Five early-career pain researchers participated in the PRF-NAPS Correspondents program during the 2024 North American Pain School, which took place 23-28 June in Montebello, Québec City, Canada. The Correspondents program is a unique science communication training program that provides participants with knowledge and skills needed to communicate science effectively to a wide range of pain researchers, patients, and the greater public. As we prepare for the 2025 North American Pain School, we’re taking a look back at some highlights of NAPS 2024 and some of the people who made them possible.
In this episode of the IASP-PRF Podcast, PRF correspondent Rima El-Sayed spoke with scientist and patient partner Alice Wagenaar-Tison, PhD candidate at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. During their wide-ranging conversation, Wagenaar detailed her experience with chronic pain, gave advice to any chronic pain patients interested in becoming a patient partner, and how you do not need to be a scientist to help design studies with patients in mind.
Podcast participants include:
- Alice Wagenaar-Tison, University of Québec at Trois-Rivières, Canada
- Rima El-Sayed, University of Toronto, Canada
This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Alice Wagenaar-Tison, is a doctoral student in biomedical sciences at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, where she studies the neurophysiology of pain and the interaction of pain and cognition. More specifically, she studies the power of distraction to reduce pain, as well as how pain can interfere with daily activities.
Rima El-Sayed is a PhD candidate and graduate student researcher based out of Toronto, Canada. You can find them on X at @RimaElSayed1.