Editor’s note: For the past 21 years, September has been declared Pain Awareness Month in the United States. During this time, we reflect on the global burden of pain and assess ways to increase engagement, awareness, and advocacy regarding this issue. Although September has concluded, we should continue to engage in these vital practices! For a unique perspective on the challenges of raising pain awareness, PRF spoke with Staja “Star” Booker, PhD, RN.
Booker is an assistant professor in the Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE Center) at the University of Florida, US, and her recent work has contributed to our knowledge of osteoarthritis pain in older African Americans. She is active in several national pain, nursing, and gerontology organizations, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP). Additionally, Booker serves as a member of the Pain Research Forum Editorial Board.
In the podcast below, recorded on 21 September 2022, Booker speaks with PRF Virtual Correspondent Paulina Scheuren, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. They discuss Booker's experience working at the PRICE Center, pain management hurdles for underrepresented communities, and misinformation versus missed information regarding chronic pain. This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts here.
Paulina Scheuren, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland – @ScheurenPaulina.