Session Description: This session will provide a practical overview of how to navigate pain medicine fellowship training while adapting to the evolving landscape of neuromodulation and interventional pain management. Topics will include optimizing clinical and procedural experience, balancing research and education, and understanding career pathways in academia, private practice, and industry. Speakers will also discuss mentorship, networking, and how fellowship training is adapting to advancements in neuromodulation technology. The session will conclude with a moderated Q&A, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with program directors and recent graduates.
Session Description: The objective of this session is to explore and implement effective strategies for onboarding and supporting the wellness of advanced practice providers (APPs). It aims to provide practical solutions and resources that enhance the onboarding process, foster professional growth, and promote overall well-being for APPs, ensuring their success and long-term engagement in the healthcare field. The concurrent session will also focus on the integration of wellness initiatives to prevent burnout, improve job satisfaction, and promote work-life balance for Advanced Practice Providers.
Session Description: This breakfast session will explore the key clinical, technical, and patient-specific factors that guide the decision-making process in selecting among various spinal cord stimulation (SCS) platforms. Experts will discuss comparative attributes of current technologies, patient selection criteria, and strategies for aligning device capabilities with individualized treatment goals. We will discuss how to navigate the complex landscape of:
o Multiple waveforms & stimulation frequencies
o Closed-loop vs. open-loop systems
o Battery types & device programming options
o Anatomical considerations and MRI compatibility
Real-world case examples and practical pearls will be emphasized to equip attendees with actionable insights for optimizing therapy selection.
Session Description: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is evolving beyond static anatomical targeting toward precision neuromodulation. This shift has been guided through simultaneous advancements in computational modeling, signal processing, and targeting. This session brings together leading neurosurgeons and neuroengineering experts to discuss the latest advancements in precision neuromodulation from preoperative planning to stimulation optimization to recording to closed-loop DBS.
Attendees will gain insights into:
State-of-the-art computational tools for predicting DBS network effects
Multimodal strategies combining anatomy, tractography, electrophysiology, and machine learning
Clinical applications of model-driven DBS for individualized therapy
Future directions for closed-loop and adaptive stimulation
By integrating expertise in neurosurgery, computational neuroscience, and neuromodulation, this session will provide actionable insights for clinicians, researchers, and engineers working to advance the field of DBS.
Session Description: It is challenging to start and maintain an independent medical practice. Details on an initial steps, financial needs and practice development will be provided. Making business sense in incorporating and developing clinical research in medical practice and steps to achieve that will be described. Furthermore, guidelines on how to provide leadership in turbulent times will be provided. Finally, steps on how to sell your practice, especially to private equity would be detailed.
Session Description: Explore the clinical impact of closed loop neuromodulation across multiple therapies as this long awaited technology begins to move into the clinical mainstream.
Session Description: The field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is revolutionizing neuroscience and neuromodulation, unlocking unprecedented possibilities for restoring communication, movement, and other functions in patients with neurological impairments. This plenary session, Decoding the Mind: Breakthroughs and Ethics in BCI, will showcase transformative advances in BCI technology, from reenabling speech to controlling robotic limbs, while grappling with profound ethical questions these innovations raise.
This session will begin with a brief overview of how we are rapidly overcoming technical hurdles related to electrode design, hardware creation, and computational barriers in creating advanced BCI interfaces. Eddie Chang, a neurosurgeon and worldwide leader in speech BCI, will discuss his groundbreaking work unlocking the ability to communicate in patients with devastating neurological conditions affecting language. Richard Andersen, a neuroscientist and pioneer in developing novel BCI interfaces, will discuss his work in decoding movement intentions to restore functional independence in patients with spinal cord injury or stroke. Dr. Nita Farahany, a renowned neuroethicist and author of The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology, will deliver the keynote address, exploring the ethical imperatives of BCI, including privacy, autonomy, and cognitive liberty in clinical and societal contexts. Her talk will challenge attendees to consider how to balance rapid technological advancements with the protection of individual rights in an era of neural interfaces. The session will conclude with an engaging panel discussion with all speakers.
Session Description: : This session explores cutting-edge advances in stimulation waveform design across three major neuromodulation modalities: peripheral nerve stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, and deep brain stimulation. As the field evolves beyond conventional rectangular pulses, novel temporal patterns and waveform shapes are demonstrating enhanced therapeutic efficacy, improved selectivity, and reduced energy consumption. Leading researchers will present their work on innovative approaches including amplitude-modulated high-frequency stimulation for desynchronized yet controllable neural firing in peripheral nerves, computational modeling for optimal temporal pattern design in deep brain stimulation, and dynamic pulse patterns in spinal cord stimulation that expand paresthesia coverage and sensation quality. The session will examine how these waveform innovations fundamentally alter neural recruitment patterns, potentially enabling more precise targeting of specific neural populations while avoiding unwanted activation. Presentations will cover computational modeling approaches that predict neural responses to complex waveforms, preclinical evidence demonstrating physiological effects, and emerging clinical applications. By bringing together experts from different stimulation modalities, this session aims to identify common principles and challenges in waveform design that span different therapeutic applications, fostering cross-pollination of ideas that could accelerate innovation in this rapidly evolving field.
