2010 - 2012 Board of Directors
President: Miles R. Day, MD, DABPM, FIPP
Dr. Day is the Pain Fellowship Program Director and Associate Professor for the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX. He also serves as Examiner for the World Institute of Pain Interventional Pain Practice Exam. Curriculum Vitae 
President Elect: Graves Owen, MD
Graves T. Owen, MD, graduated with honors from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He earned a medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center (Also located in Houston). Dr. Owen also completed residency training in Anesthesiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center.Curriculum Vitae
Treasurer: Donald D. Bacon, MD
Secretary: Larry C. Driver, MD
Dr. Driver is Professor and Deputy Chairman in the Department of Pain Medicine, and also an Adjunct Ethicist for the Clinical Ethics Consultation Service at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He received his undergraduate education at Austin College followed by medical education at The University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio in 1980. Completed his Anesthesiology Residency at The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver in 1984, and he completed a Clinical Fellowship in Pain and Symptom Management at M. D. Anderson in 1999. He is Board Certified in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Interests and activities include clinical pain and symptom management for patients with active cancer and advanced cancer, as well as cancer survivors; ethical issues surrounding those clinical efforts; research focused on symptom burden and impact in cancer patients; and pain education and public policy initiatives. Curriculum Vitae
Past President: Allen W. Burton, MD
Dr. Allen W. Burton is the Section Chief of Cancer Pain Management and Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in Houston TX, where he has practiced and led the pain program since 2000. Curriculum Vitae
Directors:
Aaron K. Calodney, MD
Carlos O. Viesca, MD
Dr. Viesca is a Diplomat American Board of Pain Management with Subspecialty Certification in Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He is the current Director for Pain Management Services at El Paso Pain Management Center and El Paso Orthopaedic Surgery Group. Curriculum Vitae
Directors Emeritus:
John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD
John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD, has an undergraduate degree in pharmacy (BS) and was a Registered Pharmacist (RPh), practicing in this field part-time, while completing his medical studies. Following undergraduate training, he completed graduate studies in neuropharmacology (PhD). Dr. Krusz then completed a 2 year post-doctoral research fellowship in geriatric neuropharmacology, receiving several academic and teaching appointments, together with consulting activity in advertising, as he completed his medical studies (MD), with specialized training in neurology. Curriculum Vitae
Ralph Rashbaum, MD
Dr. Rashbaum is a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon with specialization in spinal surgery. He is the co-founder of the Texas Back Institute and concurrently founder of one of the first back schools in the United States. Dr. Rashbaum has referred complex spine cases from across the country, aiding patients from railroad workers to celebrities like golfer Lee Trevino and country singer Willie Nelson. Full Bio
James E. Heavner, DVM, PhD
Dr. Heavner is the Director of Anesthesiology/Pain Research at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX. He is one of the original founder of the Texas Pain Society and currently serves of the Board as a Director Emeritus. Curriculum Vitae
Gabor B. Racz, MD
Dr. Racz filled numerous assignments, such as respiratory consultant in the neurosurgical head injury unit and Associate Professor at SUNY, until 1977 when he moved to Lubbock, Texas to become the first Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the new Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He held that position until March 1, 1999 when, as Director of Pain Services, he focused full attention to treatment of patients, expanding the operations of pain services, and the future development of an international pain institute in Lubbock, Texas. Curriculum Vitae
P. Prithvi Raj, MD
Dr. Raj has done extensive postgraduate work. He has held many positions in the medical field from house surgeon to Orthopedic Registrar in India and England. Dr. Raj did Rotating Internship in Connecticut and his Residency in Anesthesiology in Texas. He has also held positions in Anesthesiology in Norway, England, Texas, California, Ohio and Georgia. His last position before retiring was Professor of Anesthesiology and Co-Director of the International Pain Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He is past president of the World Institute of Pain and an active member of many other professional organizations and committees.
Dr. Raj has earned numerous awards and honors and is listed in the “Best Doctors in America” in Chronic Pain Management. He has contributed to over 100 articles, edited numerous editorials, and is the past Chief Executive Editor of Pain Practice and past Editor in Chief with MD Consult Pain Medicine. To add to his credits are books, movies, videotapes, models and exhibits.
Dr. Raj is currently retired but still involved in many new projects and travels all over the world lecturing and promoting the World Institute of Pain.
