Message from the Directors

Over the last several months, we’ve had exciting developments at PARC. Our monthly seminars have featured groundbreaking topics, from innovations in pain management to approaches in addiction treatment, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and guest speakers to foster collaboration.

Additionally, our Pain Medicine faculty practice recently relocated to the new Bayfront Medical Building, a state-of-the-art facility expanding our capacity for care with advanced procedural rooms, infusion bays, and integrated programs, including interventional cancer pain and interventional psychiatry services. We’re thrilled to enhance our ability to serve the community through these advancements.

Read on to find out what our PARC faculty members have been up to, save the date of our next Neuromodulation Symposium, see our slate of Monthly Seminars for 2025, and learn more about fellowship opportunities.

Mark Schumacher, MD, PhD

Christine Miaskowski, RN, PhD, FAAN

PARC in the News

Recent selected accolades and publications from PARC faculty members

• Allan Basbaum, PhD, was awarded the The Ralph W. Gerard Prize in Neuroscience – the highest recognition conferred by SfN. The award recognizes outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to neuroscience throughout their careers.

• Peter Behel, MA, published Neuron Bombardment and Cycling Neurotransmission: The Downstream Impact of Persistent Sympathetic Activation in the American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research.

• Suzie Bergmann, DDS, FTMJF, gave a TEDx Talk about her personal and professional experience with TMD and healthcare integration.

• Dan Ciccarone, MD, MPH, published an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine: Bending the Overdose Curve - Still Not Enough.

• Thomas O’Laughlin, MD, completed a business prospectus for starting a CRISPR Based Biotechnology company in Fresno for accelerating developments and providing delivery of genetic therapies for a variety of diseases with a neuro focus.

PARC Seminars 2025

Join us for our monthly Seminar series, where leading faculty members and special guests present cutting-edge research on a wide range of topics related to pain and addiction. Each month, our experts share their latest findings, innovative approaches, and the implications of their work on clinical practice and public health. Don’t miss this chance to learn, network, and collaborate with experts in the field. All seminars are virtual, from 12-1pm. Find 2025 dates and topics in the table below, and register to attend here.

Spotlight: The Addiction Awareness Association (AAA)

The Addiction Awareness Association (AAA), founded in early 2024 by Jason Lou, a senior at Vanderbilt University, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) committed to destigmatizing substance use disorders. With six chapters across three states, AAA is working to redefine addiction as a condition rooted in biology, social contexts, and psychological factors, rather than a moral failing.

AAA’s mission revolves around four core pillars—service, education, rehabilitation, and advocacy—reflecting the need for a holistic approach to a complex issue. AAA’s collaborations with community organizations, rehabilitation centers, and research institutions emphasize the importance of reaching across boundaries to create lasting change. Please reach out to Jason Luo to learn more about AAA’s initiatives and how to support them!