46th Annual Shields Research Day: Revolutionizing Pain and Outcomes Research
Highlights
On Friday, May 2, 2025, nearly 400 attendees gathered for the 46th Annual Shields Research Day, an event dedicated to advancing, understanding and innovation in anesthesiology and pain medicine under the theme, Revolutionizing Pain and Outcomes Research.
The day began with a warm welcome as Dr. Yasmine Hoydonckx, Chair of the Shields Day Planning Committee, officially opened the day. We were honoured to be joined by Dr. Lisa Robinson, Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, whose presence underscored the importance of the occasion. Her remarks highlighted the vital roles anesthesiologists play beyond the operating room, in pain medicine, critical care, education, research, and leadership. She acknowledged challenges like rising waitlists and a global shortage of anesthesiologists, while expressing deep gratitude for the dedication of faculty, staff, and trainees. Looking ahead, Dr. Robinson offered an optimistic vision inspired by the department’s outstanding contributions. Dr. Beverley Orser, Chair of the Department, and Dr. Brian Cuthbertson, Vice-Chair of Research, closed the opening remarks and set a tone of excitement and collaboration for the day’s events.
Two outstanding keynote lectures anchored the academic program, each bringing a critical perspective on the challenges and opportunities in pain medicine research. Dr. Sean Mackey of Stanford University delivered the Shields Day Lecture entitled Decoding Pain: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Clinical Empowerment. He explored how brain mechanisms shape the experience of chronic pain, the promise of biomarkers for developing personalized treatment plans, and how real-world data can improve clinical outcomes and support precision pain management.
He emphasized the need to make data actionable in the clinical environment, moving beyond traditional randomized controlled trials to approaches that reflect the patients physicians actually care for. Dr. Mackey described his team's current work at Stanford: "We’re taking the neuroimaging knowledge, the biomarker knowledge, those signatures, and we’re now integrating those into our learning healthcare system to further enhance that clinical decision making.” This effort includes developing a broader cloud-based platform to capture national data on people living with pain, enabling continuous learning and application of insights to improve care. As Dr. Mackey said, “It’s an incredibly exciting time for us.”
In the afternoon, Dr. James Khan, inaugural holder of the Anesthesia and Pain Management Professorship in Perioperative Sciences, gave the Anesthesia Faculty Lecture on Beyond the Operating Room: Tackling the Hidden Epidemic of Chronic Post-Surgical Pain. He brought attention to a growing concern in anesthesiology and perioperative care: the persistent and often overlooked pain that can follow surgical procedures. Dr. Khan explored the definition and significant burden of chronic post-surgical pain, examining potential mechanisms that contribute to its development. Dr. Khan also highlighted promising advances in prevention. Moving forward, he called for further research and interdisciplinary approaches to reduce the incidence of chronic post-surgical pain and ensure better outcomes for patients.
Throughout the day, our trainees showcased their ongoing research through oral and poster presentations. This opportunity allowed them to engage fully with the scientific process, from abstract writing and submission to poster design and delivering their work orally. Guided by experienced faculty mentors, Shields Research Day plays a vital role in preparing trainees for future careers in academia and research leadership.
In keeping with the theme of the day, many participants were celebrated for their commitment to excellence. Awards were presented across multiple categories, including Faculty Awards for Education and Clinical Excellence, Staff Teaching and Trainee Awards, and Oral and Poster Presentation Awards. A full list of recipients can be found below.
As the day came to a close, attendees left inspired by the depth of research on display and the collective commitment to improving patient care. The success of the 46th Annual Shields Research Day would not have been possible without the exceptional speakers, moderators, judges, abstract reviewers, and the Shields Day Planning Committee led by Dr. Yasmine Hoydonckx. We look forward to continuing this momentum and seeing everyone again next year.
