Biography
Robert D Kerns, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with a longstanding interest and commitment to improving pain care. Dr. Kerns has an extensive background as a clinician, educator, scientist, administrator, advocate and policy maker in the area of pain management. As evidence of his recognition as a thought leader in the field, he was invited to serve as a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Advancing Pain Research, Care and Education and as one of the work group chairs for the development of the National Pain Strategy. Most recently, he contributed to the development of the Federal Pain Research Strategy. Also of relevance, he chaired a Federal Interagency Workgroup that developed a National Action Plan for Prevention of Opioid-Related Adverse Drug Events. He has a strong record of federally funded research in the area of pain management, and he is the author of over 200 original, peer-reviewed publications, books and chapters. His most important contributions focus on comprehensive pain assessment, non-pharmacological approaches for the management of pain, pain and multi-morbidities, individual differences and disparities in pain care, safe and effective opioid therapy, the design and conduct of pragmatic pain trials and promotion of organizational improvements in pain care.