Action On Pain

Jennifer Daly-Cyr, Keith Meldrum, and Virginia McIntyre

The Action On Pain podcast takes a closer look at the implementation of An Action Plan for Pain in Canada. Launched by Health Canada to address the needs of people living with pain, the plan set out clear goals for improving prevention, care, education, and research. We review the progress made to date, identify key challenges, and hear from voices across the pain community on what still needs to happen. Action on Pain is hosted by Jennifer Daly-Cyr, Keith Meldrum, and Virginia McIntyre

  1. 2D AGO

    Surviving Chronic Pain and Finding Hope Beyond Opioids with Graham Lord

    In this episode of Action On Pain, podcast, Keith, Jennifer, and Virginia welcome Graham Lord, a Toronto-based advocate living with chronic pain following a devastating 2002 motorcycle accident. Graham candidly shares his 17-year journey with high-dose opioid treatment, the challenges of inadequate early care, and his path to recovery through a transitional pain program. His story highlights the critical importance of timely, compassionate, and coordinated pain management. Graham's message of acceptance and resilience offers hope to others navigating chronic pain, while providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals. – Links for this episode: Best Brains Exchange - https://cpcrn-rcrsp.ca/best-brains-exchange-team-based-primary-care-learning-how-to-evaluate-the-outcomes-and-implementation-of-team-based-care/ Hance Clarke's Transitional Pain Program - https://www.transitionalpainservice.ca/team/hance-clarke Follow Action On Pain: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-on-pain/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/actiononpain/ Follow Virginia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Website - www.pipain.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virginia_mci/ Follow Jennifer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdalycyr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jen_dalycyr/#  Follow Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-meldrum-03701734/    https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-path-forward-pain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meldrum_keith/ Website: https://www.facebook.com/APathFWD Follow Chronic Pain Network LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpn-rdc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpn.rdc The Action on Pain podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Chronic Pain Network, a national research and knowledge mobilization network.

    25 min
  2. MAY 12

    Nurses at the Forefront of Chronic Pain Solutions with Dr. Kim Leblanc

    In this week's episode of Action on Pain, Virginia, Keith, and Jennifer speak with Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, president of the Canadian Nurses Association, about the vital role of nurses in chronic pain management. The discussion covers the importance of patient-centred care, equitable access, nursing education, and advocacy for marginalized groups. Dr. LeBlanc emphasizes listening to patients, addressing inequities, and the need for ongoing research. The episode highlights collaborative, holistic approaches to pain care in Canada, guided by Health Canada’s Action Plan for Pain, and encourages continued dialogue and support for those living with chronic pain. – Links for this episode: Follow Dr. Kim Leblanc: Canadian Nurses Association - https://www.cna-aiic.ca/en/about-us/our-leadership/board-of-directors/kimberly-leblanc LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyleblancapn Follow Action On Pain: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-on-pain/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/actiononpain/ Follow Virginia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Website - www.pipain.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virginia_mci/ Follow Jennifer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdalycyr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jen_dalycyr/#  Follow Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-meldrum-03701734/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-path-forward-pain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meldrum_keith/ Website: https://www.facebook.com/APathFWD Follow Chronic Pain Network LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpn-rdc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpn.rdc The Action on Pain podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Chronic Pain Network, a national research and knowledge mobilization network.

