Elect our Leadership
We invite all members to nominate three qualified and committed individuals to lead as Directors and the officer position of Secretary.. They will play an important role in representing member interests, shaping priorities, and supporting our vision and mission. The deadline to submit nomination materials is October 16. Voting is scheduled to begin in early-mid November, 2026.
Secretary
3 Year Term
The Secretary oversees processes for maintaining USASP's corporate and membership records, including the preparation of minutes for meetings of the membership, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee. The Secretary also helps ensure that required organizational records are properly maintained and filed and performs other duties assigned by the President or Board. Under the bylaws, the Secretary may serve no more than three consecutive three-year terms.
Additional responsibilities include appointing the incoming Chair of the Scientific Program Committee (SPC) and working with the SPC chair to organize the annual scientific meeting, chairing the nominations committee, and chairing the committee on committees (when serving as President and then Past-President).
Once elected, the successful candidate will spend the first year as President-Elect, working closely with the President to learn about Association and Board processes and ongoing projects. In the second year, the President-Elect will become the President, working with the Immediate Past President. In the third year, the President will mentor the new President-Elect, and in the fourth year, will become the Immediate Past President.
Eligibility Criteria: Mid- to Senior-career individual (Assoc./Full or Senior Scientist/Director) with an established track record of leadership in local, national, and/or international organizations.
Open Officer Position
Board of Directors (3 Seats Open)
3 Year Term
Directors on the Board provide advice to the President and guidance on issues brought to the USASP and support the Board’s decision-making process. Directors will serve concurrently on at least one other USASP Committee and/or Task Force as the liaison between the Committee/Task Force and the Board.
Eligibility Criteria: Open seats are defined based on the required characteristics to balance the experience and expertise on the Board.
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Seat 1: Mid- to senior-career member (e.g., Associate or Full Professor, Senior Scientist, Director, or equivalent) whose Primary Designation is Basic Research-Preclinical Animal or Basic Research-Preclinical Human.
Seat 2: Mid- to Senior-career investigator (Assoc./Full or Senior Scientist/Director) is Clinical Care and/or Patient Advocacy.
Seat 3: Mid- to Senior-career investigator (Assoc./Full or Senior Scientist/Director) is in Behavioral and Social Sciences or Population Health and Health Services.
**Primary Designation is how an individual’s career classification is self-identified on their USASP membership profile.
Open Director Positions
Responsibilities for USASP Positions
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Attend the in-person board meeting at the Annual Scientific Meeting.
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Attend at least 2 virtual meetings (October/November and January/February).
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Participate in USASP committees (1-2) to provide updates to the board.
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Participate in strategic planning for the organization.
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Timely response to email discussions and requests for feedback.
Nomination Requirements
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Please indicate in your application materials which seat/position you would like to be considered for.
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Each nominee may be considered for only one Director seat or officer position in a given election year.
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The following materials will be required for a complete application:
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Curriculum Vitae (CV)
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A one-page personal statement explaining why the nominee would like to serve USASP as a Director or Secretary. The statement should describe relevant service and leadership experience and the nominee's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
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In the form, you will be asked to disclose any Financial Conflicts of Interest
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A headshot to accompany their personal statement on the election and ballot material.
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All nomination requirements (minus headshot) must be compiled and submitted into one PDF document.
Nomination Process:
Deadline for submissions: October 16, 2026 (11:59 pm EDT)
Please submit materials using the Fourwaves submission portal.
Nominees who meet the criteria and are approved by the board for the position sought will be included on the ballot.
General Eligibility for USASP Positions
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An active member of the USASP in good standing (at least one year of membership).
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Recent experience serving on USASP committees or working groups or comparable experience in other organizations.
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An active member of the International Association for the Study of Pain .
At the USASP, we believe that diverse voices and approaches are required to address the substantial challenge and cost of reducing the burden of pain. We strive to entwine diverse perspectives into all aspects of our work, including our membership and leadership, our interactions with other professional organizations and the community, our educational activities and engagement with early career investigators, and our national role in advocating for improved pain relief. Therefore, the USASP will continue to support incorporating individuals from underrepresented and disadvantaged/ underprivileged backgrounds to enhance our diversity, promote equity, and model an inclusive and accessible organization.
Canidates for President Elect
Canidates for President-Elect
John Farrar, MD, PhD
Past-President
Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, PhD
Treasurer
Claudia Campbell, PhD
Secretary
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