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Member

Saurab Sharma, PhD

Institution/Organization

Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales

Member Since

2014

Country

Australia/New Zealand/Nepal

Who is or was your mentor/Who inspires you? How has their research/ clinical practice impacted yours?
I have many mentors who have inspired me over the years, and I am grateful to all for supporting me to date. I would like to particularly remember Professor Mark P. Jensen (University of Washington, USA) who has had a tremendous influence on my career and life. I have no hesitation in saying that my work and personality are inspired by his positivity towards life, kindness, high-standard work principles among many other qualities. He is someone I look up to. When in difficult life situations, I think to myself, “What would Mark Jensen do in this situation” make decisions. I also have been lucky to have ongoing mentorship from other leaders in the field –Professors James McAuley, Blair Smith, and Andrew Briggs.  I have also had generous support from so many people and I wish I could give back in this lifetime.

What topics does your current research/ clinical practice cover? How does this affect the public?
My current research involves developing ways to assess and treat pain, especially in low-resource settings. I am also currently working with international leaders on developing global best care standards for musculoskeletal conditions. My postdoctoral research involves projects related to developing and testing interventions for complex pain conditions including complex regional pain syndrome, back pain, and osteoarthritis. I am also interested in translational research.

Why did you become an IASP member?/Why are you an IASP member?
I became an IASP member when I had no connections with any pain researchers. The main reason for me was to connect and interact with the leaders in the pain field, access the PAIN journal, apply for fantastic IASP grants, attend IASP congresses, and contribute to the global pain community. 

How has your work with GAPPA influenced your day-to-day work?
Working with GAPPA board members has impacted the way I plan, conduct, and disseminate research. I now better understand the role of people with lived experiences in research and clinical care. I have voiced the need for patient involvement and engagement in publishing in the journals in my field as a result. I also plan to consult patient partners for research since conception.

What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies, other pursuits, or hidden talents?
I love cooking, gardening, bike riding, listening to music, and traveling. I wish I had more spare time. With the global pandemic, there has been exponential growth in the number of meetings I have had to attend, this has given me very little free time in the last year. I hope that I am able to learn new skills (e.g., playing guitar, swimming) when I am able to relocate to Neuroscience Research Australia in Sydney. 

Do you have a favorite account to follow on social media—for science or other topics?
I follow journals I like reading (e.g., PAIN, JOSPT, other medical journals), researchers I admire (too many to name), and organisations I am a member of (e.g., IASP, World Physiotherapy, GAPPA). I like following researchers and enjoy reading their insights on a topic, learning how brilliant minds think, and seeing their human side. Learning that they are as just as human as myself helps me feel better. I value all connections I have made through social media. Connect with me on Twitter or say hi @link_physio

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