    24 min
  3. MAY 5

    Mentorship in Medicine with Dr. Arun Radhakrishnan

    In this week's episode of Action On Pain, Virginia, Keith, and Jennifer welcome Dr. Arun Radhakrishnan, a family physician specializing in chronic non-cancer pain. Dr. Radhakrishnan shares his work building mentorship networks across Canada, designed to help healthcare providers improve their knowledge, confidence, and compassionate care skills. The conversation explores how digital health tools have transformed mentorship by making it more flexible and accessible, particularly for clinicians in rural areas. Dr. Radhakrishnan also highlights how these networks support clinician well-being, helping reduce burnout — ultimately benefiting patients living with chronic pain. – Links for this episode: Follow Dr. Arun Radhakrishnan: Bruyére Health - https://www.bruyere.org/en/research-arun-radhakrishnan Centre for Effective Practice - https://cep.health/insights/meet-arun-radhakrishnan-one-of-our-clinical-leads/ LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/arun-k-radhakrishnan Follow Action On Pain: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-on-pain/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actiononpain/ Follow Virginia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Website - www.pipain.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virginia_mci/ Follow Jennifer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdalycyr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jen_dalycyr/#  Follow Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-meldrum-03701734/     https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-path-forward-pain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meldrum_keith/ Website: https://www.facebook.com/APathFWD Follow Chronic Pain Network LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpn-rdc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpn.rdc The Action on Pain podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Chronic Pain Network, a national research and knowledge mobilization network.

    25 min
  4. APR 28

    MPaCT: The Pain Scale Reinvented by Patients with Linda Wilhelm and Delane Linkiewich

    In this episode of Action on Pain, Jennifer, Keith, and Virginia speak with guests Linda Wilhelm and Delane Linkiewich about a newly developed tool called "My Pain Assessment and Communication Tool: MPaCT". Created collaboratively by people living with chronic pain, the tool moves beyond the traditional 0-to-10 pain scale to capture the full physical, emotional, and social impact of pain. Featuring a body map, descriptive pain language, and open-text fields, MPaCT aims to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers, ultimately supporting more personalized, patient-centred chronic pain care across Canada and beyond. – Links for this episode: Follow Delane Linkiewich: Research - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Delane-Linkiewich X - https://x.com/delanelinkie LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/linda-wilhelm-a59555a Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance - https://arthritispatient.ca/en/steering-committee/ Follow Action On Pain: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-on-pain/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actiononpain/ Follow Virginia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Website - www.pipain.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virginia_mci/ Follow Jennifer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdalycyr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jen_dalycyr/#  Follow Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-meldrum-03701734/     https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-path-forward-pain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meldrum_keith/ Website: https://www.facebook.com/APathFWD Follow Chronic Pain Network LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpn-rdc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpn.rdc The Action on Pain podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Chronic Pain Network, a national research and knowledge mobilization network.

    26 min
  5. APR 21

    Biopsychosocial Innovation: CAPM’s Role in Pain Care with Dr. Lydia Hatcher

    In this week's episode, Jennifer, Keith, and Virginia welcome Dr. Lydia Hatcher, a family physician, pain management specialist, and president of the Canadian Academy of Pain Management (CAPM). Dr. Hatcher discusses the Academy's 30-year mission of educating clinicians and patients using a biopsychosocial approach—treating the whole person, not just the pain. The conversation highlights the importance of patient voices in medical education, setting realistic functional goals, and moving beyond opioid-focused care. Dr. Hatcher also addresses the significance of pain being recognized as a disease under the ICD-11 classification. – Links for this episode: Follow Dr. Lydia Hatcher: Canadian Academy of Pain Management - https://www.canadianapm.com/ Lifemark - https://www.lifemark.ca/therapists/lydia/hatcher/4006333 LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/lydia-hatcher-b9888743 Follow Action On Pain: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-on-pain/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actiononpain/ Follow Virginia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Website - www.pipain.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virginia_mci/ Follow Jennifer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdalycyr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jen_dalycyr/#  Follow Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-meldrum-03701734/     https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-path-forward-pain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meldrum_keith/ Website: https://www.facebook.com/APathFWD Follow Chronic Pain Network LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpn-rdc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpn.rdc The Action on Pain podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Chronic Pain Network, a national research and knowledge mobilization network.

