National Pain Awareness Week: Meet Dr. John Hanlon
Director, Pain Medicine Subspecialty Residency Program; Dr. John Hanlon
Dr. John Hanlon is the Program Director of the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine’s Pain Medicine subspecialty residency program.
Known for his years of leadership in pain medicine education and research, Dr. Hanlon discusses how his first-hand experience with chronic pain has fuelled his drive to help cultivate passionate and empathetic clinicians.
Why did you pursue a career in pain medicine?
I pursued a career in pain medicine because I grew up in a household where a parent lived with chronic pain. From an early age I understood that chronic pain in itself was a disease – with a profound effect on a person’s quality of life – not only for the one and five Canadians who live with chronic pain but for their families and loved ones.
What is something that you’re working on (or researching) now that you’re excited about?
As the director of the pain medicine subspecialty residency program, I focus on education and ensuring our graduates are clinically excellent and compassionate clinicians. I am also interested in maximizing the impact of the education we deliver, and to that end, every July we run a free two-day virtual National Pain Medicine Ground School. It is so wonderful to see learners from across the country come together to build community, learn from faculty, the patients who graciously share their lived experience of pain, and from each other.
What are some of your career highlights that you can share with us?
Leading the pain medicine subspecialty residency over the last nine years is one of the highlights of my career. We now have accredited training that enables interested speciality physicians of various backgrounds to learn all the facets of multidisciplinary pain medicine. Helping patients better understand their pain and improve their quality of life through self-management and other strategies is also immensely rewarding.
In your opinion, what impact would an increased focus on pain medicine and research have on patient care?
By its very nature, pain is a subjective, unpleasant emotional and sensory experience. These realities can make it more challenging to diagnose and support people living with pain. I am optimistic that our commitment to improved pain education, research and clinical care will result in more societal and medical understanding of pain, which will hopefully translate into better care an improved quality of life for those living with chronic pain.
What’s your advice for someone thinking about entering the field?
They say it takes a village to raise a child.
I believe the same is true in providing optimal care for patients living with pain. No individual or specialty has all the knowledge or skills necessary to care for our patients. Having humility about our still limited understanding of pain as well as an interest in being a team player in providing interdisciplinary care is a great starting mindset that will set people up for success and a rewarding career in our field.
Visit our website for more information on the Pain Medicine subspecialty residency program.