C. M. Schade, MD, PhD
Dr. Schade is Board Certified in Pain Management and currently practices in Garland, Texas. He is a past president of the Texas Pain Society and currently serves on the Board as a Director Emeritus. Dr. Schade is also the Texas Pain Society representative for the Texas Medical Association's House of Delegates. Curriculum Vitae
C. Stratton Hill, Jr., MD
William Willis, Jr., MD, PhD
Past Presidents
| Gabor B. Racz, MD | 1990-1992 |
| C. Stratton Hill, Jr., MD | 1992-1994 |
| C. Stratton Hill, Jr., MD | 1994-1996 |
| Sharon Weinstein, MD | 1996-1998 |
| P. Prithvi Raj, MD | 1998-2000 |
| C. M. Schade, MD, PhD | 2000-2002 |
| Samuel J. Hassenbusch, MD, PhD | 2002-2004 |
| Ralph Rashbaum, MD | 2004-2006 |
| Aaron Calodney, MD | 2006-2008 |
| Allen W. Burton, MD | 2008-2010 |
| Judson Somerville, MD, DABPM, FIPP | 2010-2011 |
In Memory of Samuel J. Hassenbusch, III, MD, PhD
A Celebration of His Life
Samuel “Sam” Hassenbusch, III, MD, PhD lost his fight with glioblastoma multiforme on February 25th 2008, at home in the company of his beloved family. His family and the entire pain community deeply mourn his passing. We have lost one of our true shining stars.
Samuel was born on February 6th, 1954 in St. Joseph, MO. As Sam grew up under influence of his parents Samuel and Suzanne, he achieved high marks at school and excelled at everything he tried, including playing both the violin, the trumpet, and becoming an Eagle Scout as he entered high school at Central High School.
In 1970 while in high school he met Rhonda Warner and fell in love. Sam and Rhonda married on May 23, 1972 in St. Joseph, MO. Sam attended Johns Hopkins University where he excelled obtaining both an MD and PhD. He stayed at Johns Hopkins to complete Neurosurgical residency and his PhD in pharmacology. While living in Baltimore, Samuel “Jack” Hassenbusch IV was born in 1978, Jason Arthur was born in 1980, and Amanda Sue was born in 1982. Sam, Rhonda and family stayed in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins until 1988 where Sam was an Instructor for the Department of Neurosurgery.
In 1988 the family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio where Samuel continued his career as a neurosurgeon at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation specializing in pain medicine. He remained at the Cleveland Clinic until 1993 as a neurosurgical pain specialist of distinction.
Finally, in 1993 the Hassenbusch family relocated to Houston, Texas where Sam continued his career at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center which he joined as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Surgery with a co-appointment in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. In 1998, he became an Associate Professor with Tenure and from 2001 to the present he was a Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery in the Division of Surgery. Beginning in 2005 to the present he was also the Medical Director of the Physicians Referral Service at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. From 2006 to the present he was also an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.
It is difficult to capture the essence and energy of Sam on paper. He was at once a scholar, friend, trusted colleague, loving husband and father, wonderful spirited adventurer, patient advocate, philanthropist, evangelist, auto mechanic/enthusiast, gifted surgeon, leader, and – sadly- cancer patient.
He served in so many leadership roles and earned so many, many awards during his too brief 54 years of life, an all encompassing listing of them would go on for pages. Some selected roles/awards include: Past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, Past president of the Texas Pain Society, Past president of the Texas Society for Neurological Surgeons, Past president of the North American Neurological Surgery Society, with awards including the Distinguished Service Award from the American Neuromodulation Society, the World Institute of Pain, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies to name a few.
Sam contributed greatly to the scholarship of the pain medicine field and traveled the world speaking and teaching at medical congresses. He published more than 25 book chapters and 50 peer reviewed articles and in 2002 he aired on the Houston Medical TV show concerning one of his patients (Marnie Rose) with a brain tumor. Sam subsequently contributed much love, energy, and time to the Marnie Rose foundation.
In May of 2005 Sam was diagnosed with glioblastoma in the right frontal lobe. After surgery to remove the tumor, Sam embarked on a novel research protocol that he helped design. Sam was very public with his diagnosis and experiences as a cancer patient appearing in print and media regularly as an outspoken advocate for patient issues and funding for medical research. His journey as a cancer patient has been inspirational for countless patients and friends. During his cancer journey many articles were written about Sam including those published in The Houston Chronicle , Texas Monthly Magazine, Newsweek Magazine, and aired on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
Sam was an amazing man that I (AB) had the privilege to work with at MD Anderson since 2000. He was so completely “in the moment” whether talking about patient care, reimbursement issues, a research project, upcoming family vacation, a grandchild, a bible verse, his beloved Rhonda, his beloved children, or his nearly as beloved Dodge Charger or Victory Vegas motorcycle! He was loved by so many, and he openly loved them right back. He truly loved life and is gone too soon.