    26 min
  6. APR 14

    Integrating Patient Voices in Pain Education with Dr. Tim Wideman

    In this episode of Action on Pain, the hosts welcome Dr. Timothy Wideman, a physiotherapist and McGill University associate professor, to discuss innovative approaches to pain education in Canada. Guided by Health Canada’s Action Plan for Pain, the conversation explores how involving people living with chronic pain in healthcare training improves provider empathy and competency. Dr. Wideman shares his research findings showing that direct patient engagement in education leads to better outcomes for future clinicians. The episode highlights the importance of holistic, patient-centred care and ongoing efforts to enhance pain management nationwide. – Links for this episode: Follow Dr. Tim Wideman: McGill University - https://www.mcgill.ca/spot/timothy-h-wideman Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cNwRcp4AAAAJ&hl=en Follow Action On Pain: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-on-pain/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actiononpain/ Follow Virginia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Website - www.pipain.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virginia_mci/ Follow Jennifer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdalycyr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jen_dalycyr/#  Follow Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-meldrum-03701734/     https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-path-forward-pain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meldrum_keith/ Website: https://www.facebook.com/APathFWD Follow Chronic Pain Network LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpn-rdc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpn.rdc The Action on Pain podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Chronic Pain Network, a national research and knowledge mobilization network.

    25 min
  7. APR 7

    Repost: Bridging Lived Experience and Chronic Pain Research with Delane Linkiewich

    This week, we are revisiting our conversation with Delane Linkiewich, a passionate advocate and researcher living with chronic pain. Delane shares her personal journey and discusses her work developing peer support programs for youth with chronic pain. The conversation highlights the importance of integrating patient voices into research and care, reflecting Health Canada’s Action Plan for Pain. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast community and upcoming events. – Links for this episode: Follow Delane Linkiewich: Research - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Delane-Linkiewich X - https://x.com/delanelinkie Follow Action On Pain: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-on-pain/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actiononpain/ Follow Virginia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Website - www.pipain.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virginia_mci/ Follow Jennifer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdalycyr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jen_dalycyr/#  Follow Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-meldrum-03701734/     https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-path-forward-pain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meldrum_keith/ Website: https://www.facebook.com/APathFWD Follow Chronic Pain Network LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpn-rdc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpn.rdc The Action on Pain podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Chronic Pain Network, a national research and knowledge mobilization network.

    22 min
  8. MAR 31

    Repost: How Lived Experiences Shaped The Canadian Pain Task Force with Jacques Laliberté and Linda Wilhelm

    This week, we are revisiting our conversation with Jacques Laliberté and Linda Wilhelm, discussing the progress and ongoing challenges of Canada’s Action Plan for Pain. The guests share insights from their work with the Canadian Pain Task Force, highlighting the importance of collaboration, patient-centered care, and equitable access to pain management. The conversation explores the economic impact of chronic pain, the need for greater awareness and education, and the achievements of initiatives like Pain Canada. Listeners are encouraged to stay informed and engaged as Canada continues working toward improved support for those living with chronic pain. – Links for this episode: Follow Jacques Laliberté: QPRN - https://qprn.ca/en/investigator/jacques-laliberte/ Governor General of Canada Award - https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/342-52043 Follow Linda Wilhelm: LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/linda-wilhelm-a59555a Canadian Arthritis Pain Alliance - https://sporevidencealliance.ca/member/linda-wilhelm/ Follow Action On Pain: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-on-pain/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actiononpain/ Follow Virginia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Website - www.pipain.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virginia_mci/ Follow Jennifer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdalycyr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jen_dalycyr/#  Follow Keith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-meldrum-03701734/     https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-path-forward-pain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meldrum_keith/ Website: https://www.facebook.com/APathFWD Follow Chronic Pain Network LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpn-rdc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpn.rdc The Action on Pain podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Chronic Pain Network, a national research and knowledge mobilization network.

    30 min

About

The Action On Pain podcast takes a closer look at the implementation of An Action Plan for Pain in Canada. Launched by Health Canada to address the needs of people living with pain, the plan set out clear goals for improving prevention, care, education, and research. We review the progress made to date, identify key challenges, and hear from voices across the pain community on what still needs to happen. Action on Pain is hosted by Jennifer Daly-Cyr, Keith Meldrum, and Virginia McIntyre