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    Didactic Session Proposals

    Cancer Rehabilitation

    Cancer Pain Is Everyone’s Problem: Preparing Physiatrists to Lead Multimodal Oncology Care

    Thursday, November 12, 2026
    9:30 AM - 10:45 AM ET

      Session Director(s)

    • Michael Saulino, MD, PhD

      Professor and Chair
      Cooper University Hospital
      Havertown, Pennsylvania

      Disclosure information not submitted.

      • Faculty(s)

    • WL

      Whitney Luke, MBA, MD

      Chair
      The Ohio State University
      Columbus, Ohio

      Disclosure information not submitted.

    • DD

      Daniel H. Daneshvar, MD, PhD

      Chair of PM&R
      Harvard Medical School / Mass General Brigham
      Boston, Massachusetts

      Disclosure(s): Medicolegal Expert Work in TBI and SCI: Expert Testimony (Ongoing); NFLPA: Advisory / Consulting / Other Remuneration (Ongoing); StataDx: Stock Options / Bond Holding (Ongoing)

    • MM

      Mitra McLarney, MD, MPH

      Cancer Rehabilitation Physiatrist
      Massachusetts General Hospital Pain Medicine Fellowship
      Cambridge, Massachusetts

      Disclosure information not submitted.

    Disclosure(s):
    Daniel H. Daneshvar, MD, PhD: Medicolegal Expert Work in TBI and SCI: Expert Testimony (Ongoing); NFLPA: Advisory / Consulting / Other Remuneration (Ongoing); StataDx: Stock Options / Bond Holding (Ongoing)
    Session Description: Cancer-related pain remains one of the most prevalent and debilitating challenges affecting cancer survivors, with substantial impacts on function, quality of life, and healthcare utilization. As the population of cancer survivors continues to grow, cancer rehabilitation physiatrists are uniquely positioned to lead comprehensive, multimodal pain management efforts that integrate pharmacologic, interventional, and rehabilitative strategies. Despite this, cancer pain management training remains inconsistent and underemphasized within cancer rehabilitation fellowships, contributing to fragmentation of care and underutilization of physiatry within oncology systems.

    This session will examine the current state of cancer pain education and clinical practice within physical medicine and rehabilitation, drawing on emerging evidence and national training trends. Faculty will discuss the scope of cancer-related pain, the unique role of cancer physiatrists across the care continuum, and the critical competencies needed to manage complex cancer pain, including opioid stewardship, substance use disorder considerations, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advanced interventional techniques. Through didactic presentations and case-based discussion, participants will gain practical insights into how enhanced pain training can empower physiatrists to improve outcomes, reduce care fragmentation, and strengthen integration with oncology and palliative care teams.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Describe the prevalence, mechanisms, and functional impact of cancer-related pain across the cancer care continuum, including survivorship.
    • Identify the unique role of cancer rehabilitation physiatrists in leading multimodal cancer pain management within interdisciplinary oncology teams.
    • Apply core competencies for cancer pain management, including assessment, multimodal treatment planning, opioid stewardship, and interventional strategies.
    • Recognize gaps and opportunities in current cancer rehabilitation training and outline strategies to strengthen pain education within fellowship and residency programs.