Learning Objectives
- Identify key psychosocial treatment targets in the older adult with chronic noncancer pain.
- List the pathognomonic features of myofascial pain.
- Describe modifications to treatment that practitioners may wish to consider for the older adult with pain and dementia.
Debra K. Weiner, MD
Dr. Weiner is a geriatrician who is also trained in rheumatology and acupuncture. She is Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, Anesthesiology and Clinical & Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Associate Director for Research at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center. She has focused her clinical practice on caring for older adults with chronic noncancer pain conditions since 1998 when she began her tenure at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research career has been motivated by testing her clinical observations in the context of rigorously conducted research. She has conducted interdisciplinary research on various aspects of pain and aging since 1994 when she was awarded an NIH career development award to study pain in nursing home residents. Since then, she has been continually funded as principal investigator (PI) or co-PI on a federally funded grants focused on older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain, primarily chronic low back pain, and more recently lumbar spinal stenosis. She has conducted clinical trials on the efficacy of acupuncture and related modalities for the treatment of chronic low back pain and advanced knee osteoarthritis and she is currently conducting a study evaluating the efficacy of a personalized approach to caring for older adults with chronic low back pain. Dr. Weiner also is a passionate educator, and she is working with an interprofessional team to produce an e-learning course for primary care providers designed to build expertise and confidence in caring for older adults with chronic pain.
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