Pioneering Patient-Centered Approaches to Treating Chronic Pain

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with Dr. David Tauben, a pioneer in treating chronic pain holistically, using an interdisciplinary approach. He shares how he developed his insights while working in the first pain medicine department in the country. He also discusses the barriers he has faced in creating a new pain curriculum based on the holistic approach for the next generation of physicians, and the successes his program has achieved in changing attitudes in the medical community toward the treatment of chronic pain.

David Tauben, M.D., FACP is Emeritus Clinical Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, and recently retired Chief of the UW Division of Pain Medicine, board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pain Medicine, and has practiced as Primary Care physician for 30 years and Pain Medicine expert for over 25 years. Dr. Tauben is also UW Director of Medical Student Education in Pain Medicine and leads UW TelePain, an innovative tele-video-conferencing program delivering pain and addiction management educational consultative support to Pacific Northwest primary care providers.  He has been principal investigator for the UW’s NIH Pain Consortium Center of Excellence for Pain Education, a member of the NIH National Pain Strategy task force on Pain Education, and a founding and continuing member of the State of Washington Agency Medical Directors panel of clinician experts developing opioid prescription guidelines for chronic pain. He earned his BA in Philosophy at Yale University, Medical Degree at Tufts University, and completed his Residency training at the University of Washington. of chronic pain.