Special Events
Connect, unwind, and make the most of your experience with a variety of engaging networking and social events. Go beyond the educational sessions to build an experience tailored to your needs and interests. Just be sure to plan ahead, as some events require advance registration or an additional fee.
Military Symposium: Advancing Practice Across the Military and VA Health Systems
Wednesday • 1-6 pm • Free to all attendees • Preregister to ensure your spot
Join the director of the Defense Health Agency and other VA anesthesia and pain management specialty leaders for a Special Symposium, "Advancing Practice Across the Military and VA Health Systems." Program and more information coming soon. Registration/check-in from 12-1 pm in Phoenix C Foyer.
Welcome Networking Reception and Exhibit Hall Grand Opening
Thursday • 5:15-7:15 pm • Exhibit Hall • Free to all attendees
Guest tickets: $30 • 21 years and over only
Cap off day one of the meeting with some wine or bubbly while enjoying light hors d’oeuvres with friends, colleagues, and exhibitors. Discover the exhibit hall and its vast array of products and services.
Morning Fun Run/Walk
Friday • 6:15 am • Meet in Hotel Lobby • $25 donation
The ASRA Pain Medicine Morning Fun Run will be Friday, April 17, at 6:15 am. The cost (donation) will be $25 per person benefiting the ASRA Pain Medicine Early-Stage Investigator/Graduate Student Award. Add a ticket to your registration, and be one of the first to arrive so you can add to your ASRA Pain Medicine Fun Run T-shirt collection (while supplies last)!
Career and Engagement Session
Friday • 6:45-7:45 am • Camelback
Engage with ASRA Pain Medicine leaders in a one-on-one meeting tailored to your stage of professional growth. Receive feedback on your CV, explore advancement strategies, and discover ways to get more involved in ASRA Pain Medicine committees, SIGs, publications, and leadership opportunities. Space is limited; preregister to ensure your spot.
RA/Acute Pain Think Tank
Friday • 7-8 am • Alhambra
Join us for breakfast and an interactive RA/Acute Pain Medicine Think Tank designed for trainees, attendings, and anyone interested in the specialty. Come ready to share ideas, ask questions, and engage with peers and experts in a dynamic, forward-thinking discussion. This event is led by Dr. Sandy Kopp, president-elect of ASRA Pain Medicine.
PA, NP, and Nursing Meet and Greet
Friday • 9:30-10:15 am • Exhibit Hall Chat Room
Take this opportunity to meet with fellow PA, NP, and nursing colleagues to network, share experiences, and learn about ASRA Pain Medicine. The chat room located in the exhibit hall will be the meeting point for a snack and great conversations.
Meet the RAPM Editor-in-Chief
Friday • 3-4 pm • RAPM Booth, Exhibit Hall
Saturday • 9-10 am • Membership Booth, Exhibit Hall
Meet Dr. Brian Sites, RAPM editor-in-chief, for a behind-the-scenes look at editorial decision-making and the path from submission to publication.
- Understand the criteria used in RAPM’s editorial review process
- Gain insight into peer review and publication timelines
- Discuss your research ideas and get expert guidance
- Explore ways to get involved with the editorial board
Membership Meet and Greet
Friday • 3:45-4:30 pm • Exhibit Hall
Are you a member of ASRA Pain Medicine or interested in joining? Don’t miss this opportunity to network with peers, ask questions, and learn more about your ASRA Pain Medicine benefits. Make the most of your membership by learning about the latest resources and all ASRA Pain Medicine has to offer. ASRA Pain Medicine members can also pick up a small gift to thank you for your membership!
Pain Illuminated
Friday • 4-5:30 pm • Alhambra • Open to all, no fee
Pain Illuminated is an art exhibit where participants are invited to translate their understanding and experience studying and treating pain into a creative expression—in visual, literary, or mixed media form. Produced by the Resident & Fellow Committee Medical Student Subcommittee, all submissions will be evaluated by judges selected from the Resident & Fellow Committee leadership and committee members.
Shark Tank
Friday • 4:30-6 pm • Open to all
This interactive session provides an opportunity for participants to pitch new and innovative ideas to experts in the field, known as "Sharks," in hopes of securing the winning idea. The Sharks will ask questions about the value, scale, competition, and potential risks of the project, with the goal of promoting advancements in science and medicine through creative strategies in research, design, and application.
Resident/Fellow and Fellowship Directors Meet and Greet
Friday • 7-8 pm • Valley Overlook • Free to all Residents and Fellows
Jointly organized by: ASRA Pain Medicine and the Regional Anesthesiology Fellowship Directors Association (RAFDA)
Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a beverage while networking with fellow trainees and members of the Regional Anesthesiology Fellowship Directors Association (RAFDA); an independent organization committed to advancing postgraduate fellowship training in regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine, promoting education-related scholarship, and developing the next generation of leaders in the subspecialty.
Generously supported by: Pacira BioSciences
Diversity and Inclusion Breakfast and SIG Meeting
Saturday • 6:45-7:45 am • Cave Creek • Preregistration is required, no guests
Enjoy breakfast and group discussions during this special event, with the theme "Creating Transformative and Inclusive Spaces Across the Anesthesia & Pain Ecosystem." Sponsored by the Diversity Special Interest Group, the event provides an opportunity for networking and a chance to learn from leaders in the field.
Choose from one of the following topics (limited space; first come, first served):
- Psychological Safety in the OR & Pain Clinic (Dr. Lopa Misra - Mayo Clinic Arizona)
- Generational Differences in the Workforce (Dr. Lucia Lee - Hospital for Special Surgery; Dr. Stuart Grant - University of North Carolina)
- Inclusive Education in Resident & Fellowship Training (Dr. Crystal Joseph - Beth Israel Deaconess; Dr. Ireana Ng - University of Washington Harborview Medical Center)
- Navigating Bias from Patients and Reducing Bias in Perioperative Care (Dr. Iyabo Muse - University of Virginia)
- Allyship That Moves the Needle (Dr. Johnny Lee - Endeavour Health Northshore Hospitals)
Trainee Quiz Bowl
Saturday • 10-11 am • Camelback
Calling all trainees! Join the ASRA Pain Medicine Resident & Fellow Committee for a Trainee Quiz Bowl on Saturday, April 18 from 10-11 am. Trainees of all levels are welcome to come participate and join a team. Teams will test their regional anesthesia and pain medicine knowledge in a low-stakes environment while meeting peers and having fun.
Excellence in ASRA Pain Medicine Awards Luncheon
Saturday • 12-1:30 pm • Encanto
Presentation: free • Lunch tickets: $25 member, $35 non-member
Celebrate cutting-edge research with an update from Research Chair Rebecca Johnson, MD, presentation of the Presidential Scholar Award to Hari Kalagara, MBBS, MD, FCARCSI, EDRA, and the Gaston Labat Award Lectureship by André P. Boezaart, MD, PhD, FASRA.
ASRA Pain Medicine Annual Meeting Celebration
Saturday • 6-9 pm • Valley Overlook
Tickets: $75 member, $100 non-member, $30 children 9 and underEnd the meeting on a high note at the Saturday Celebration! Enjoy great food, drinks, and music while connecting with colleagues and friends—both familiar faces and new ones—and creating memories that last.
