Many young people experience disabling pain that arises from an illness or disease. For some this ain continues after healing of an injury or disease, or simply emerges without a clear cause. This ‘chronic pain’ can be devastating to the developing lives of children, and to their families.
The Centre for Pain Research at The University of Bath - http://www.bath.ac.uk/health/pain/, is an international home of experts who are developing our knowledge about why people come to suffer with pain, and how to help children and their families recover from pain damaged lives.
The Centre recently welcomed Dr Lindsey Cohen to spend the year, as award winner of the 2008-2009 David Parkin award Visiting Professorship. The Esther Parkin Trust provides annual funding of up to £20k to support this award. It provides an excellent opportunity to attract an outstanding colleague from outside the UK and to develop ongoing research and publication partnerships.
Dr Cohen is an Associate Professor from the Georgia State University. His current research program is in the field of paediatric psychology, which involves the interplay between clinical child psychology and paediatric medicine. Dr Cohen’s lab has a long-standing interest in the assessment and treatment of children’s acute medical pain.
This is an area of knowledge which Dr Cohen has expanded on during his sabbatical year at the University of Bath. Dr Cohen’s stay was very productive, resulting in 4 publications to high quality journals such as the Journal for Pain. Dr. Cohen has also been able to take back his findings and develop treatment programmes in his home state of Georgia, USA.
Dr Cohen commented: My work with the many fine scholars at the Centre for Pain Research at the University of Bath and the related Centre for Pain Services at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases l helped me expand my expertise in paediatric pain, especially regarding using evidence based approaches to helping youth with chronic pain lead more fulfilling lives. Personally, my family and I were warmly welcomed by the community and we developed life-long friendships that will endure the distance across the pond. We hope to periodically visit our colleagues and friends in Bath.
Professor Eccleston added: I am very pleased that the centre is able to support visiting scholars of Dr. Cohen’s calibre. Pain Research is an international activity and sharing knowledge across borders is very important to our collective effort of improving the lives of young people suffering in pain.
The Centre welcomes application from visitors to study or spend sabbaticals. If you are interested, please contact us : Lisa Austin at L.Austin@Bath.ac.uk, 01225 386575
The Centre is dependent upon charitable giving and competitive grant awards for all of its activity. Donations are welcome. Please contact Mr Gavin Maggs, H Major Gifts on 01225 383054
