Dear Colleagues and Friends of WIP,
In recognition of the new term of the WIP Executive Board, which runs from 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2023, the new executive board is as follows:
- Peter Staats, President
- Dominic Hegarty, President-Elect
- Miles Day, Honorary Treasurer
- Mert Akbas, Honorary Secretary
- Adnan Al-Kaisy, Chair of Board of Sections
- Serdar Erdine, Founder and Past President
- Ricardo Ruiz-Lopez, Founder and Past President
- Gabor Racz, Founder and Past President
I am very grateful to each of these individuals for their willingness to contribute their time and efforts in support of this important and unique society. I look forward to working with all of you to do our part in solving some one of the world’s most vexing problems, chronic pain!
In addition, the board is excited to work closely with Kris Vissers, Chair of the Board of Examination, and Monique Steegers, Registrar of the Board of Examination, to push the FIPP and CIPS to new heights. The FIPP & CIPS Exams, in no small part due to the leadership of Kris and Monique, are considered the preeminent examinations allowing physicians to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in managing complex pain problems. I would like congratulate my colleagues and thank them for their willingness to serve on your behalf. We are all excited to serve you and push our society forward!
As you all know the pandemic has upended our normal way of doing business, with frequent in-person meetings and examinations. All of us, across every continent and in every corner of the globe, are continuing to adapt to the changed world that has resulted from this pandemic. While we of course grieve together for all those whose lives have been lost, and for everyone whose health has been affected by this global affliction, we need to adapt and grow. This means just about every area of our business practices need to be evaluated and advanced. I have challenged each member of our executive team to think about how we can do a better job for you, and to expand our services. Many of the adaptations we have seen coming, but the pandemic has accelerated some of the innovations in delivery of educational efforts.
Although we are currently prevented from our customary in-person gatherings, the quality and commitment of the Executive Board, and the leadership from the Board of Examination will help us envision a new future for pain specialists and patients suffering with chronic pain.
In the coming months you will see new changes and offerings coming to the WIP. A few highlights will include a new website look which will be continually updated with relevant information, new continuing medical education offerings, new processes for the examination procedures, new books on areas relevant to the pain physician and a new look to our journal.
As interventional pain physicians, we are very much in the thick of the fight against Covid-19, not only in the acute phase, but also as we learn more about the long-term effects of this virus. I suspect our expertise will be needed even more as we come out on the other side of the pandemic. Long Covid is likely to be one of the most challenging problems the world will face this century. It is another pandemic that is barreling down upon us. I believe that the World Institute of Pain is a special organization, one that fosters a unique, international community of experts in our field, and together we can come together to solve this problem. As part of this we will be starting an effort to provide guidelines on managing the pain associated with long Covid.
We are dipping our toes in the water for smaller local meetings and exams for the remainder of 2021, and have our sights on the next year when most experts believe it will be safe to travel again. I am excited to announce that we are planning the next world Congress to be held in Budapest 2022. It will be wonderful to see you all there!
For my colleagues and friends from around the world, please reach out with ideas, and strategies to work together. Please join me in welcoming the leadership team of WIP to their new positions!
Best regards,
Peter S. Staats, MD, MBA, FIPP
President, World Institute of Pain
