pain and related fields in Asia. Learning objectives included improving participants’ knowledge of pain pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management using a biopsychosocial approach; providing an impetus for pain practitioners in Asian countries to develop multidisciplinary pain management infrastructure or to enhance existing infrastructure; fostering closer collaboration among Asian pain practitioners; and raising the level of care for Asian pain patients.
The most recent was held in Santiago, Chile, November 19-22, 2018.
The IASP PMC-Chile 2018 was a 4-day intensive course, whose main objective was to initiate and / or update health professionals on the approach of patients with pain, in basic and clinical subjects, and in an interdisciplinary way. It was aimed at health professionals who want to start pain services or who are already working with patients with chronic pain, both in medical specialties and in other health professions. The program included topics relevant to the day-to-day clinical practice of pain, as well as others aimed at the educational and organizational aspects of health services for pain management.
The European Pain School (EPS2018), an educational project of IASP, took place in Siena, Italy, June 10-17, 2018.
Young scientists at the Ph.D. or postdoctoral levels (or equivalent) in all fields of pain science and pain medicine were encouraged to apply. The theme of the meeting was "CNS Versus PNS Contributions to Persistent Pain." The European Pain School (EPS) was the first and is still the premier school intended for students working on basic science and clinical topics related to acute and chronic pain. EPS has an interdisciplinary perspective and a distinct research orientation.
The International Pain Summer School in South America addressed mechanisms mediating the transition between acute pain and chronic, pathological pain and how these are modulated by, and in turn, modulate societal factors. This pain school also focused on interrogating, discussing, and debating the structure-function properties of neural circuits that are of key importance to acute and chronic pain and how they are dynamically altered over the course of pain chronicity.
The school incorporated refresher courses, special lectures, methods-oriented workshops, trainee talks, debates, and direct one-to-one interactions with dynamic and inspiring international faculty. Another key aim was to promote scientific and cultural exchange between South American scientists and the international pain community.
The IASP-ISSP Multidisciplinary Evidence-Based Pain Management Program was a partnership between the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and the Indian Society for the Study of Pain (ISSP), bringing together experts from multiple specialties to provide a unique education and training experience for health-care professionals in India.
The program provided an interactive, participatory, educational experience for health-care workers in India who are interested in pain management. The curriculum included fundamentals of pain physiology and pathophysiology and practical concepts of the assessment, diagnosis, and interdisciplinary management of acute and chronic pain conditions. The program covered topics relevant to day-to-day clinical practice in small-group sessions, and provided learning materials and tools to help manage patients with a broad spectrum of pain states. The course took place over a six-month period, with three two-day in-person sessions at two sites, Delhi and Mumbai. The most recent programs were held in March, May, and July 2017.
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Other Education Opportunities
IASP has gathered information from various sources on programs for continuing education in pain. These may be fellowships, degree programs, distance-learning programs, web-based training, and so forth. Inclusion in this list does not imply IASP endorsement of these programs or courses, unless otherwise specified. To learn more, please view Graduate Opportunities.