Session Description: In our aging population, more and more patients have degenerative scoliosis. Surgery often can be a large undertaking though sometimes only one portion of the spine can be operated on with meaningful benefit. In other cases neuromodulation is selected. There are newer options offered by pain management.
Session Description: This session explores the translation of neuromodulation research into real-world stroke rehabilitation programs. Experts will discuss patient selection, multidisciplinary collaboration, and implementation strategies. Speakers will highlight clinical and real-world evidence on functional recovery, quality of life, and long-term outcomes, along with solutions for overcoming adoption barriers, reimbursement challenges, and leveraging data to improve care, while discussing progression of this work.
Session Description: The Pain Olympics will be featured as a Jeopardy-style competition that involves resident and fellow teams against each other in a battle of clinical knowledge. Topics span core areas of pain medicine and neuromodulation, including anatomy, device troubleshooting, landmark studies, and ethical scenarios. The session is designed to reinforce learning through gamification, encourage team building, and spotlight emerging talent in our field. Audience members will enjoy watching the excitement unfold while reinforcing their own knowledge base.
TEAMS
Team 1
Nicole Hayes
Mohan Ravi
Team 2
Karson Mostert
Simon Yang
Team 3
Rosalynn Conic
Loc Lam
Team 4
Ray Pak
Vishwant Tatagari
Team 5
Robin Mata
Mark Kennedy
Team 6
Ahish Chitneni
Vivian Wung
Session Description: This session will explore the use of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in real-world clinical settings, with an emphasis on discussing variances in practice patterns and utilization.
Using a group discussion format, our panel will discuss and provide key perspectives on selecting nerve targets (including utility of history and physical exams, nerve blocks, and nerve conduction testing), choosing appropriate patients (for indications ranging from osteoarthritis to headache disorders to peripheral neuralgias), and considering device parameters (such as stimulation waveforms, temporary vs. permanent devices, and use of trial-to-permanent paradigms).
This session will follow the highly engaging Pardon the Interruption format, in which panelists will leverage evolving literature to take contrary positions, generating thoughtful discussion while acknowledging the emerging nature of research in this space and its limitations.
This session is directed to trainees and practicing physicians where a multi-disciplinary panel of physicians with various expert insights will discuss various facets of PNS treatments.
Session Description: The ability to modulate the brain of a specific individual for an exact response relies on precise targeting. Targets are chosen, in many cases, for their effects on distant regions across widespread networks. Connectomics can inform targeting by providing a framework (structural or functional or both) on which to project these long-range networks and model the effect of distinct stimulation across the brain. The use of the connectome to optimize targeting can be considered as advancements along a continuum from a group to the individual. This progression, however, is opposed by the increased resources needed to acquire individual patient connectomes rather than the use of large, available databases. In this session we will present three examples of the current state of the art application of connectome informed targeting. In each case, the optimization of patient specific targeting vs. clinical utility will be described.
Session Description: As the field of neuromodulation continues to mature, it is undergoing a bold transformation, including expansion well beyond its traditional pain indications to address some of medicine’s most complex and under-treated conditions. This plenary session, Breaking Boundaries in Indications for Neuromodulation, will showcase cutting-edge science, patient-centered innovation, and trailblazing clinical applications that are reshaping the boundaries of what neuromodulation can achieve.
From restoring ambulation in spinal cord injury to managing pediatric abdominal pain, urinary retention, and fecal incontinence, this session will feature pioneering researchers and clinician-scientists leading the charge in these emerging indications. In particular, this plenary will highlight the lived experience of Peter Grahn, a scientist and patient with spinal cord injury, whose research and personal journey underscore the vital link between patient perspective and translational breakthroughs.
By convening thought leaders across pediatric pain, urology, and SCI neurorestoration, this session aims to foster cross-disciplinary discussion, spark new collaborations, and inspire attendees to push the frontiers of neuromodulation forward. The session will also end in several NANS award presentations.
Session Description: How can we know the “state” of the brain at any given moment? And can we neuromodulate this state? There is growing interest in moving past simple small-scale biomarkers and toward a wholistic characterization of functional brain states at large timescales to better inform neuromodulation paradigms. We will explore the novel and exciting work being done to characterize the extremely high-dimensional information that exists in large timescale electrophysiological recordings. We will then discuss the potential to adaptively neuromodulate these brain states to improve functional patient outcomes in diseases like epilepsy, depression, and binge-eating disorder.
