Department of Psychology 2025 Distinguished Speaker Lecture

The Department of Psychology is pleased to welcome Dr. Christine Chambers as our Distinguished Speaker for this year's Departmental Distinguished Speaker Lecture. Please see below for a summary of her lecture.

Talk Title: From Research to Real World: Advancing the Implementation of Psychological Science in Children's Pain

Talk Summary: Poorly managed pain in children is a significant health issue that leads to unnecessary suffering and both immediate and long-term negative consequences. While effective psychological and medical treatments exist, many children and their families continue to experience pain due to under-treatment and gaps in prevention. To truly advance pain management, research findings must be effectively disseminated to diverse audiences, including patients, healthcare providers, policymakers, and caregivers, and implemented into real-world settings. This presentation will explore the critical role of psychological science in improving children’s pain management and highlights strategies to bridge the gap between evidence and practice. Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP; https://kidsinpain.ca), a national knowledge mobilization network, serves as a model for coordinating and accelerating the translation of evidence into action. Key themes include tailoring scientific knowledge for various interest-holders and settings, fostering meaningful partnerships, engaging patients and families, and leveraging collaboration to maximize impact. By focusing on implementation, this presentation underscores the transformative potential of psychological science to enhance pain management for children in need. The insights and strategies presented are applicable to a range of other areas of psychological science.

Host or Publisher Department of Psychology, University of Calgary