The extent and implications of chronic pain in the lives of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans and their families are significant. This CIMVHR symposium brings together experts and Veterans with lived lives from Canada and the United States to share leading edge developments. Dr. Eric Schoomaker, 42nd U.S. Army Surgeon General and former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command will open the symposium with a reminder about the important roles of emerging interdisciplinary approaches to managing chronic pain.

Speakers include:

• LGen (Retd) Eric B. Schoomaker, MD, PhD, 42nd U.S. Army Surgeon General and Former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command
• Friedhelm Sandbrink, MD, National Program Director for Pain Management, Specialty Care Services; and Veterans Health Administration, Director Pain Management, Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Benjamin Kligler, MD, MPH, Executive Director, Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation, US Veterans Health Administration
• Ramesh Zacharias, MD, President, CEO and Medical Director, Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans; Assistant Clinical Director, McMaster University Medical Centre 
• Pte (Retd) Michelle Bourdon, Veteran, Canadian Armed Forces