Vivianne Tawfik, MD, PhD, of the Stanford Pain Management Center, will discuss complex regional pain syndrome, a mysterious form of chronic pain that arises after trauma or surgery on a limb. Many of us have twisted an ankle or fallen on an outstretched arm, but for some, a seemingly simple injury can trigger persistent redness, swelling and pain that lasts beyond the expected time for healing. Dr. Tawfik will outline what is known about this rare, but likely under-diagnosed, condition and highlight findings from her own laboratory that point to immune system dysregulation as one possible driver.
Featured Speaker:
Dr. Vivianne Tawfik
Dr. Vivianne Tawfik is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. She holds both an MD and a PhD in Neuroscience from Dartmouth Medical School. At Stanford, she serves as Vice Chair for Basic Science Research in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and directs the Fellowship in Anesthesia Research and Medicine program. Dr. Tawfik’s research focuses on understanding how the immune and nervous systems interact following injury and contribute to the development of chronic pain, with the goal of identifying new approaches to pain treatment and recovery.
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