New HEAL Research Priorities Article | Building the Future Pain Workforce: Mentorship, Cohorts, and Global Collaboration
Pain research has historically suffered from fragmented education and training pathways. Building a sustainable, interdisciplinary workforce requires intentional mentorship, institutional infrastructure, and strong global connections. The latest installment in the HEAL Research Priorities series examines Priority A, which focuses on expanding fellowship programs, career development awards, and mentored opportunities across all career stages.
In this new interview, Stephani Sutherland, PhD, speaks with Jennifer Haythornthwaite, PhD (Johns Hopkins University), and Cheryl Stucky, PhD (Medical College of Wisconsin), about shifting from piecemeal training to cohesive, cohort-based mentorship and Centers of Excellence.
Key Topics Include:
-
Overcoming Structural Fragmentation: Addressing the historical lack of centralized pain education by leveraging interdisciplinary cohorts (T32, K12, T90) and immersive training models.
-
The Power of Cohorts and Communities: How intense cohort experiences and training centers foster a sense of belonging, cross-talk, and long-term scientific collaboration across disciplines.
-
International Collaborations & Pipeline Constraints: Navigating current policy restrictions on foreign trainees and foreign components while advocating for global partnerships in pain research.
- Centers of Excellence & Infrastructure: Drawing inspiration from the National Cancer Institute model to establish dedicated pain centers that unite basic and clinical scientists.
Building a sustainable, interdisciplinary research pipeline requires intentional investment in both people and institutional infrastructure. Read the full interview to explore how mentorship, cohort building, and Centers of Excellence are shaping the next generation of pain scientists, and join the discussion in the PURPOSE forum to share your insights.