American Society of Pain and Neuroscience Recognizes UAMS’ Johnathan Goree, M.D., Erika Petersen, M.D.
| The American Society for Pain and Neuroscience presented awards to Johnathan H. Goree, M.D., and Erika Petersen, M.D., both physicians at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), at its third annual national meeting July 22-25 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Goree, director of UAMS’ Chronic Pain Division and program director of the Chronic Pain Medicine Fellowship, received the second annual Lisa Stearns Legacy Diversity Award, presented by Natalie H. Strand, M.D.
Petersen, a neurosurgeon and professor in the Department of Neurosurgery in the UAMS College of Medicine, received the Functional Neurosurgeon of the Year award, presented by Robert Levy, M.D., Ph.D. Petersen was also named president-elect of the organization during the conference and will serve for a two-year term.
A panel of experts in the fields of neurosciences and chronic pain therapy selected the winners.
“I am so proud that the American Society for Pain and Neuroscience is recognizing two of our physicians with these awards,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health.
“Dr. Goree’s work is especially important as Arkansas has one of the highest opioid prescribing rates resulting in high rates of addiction and overdose. He is also improving the future by training the next generation of chronic pain specialists as fellowship director of our state’s first accredited chronic pain physician training program,” Patterson said. “And Dr. Petersen has greatly improved the care we offer for our patients here at UAMS. Her work with deep brain stimulation surgery has improved the lives of so many Arkansans.”
“This is a big win for UAMS and presents an opportunity to highlight the unique partnership between chronic pain and functional neurosurgery that we have built here,” said Goree, who is also an associate professor of anesthesiology. “It underscores the strides in research, education and clinical care that we have made in the past seven to nine years that have made ours one of the premier programs in the nation.”
“The treatment we give our patients restores their independence, returning their ability to write, use a fork and spoon, and shave,” said Petersen, who passes on her knowledge through teaching and research.
The American Society for Pain and Neuroscience is the premier multidisciplinary society for chronic pain, neuromodulation and minimally invasive spine therapies. It was established to create a new forum for scientific exchange and discussion between experienced physicians, those in training and emerging leaders in the field. The society works to improve patient outcomes, education and research, establish best practice and support fellow colleagues in their work to improve the field.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,275 students, 890 medical residents and fellows, and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.
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