Understanding Pain Conference: How Mind, Body, and Care Intersect

Exploring Interdisciplinary, Evidence-Based Approaches to Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention

📅 June 3, 2026
📍 Russell Sage College

Bush Memorial Center

65 First St Troy NY 12180

8:30am-4:00pm

🍽️ Registration includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks

Pain is complex- and so is treating it effectively.

Join us for a dynamic, one-day conference bringing together a powerhouse lineup of regional experts to explore how clinical care, neuroscience, psychology, and rehabilitation intersect in the understanding and treatment of pain.

This experience equips healthcare professionals and community providers with practical, evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes, reduce reliance on opioids, and address the full spectrum of pain, from acute to chronic, through a multidisciplinary lens.

1. Understand basic neurobiology of physical pain, how to differentiate between nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic pain phenotypes, and associate pain phenotypes to evidence-based practices.
2. Describe multidisciplinary approaches to pain management: who, when, how and why.
3. Identify evidence-based practices appropriate for different settings (e.g. primary care, emergency department, subspecialty care).

• Learn from leading experts across medicine, psychology, physical therapy, and pharmacology
• Explore cutting-edge research and real-world applications in pain management
• Gain tools to reduce substance use risk while improving quality of care
• Engage in meaningful discussions on integrating pain science into everyday practice
• Network with professionals across disciplines

🎓 Continuing Education Credits:

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and Policies of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) through the joint providership of Ellis Medicine and Healthy Capital District Initiative, Inc.. Ellis Medicine is accredited by The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Ellis Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 creditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc. (WNY R-AHEC) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Boards for Social Work (#SW-0685), Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health Practitioners (#MHC-0268), and Speech Language Pathology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers, physical therapists and assistants, occupational therapists, and assistants, licensed mental health counselors, and speech language pathologists.

From the biology of pain to real-world clinical application, this agenda is designed to build knowledge throughout the day:

• Neurobiology of Pain: The Evolving Pain Experience
  Anne Nafziger, MD, PhD, MHS – IMA Clinical Research
• Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department
  Michael Waxman, MD, MPH – Albany Medical Center
• Cognitive and Emotional Dimensions of Pain
  Michael Prezioso, PhD – Blue Line Psychological, LLC
• Reframing Chronic Pain: A Rehabilitative Physical Therapy Perspective
  Erin Elkins, PT, DPT, Ed.D. – Russell Sage College
• Psychophysiology of Chronic Pain: Root Causes and How to Help
  Adriana Steffens, PhD, BCN, QEEG-D – Mind Matters Regional Neurofeedback Centers
• The Inheritance Conundrum: Managing Legacy Chronic Pain Patients
  Jeffrey Bettinger, PharmD – Saratoga Hospital
• Acupuncture: A Complementary Treatment for Pain
  Kokwai Yap MD

💬 Plus: Interactive practice integration discussions, poster presentations, and networking opportunities throughout the day

8:00–8:30 AM – Set-up for tabling
8:30–9:00 AM – Registration & tabling
9:00–9:05 AM – Welcome (Amanda Duff, PhD – Healthy Capital District)
9:05–9:45 AM – Neurobiology of Pain (Anne Nafziger, MD, PhD, MHS)
9:45–10:30 AM – Alternatives to Opioids in the ED (Michael Waxman, MD, MPH)
10:30–10:45 AM – Break & tabling
10:45–11:15 AM – Legacy Chronic Pain Patients (Jeffrey Bettinger, PharmD
11:15 AM–12:15 PM – Cognitive & Emotional Dimensions of Pain (Michael Prezioso, PhD
12:15–1:10 PM – Lunch, poster presentations & networking
1:10–1:55 PM– Acupuncture: A Complementary Treatment for Pain (Kokwai Yap, MD)
1:55–2:25 PM – Psychophysiology of Chronic Pain (Adriana Steffens, PhD)
2:25–3:10 PM – Rehabilitative PT Perspective (Erin Elkins, PT, DPT, Ed.D.)
3:10–3:55 PM – Practice Integration Discussions

3:55–4:00 PM – Close and Call to Action (Anne Nafziger, MD, PhD, MHS)

This conference is ideal for:

• Physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers
• Behavioral health professionals
• Physical and occupational therapists
• Pharmacists
• Social workers and care coordinators
• Anyone involved in pain management and patient care

By the end of this conference, participants will be able to:

• Apply multidisciplinary approaches to pain management- integrating neuroscience, behavioral health, pharmacology, and rehabilitation into real-world care
• Translate evidence into practice by incorporating comprehensive, patient-centered pain strategies into everyday clinical workflows
• Assess and address substance use risk while maintaining effective, compassionate pain management
• Collaborate across disciplines- working alongside behavioral health, Ph*rm*cy, and rehabilitation professionals to improve patient outcomes

Think differently.
Collaborate across disciplines.
And leave with actionable strategies you can use immediately.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Healthy Capital District