The making of a pediatric pain psychologist: education, training and career trajectories
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Updated: May 15, 2026

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies
Published on: February 9, 2024
Emily F Law1, Tonya M Palermo, Gary A Walco
1Seattle Children's Research Institute, 2001 Eighth Ave, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
Abstract:
Currently, there are no standard guidelines for the training of pediatric pain psychologists. This article is intended for pediatric pain medicine trainees and faculty in the USA and Canada, and includes discussion of the professional roles and responsibilities of pediatric pain psychologists, a historical perspective on the role of psychologists in the field of pediatric pain medicine, and career trajectories and recommendations for training of pediatric pain psychologists. The primary aim of this commentary is to provide a starting point for the standardization of training of pediatric pain psychologists in the future.
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