HHC Digestive Health Institute Grand Rounds Lecture - Individual Differences in Pain: Understanding the Mosaic That Makes Pain Personal

Thursday, November 19, 2026, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET, Digestive Health Institute, Bone and Joint Institute, 4th Floor, Beverly Buckner Baker Auditorium, Hartford, CT

Registration closes at 12:00pm on November 19th, 2026

In person attendance:

Dinner will begin at 5:00pm

Lecture will begin at 5:30pm

Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent and costly chronic health conditions, yet its diagnosis and treatment remain challenging due to substantial individual variability in the pain experience. A comprehensive understanding of pain requires consideration of the complex interplay among biological, psychological, and social factors. This presentation will examine individual differences in pain through a biopsychosocial framework, highlighting factors that contribute to variations in the experience, assessment, and management of chronic pain. The discussion will explore the influence of sex and gender, race and ethnicity, age, genetic factors, and psychosocial variables on pain and its clinical presentation. Participants will consider how these differences may contribute to disparities in pain assessment and treatment and how a more individualized approach can inform clinical decision-making. By integrating multiple dimensions of the pain experience, this activity will provide learners with a broader framework for understanding chronic pain and applying biopsychosocial principles to its diagnosis and treatment.

1. Explain the public health impact of chronic pain in terms of prevalence and societal costs.
2. Describe how the experience of pain differs by sex and gender, race and ethnicity, and age.
3. Apply the biopsychosocial model to diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain.
4. Develop individualized approaches to the assessment and management of chronic pain that account for biological, psychosocial, and demographic factors.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (1.00 hours), ABIM MOC Part 2 (1.00 hours), ABPMR Accredited CME (1.00 hours), ABPMR Self-Assessment (1.00 hours), ABS CC (1.00 hours), ABS CC SAM (1.00 hours), ANCC Contact Hour(s) (1.00 hours), APA Credit(s) (1.00 hours), Bariatric Surgery and Obesity Medicine Education (1.00 hours), CDR CPEU (1.00 hours), IPCE Credit(s) (1.00 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (credits designated as AMA PRA Category 1) (1.00 hours)

In support of improving patient care, Hartford HealthCare 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.

1. Physicians: Hartford HealthCare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

   • ABIM MOC: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 Medical Knowledge credits in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

   • ABS Continuous Certification: Successful completion of this CME activity, which may include participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn 1.00 credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirements of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Nurses: This activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 ANCC contact hours.

Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians, Registered: Completion of this RD/DTR profession-specific or IPCE activity awards CPEUs (One IPCE credit = One CPEU).  If the activity is dietetics-related but not targeted to RDs or DTRs, CPEUs may be claimed which are commensurate with participation in contact hours (One 60 minute hour = 1 CPEU).  RD's and DTRs are to select activity type 102 in their Activity Log.  Performance Indicator selection is at the learner's discretion. This activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 CDR CPEUs. 

All Other Learners: All other learners will receive a Certificate of Participation for a maximum of 1.00 hours of education. Consult your professional licensing board regarding the applicability and acceptance of certificates of participation for educational activities certified at the AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ level from organizations accredited by Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education.

             

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received in writing no less than 5 business days before the course will receive a full refund.  No refunds will be made for cancellations received after that date.  All refunds will be made in accordance with the procedures of the HHC Accounts Payable Department, and may take up to 60 days.  Please send cancellation requests to continuinged@hhchealth.org.

Hartford HealthCare reserves the right to cancel or postpone this program if necessary; in the event of cancellation, course fees will be fully refunded. We are not responsible for other costs incurred such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel penalties.

Accessibility Statement
 
Hartford HealthCare is committed to ensuring that its programs, services, goods and facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities as specified under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008.  If you have needs that require special accommodations, including dietary concerns, please contact [email protected].

Hartford HealthCare Continuing Education adheres to the Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education's criteria, standards, and policies regarding industry support of continuing education, and the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. 

Any individual in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others is required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). 

HHC CE reviews and mitigates all financial relationships prior to commencement of the activity.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Hartford HealthCare adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.  Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). 

All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.