Chronic pain for women is real.

In fact, one in three women in this country live with chronic pain that affects their quality of life. Yet, women's pain is too often misdiagnosed, minimized and undertreated or inappropriately treated.

HealthyWomen's Chronic Pain Advisory Council focuses on issues that advance the chronic pain dialogue while recognizing the importance of racial, gender and cultural differences. This group of 14 renowned experts lend their expertise to amplify issues relevant to women in midlife, raise awareness on knowledge gaps, create in-depth content and resources, and collaborate with stakeholders to advance pain policy and advocacy.

"Although millions of women suffer from chronic pain, it can be extremely difficult to diagnose and treat and can have a negative effect on quality of life," said Monica Mallampalli, Ph.D., HealthyWomen's advisor for scientific and strategic initiatives. "By bringing a diverse group of experts and advocates from the policy, research and education side, we can be the catalyst for change that is so desperately needed."

Meet the members of HealthyWomen's Chronic Pain Advisory Council

Ann Quinlan-Colwell PhD, RNC, AHN-BC, DAAPM
Clinical Nurse Specialist, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Faculty Member, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Independent Pain Management Educator Consultant

Carmen Green, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology, OB-GYN, and Health Management & Policy, University of Michigan

Cathy Cartwright
Chronic Pain Advocate

Christin Veasley, BSc
Co-Founder & Director, Chronic Pain Research Alliance

Cindy Steinberg
National Director, Policy & Advocacy, U.S. Pain Foundation affiliate, WBZ News Radio, the Boston local CBS affiliate and ABCNews.com.

Cynthia Toussaint
Founder and Spokesperson, For Grace: Women In Pain

Donna Kalauokalani, MD, MPH
Co-Founder, Missouri Pain Initiative, Director of Pain Telemedicine Clinic at the Center for Health Technology at UCD Medical Center

Jaime M.

Sanders
Migraine Advocacy Patient Coordinator, GHLF/50-State Network
Patient Advocate/Blogger, The Migraine Diva

Kathleen Sluka, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Kate Daum Research Professor, University of Iowa

Kate Nicholson, JD
Executive Director, National Pain Advocacy Center and Civil Rights Attorney

Kim Templeton, MD
Board of Directors, American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)

Mary Driscoll, PhD
Associate Research Scientist, Yale School of Medicine

Monica Mallampalli, PhD, MSc.
Advisor, Scientific and Strategic Initiatives, HealthyWomen

Penney Cowan
Founder & CEO, American Chronic Pain Association

Smita Patel, DO
Founder, iNeuro Institute

Initial support for the HealthyWomen's Chronic Pain Advisory Council has been provided by Pfizer, Inc.

Want to learn more about women and chronic pain? Click on the links below.

Find expert content, resources and stories from real women

Learn about HealthyWomen's2019 Chronic Pain Summit

Discover findings from HealthyWomen's Chronic Pain Survey