Robert D Kerns, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with a longstanding interest and commitment to improving pain care. He is Professor Emeritus at Yale University, Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, and a Program Director of the National Institutes of Health-Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Pain Management Collaboratory Coordinating Center. Dr. Kerns has a strong record of federally funded research on pain management, and he is the author of over 300 original, peer-reviewed publications, books and chapters. His most important contributions focus on comprehensive pain assessment, nonpharmacological approaches for the management of pain, pain and co-occurring conditions, individual differences and disparities in pain care, safe and effective opioid therapy, the design and conduct of pragmatic pain trials, and promotion of organizational improvements in pain care.

Disclosure: Robert D. Kerns, Ph.D. Dr. Kerns must disclose he is the recipient of research grants from NIH, VA, and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. He also receives consultant fees for his contributions to other NIH-funded research projects and NIH and PCORI Data and Safety Monitoring Boards. He receives honoraria as Executive Editor of Pain Medicine and as a Scientific Advisory Board member for the Canadian Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence. He serves on the Board of Directors for A Place to Nourish your Health.