Session Description: This interactive panel session presents a constructive scientific debate on the optimal electrode size for clinical neurostimulation applications. Traditional clinical neurostimulation systems have long employed macroelectrodes, while academic engineering efforts have increasingly focused on developing microelectrode technologies. This session directly addresses fundamental questions facing the field: Do we need the higher channel counts and improved spatial specificity offered by microelectrodes, or can macroelectrodes provide comparable clinical outcomes with fewer regulatory hurdles and safety concerns? The debate considers crucial issues including tissue safety, electrode longevity, fabrication complexity, regulatory pathways, and clinical efficacy. Dr. Sameer Seth (Baylor) will advocate for the continued refinement of macroelectrode designs, arguing they can achieve necessary clinical outcomes while avoiding complications associated with miniaturization. Dr. John Seymour (UTHealth Houston) will present counterarguments supporting microelectrode technologies, highlighting their potential for improved spatial resolution and selective neural targeting. Dr. Jon Viventi (Duke University) will provide a third perspective on custom fabrication approaches, discussing how electrode design can be tailored to specific applications. Following individual presentations, Dr. Cameron McIntyre (Duke) and Dr. Svjetlana Miocinovic (Emory) will moderate an extended discussion with audience participation, examining the scientific, engineering, and clinical considerations that should inform electrode design decisions in next-generation neuromodulation systems.
Session Description: Cancer pain is often debilitating and excruciating, significantly impacting a patient’s quality of life. The management of cancer-related pain presents numerous challenges, primarily due to the complexity of the condition and the individual nature of pain responses. Traditional pain medications, including opioids and analgesics, can provide relief, but they come with a range of potential side effects such as nausea, sedation, constipation, and, in some cases, the risk of addiction or dependency. Furthermore, these medications can interact with ongoing cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, leading to altered drug efficacy or an increase in adverse reactions. This makes pain management for cancer patients even more complicated, particularly when relying solely on pharmacological solutions.
In recent years, neuromodulation techniques have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional pain management strategies, offering a more targeted and often less invasive approach. These techniques involve the modulation of neural activity to alleviate and modulate pain perception. One such technique is Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) stimulation, which has shown potential for treating focal pain, particularly in patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). CIPN is a painful condition resulting from nerve damage due to chemotherapy, and DRG stimulation can provide targeted relief by modulating pain pathways at the nerve root level.
For patients experiencing extremity pain due to tumor burden, Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) offers an effective alternative. This approach has proven especially beneficial for those with metastatic cancer or large tumors that cause localized pain in the limbs, providing significant relief and improving mobility.
Another promising approach is Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS), which targets specific peripheral nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals. PNS can be used to treat localized nerve pain resulting from tumor infiltration or nerve compression, offering a more focused solution for pain management in certain areas of the body.
Session Description: The cerebellum, long recognized for its role in motor coordination, is emerging as a key target in neuromodulation for a diverse range of neurological conditions. This session will explore cutting-edge research and clinical applications of cerebellar stimulation, highlighting its potential to transform treatment paradigms across multiple domains.
The session will begin with a focus on the application of cerebellar deep brain stimulation (DBS) for cerebral palsy, offering insights into how targeting cerebellar pathways may improve motor function and quality of life in patients with this challenging condition. Following this, attendees will learn about groundbreaking work on cerebellar DBS for stroke recovery, including discussions on how modulating cerebellar circuits can enhance neuroplasticity and functional recovery post-stroke. The session will conclude with a translational perspective on cerebellar stimulation in animal models of epilepsy, examining how cerebellar circuits influence seizure activity and the potential for novel therapeutic interventions.
Together, these talks will underscore the cerebellum’s far-reaching influence beyond traditional motor control, exploring its role in neurorehabilitation, movement disorders, and epilepsy. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of current evidence, mechanisms of action, and future directions in cerebellar neuromodulation, with opportunities to engage in discussions about the translational potential and clinical challenges in this rapidly evolving field.
Session Description: The objective of this conference is to explore the latest advancements in neuromodulation, focusing on how advanced practice providers (APPs) can engage in research, enhance clinical practices, and advocate for the integration of neuromodulation therapies in patient care. This session aims to provide APPs with valuable insights into emerging neuromodulation techniques, promote research collaboration, and offer strategies for advocating for broader adoption and policy changes in this field. Ultimately, the goal is to empower APPs to lead innovation in neuromodulation, improve patient outcomes, and shape the future of healthcare through research and advocacy.
Take this time to view and discuss the Abstracts/Posters at the meeting.
This reception, hosted by the NANS Women in Neuromodulation (WIN) committee, will feature a conversation among leaders in neuromodulation. This is the second part of a discussion that first took place at NANS 2025. Join us in hearing firsthand from those at various stages of their careers and professional journey to hear how they overcame, led the way, and continue to impact the field. Guests/speakers: Ellen Air, MD, PhD; Rosa Garcia, MD; Robin Mata, DO, MPH; Stephanie Vanterpool, MD, MBA, Melissa Murphy, MD