Program Overview

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Introduction to Pain Medicine

The University of Sydney is a world leader in the area of pain medicine, dedicated to improving the quality of life of sufferers and discovering new treatments for persistent and chronic pain.

Study Options in Pain Medicine

Postgraduate Courses

Our postgraduate courses are designed to explore the problem of pain in the community and the role of health professionals in managing and treating a range of pain conditions. The courses offered include:

• Graduate Certificate in Pain Management
• Graduate Diploma in Pain Management
• Master of Medicine (Pain Management)
• Master of Science in Medicine (Pain Management)

Professional Development and Short Courses

We also offer non-award units of study and run professional development events and short courses for health professionals interested in developing their knowledge further in the field of pain management.

Postgraduate Research

The University offers a range of research opportunities to help you pursue your passion.

About the Study of Pain Medicine

An estimated 20 percent of Australians suffer from persistent pain, making it one of the nation's most costly healthcare problems. The Specialty of Pain Medicine at the University of Sydney is committed to easing this burden by bringing together a multidisciplinary group of clinicians, researchers, and educators to improve treatments and educate health professionals in better managing patients with chronic pain.

Our Research

As a division of the Kolling Institute, the Pain Management Research Institute comprises basic and translational researchers, and many members are directly involved in clinical treatment, research, and education programs. Our research pursues the broad theme that persistent pain is a disease entity with its own symptoms, signs, and underlying disorders. The laboratories include:

• Cognitive and Behavioural Research Laboratory
• Cellular Physiology of Pain Research Laboratory
• Pain Management Human Studies Group
• Spinal Cord Injury Pain Clinical Research Laboratory

Specialty of Pain Medicine

The Specialty of Pain Medicine at the University of Sydney is led by Professor Paul Glare.

Postgraduate Program Director

The Postgraduate Program Director is Dr. Elizabeth Devonshire.

Research Areas

Our research addresses all forms of pain (acute, chronic non-cancer pain, and cancer pain) and informs the postgraduate education programs offered by the Pain Management Research Institute. The institute is a joint initiative between the University of Sydney and the Royal North Shore Hospital.

Featured Research

Recent research has focused on various aspects of pain management, including the poor management of surgery pain as a key contributor to the opioid crisis, the use of video game exercises to help chronic low back pain, the link between back pain in teens and substance use and poor mental health, and the use of illicit cannabis for pain, mental health, sleep conditions. Additionally, a new research project aims to help tackle chronic pain by investigating how to reduce the risk of people developing chronic pain.