Date/Location
Tuesday, September 9th, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Virtual Via Zoom
This interdisciplinary course provides healthcare professionals with evidence-based practice strategies for managing chronic pain across diverse clinical settings. Participants will master practical techniques to enhance patient function, develop skills to recognize central sensitization patterns, and learn to identify when patients require specialized pain management interventions. The course emphasizes clinical decision-making tools that help differentiate pain presentations and connect patients with appropriate resources to optimize outcomes.
Continuing Education Credits Anticipated: ACE (SW), ANCC (Nursing/NP), APTA (PT), AOTA (OT), ASHA (SLP), CME (MD/PA)
Pricing
MGB Employees: Free with coupon code and proof of MGB User ID
Non MGB Employees: $50.00
Learning Outcomes
Following this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify at least three evidence-based techniques to enhance function in individuals with chronic pain.
- Define at least three signs and symptoms of central sensitization.
- Recognize at least three criterion that could indicate the need for referral to an intensive pain management program.
Time-Ordered Agenda
- 5:30 p.m. – Introduction to Pain
- 5:55 p.m. – Rehabilitation Strategies
- 6:35 p.m. – Behavioral Health Strategies
- 6:55 p.m. – Integrative Health Strategies
- 7:15 p.m. – Discussion and Questions
Dierdre O’Connor, PT, MSPT is an alumnus of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell with 30 years of experience as a physical therapist in both inpatient and outpatient orthopedic, musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain settings. She currently serves as a clinical specialist on the Functional Restoration Program team at Spaulding in Medford. She is passionate about helping patients achieve their goals that will enable them to live their life to the fullest while managing their pain. She has special interest in vestibular disorders and is currently seeking certification in dry needling.
Eve Kennedy-Spaien, OT, OTR, CPS has 35 years of experience as an occupational therapist in both inpatient and outpatient pain management settings. She is the clinical supervisor for the Pain, Integrative Health, and Work Injury Programs at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Medford. Eve is a Certified Pain Management Specialist and also holds certifications as a Functional Capacity Evaluator and in Ergonomic Workplace Assessments. She is passionate about empowering individuals to manage their pain effectively. To raise awareness about interdisciplinary pain management, Eve has presented at various venues, including the National Institutes of Health, Harvard Medical School, MGH, AOTA, and MAOT. In addition to her presentations, she has co-authored chapters on pain management for the physical therapist and published articles in OT practice and rehab management. She was pleased to publish the research on the pain program in Frontiers in Psychology this part year.
Judy Grob-Whiting, LICSW graduated from Simmons School of Social Work and has been working in the field of social work for over 33 years. She has enjoyed working in a variety of settings in different capacities. Judy’s broad experience includes working with children and adults across a variety of settings. Currently she specializes in working with people who have chronic pain or neurologic diagnoses at Spaulding Medford. Judy has experience using modalities such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology, Psychodynamic Therapy, Trauma-Informed Therapy and Mind-Body strategies. Judy loves change and has increased her skill set with each opportunity. When not working, Judy enjoys being home with her husband, also a social worker, and their dog Cora. They have two adult children and two grandchildren. Other passions include watching movies, walking Cora, reading, and yoga.
Rick Frank, OT/L is an Occupational Therapist, who has worked in a wide variety of settings. He works in the area of Pain Management at Spaulding Outpatient Center in Medford, as well as previously on an inpatient Pain Management program at New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Woburn. Rick has extensive experience in psychiatric settings, both inpatient and community contexts. He is a trained Kripalu Yoga teacher, and a certified life coach through the Coaches Training Institute.
Target Audience: Audiologists, Nurses, NPs, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Physicians, PAs, Psychologist, Social Workers, Speech-Language Pathologists
Instructional Level: Introductory
Prerequisites: None
Cancellation Policy: Spaulding reserves the right to adjust components of this program or to cancel the program for unexpected occurrences. Notice of changes or cancellation will be provided expediently. Upon cancellation of a course, a refund for the price paid for the course will be given. A processing fee of $10 may be charged when the registrant provides written notice of cancellation of their attendance less than 7 business days prior to the program date. Tuition is non-refundable if the registrant does not provide notice of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the program date. Spaulding apologizes but will not be responsible for inconveniences incurred due to program changes.
Speaker Disclosures: Deirdre O’Connor, PT, MSPT is a salaried employee of MGB. She has no other financial or non-financial disclosures to share. Eve Kennedy-Spaien, OT, OTR, CPS is a salaried employee of MGB. She has no other financial or non-financial disclosures to share. Judy Grob-Whiting, LICSW is a salaried employee of MGB. She has no other financial or non-financial disclosures to share. Rick Frank, OT/L is a salaried employee of MGB. He has no other financial or non-financial disclosures to share.
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, MGH Institute of Health Professions is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MGH Institute of Health Professions maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 2.0 clock hours for continuing education credits.
In support of improving patient care, MGH Institute of Health Professions is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Physicians: MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians: MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.0
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
Physician Assistants: AAPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.
Nurses: MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 2.0 contact hours for nurses.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibly for the content of the programs. MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 2.0 CE credits.
The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network is recognized as an approved provider of continuing education by AOTA. This course is offered for an anticipated .2 AOTA CEUs (Introductory level; Service Delivery and Professional Knowledge category) pending approval. The assignment of AOTA CEU’s does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by AOTA.
The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network is recognized as an approved provider of continuing education by APTA. Information provided should be used within scope of practice. Anticipated 2.0 contact hours/CEHs.
The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network is recognized as an approved This webinar is offered for 0.20 as an approved provider of continuing education by ASHA. ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.
Satisfactory completion requirements: to earn ASHA CEUs for this session, participants are required to view the full session, complete the associated knowledge check, submit the course evaluation, and submit the ASHA CEU reporting form used by Spaulding Rehabilitation.
SR Division of Education and Training CEU facilitators Marianne Savastano, MS, CCC-SLP; Katherine MacKirdy, MSPT, GCS, MPH;
Matt Keilty, OTR/L; Debra Abele, RN, DNP; Jeanne Putnam OT, CCM; and Kathleen Crosskill, MS, CCC-SLP
- Enrollment in this course closed on September 9th, 2025
