UNMC, 15 co-sponsors across Nebraska invite public to free health education series on managing pain Oct. 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4

The University of Nebraska Medical Center and co-sponsors in 15 cities across Nebraska invite the public to participate in a free health educational series titled, “Make It Go Away – Managing Pain.” The series will run on Thursdays, Oct. 14, 21, 28 and Nov. 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (central time).

The series will be broadcast live from the UNMC Durham Research Center Auditorium in Omaha, via satellite to: Chadron, Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings, Holdrege, Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, O’Neill, Red Cloud, Rushville, Sidney, Scottsbluff and Wayne. The series will be transmitted on Nebraska Satellite System 2, channel 105.

The goal of UNMC Mini-Medical School is to educate Nebraskans on health issues that affect them, as well as highlight the strides being made in research and treatment at UNMC.

During this fall’s four-week program, UNMC pain management experts will provide an overview of what health professionals and scientists are doing to help manage pain. Participants will get the latest information and resources to turn to. Pain management presents a significant challenge for health care professionals and their patients. It is one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention.

Traditionally, pain has been treated as a symptom, but once the injury has healed or the disease has subsided, patients may be left with persistent pain. About 75 million people are partially or totally disabled by pain, 45 percent of all Americans seek care for persistent pain at some point in their lives, and 33 percent of all Americans will experience severe chronic pain at some point.

Chronic pain is the most common cause of long-term disability. Medications, acupuncture, local electrical stimulation and brain stimulation, as well as surgery, are some treatments for chronic pain. Psychotherapy, relaxation and medication therapies, biofeedback, and behavior modification also are used to treat chronic pain.

Seating for Mini-Medical School is limited. Registration is required. To get more information about the series or to register, go to: http://www.unmc.edu/minimed/painmgmt/index.htm. While the program is free to the public, Nebraska and Iowa nurses who wish to receive eight contact hours of continuing nursing education credits can do so at a cost of $40. Credits are awarded through the UNMC College of Nursing.

UNMC Mini-Medical School dates, topics and presenters:

Oct. 14: “You Hurt? Have You Heard the Latest?” presented by Christopher Criscuolo, M.D., associate professor, UNMC Department of Anesthesiology and director, Pain Medicine, The Nebraska Medical Center; “It’s Not All in Your Head – The Psychology of Pain,” presented by Rex Schmidt, Psy.D., clinical psychologist, The Nebraska Medical Center.

Oct. 21: “Now There’s More Than Aspirin: Latest Therapies,” presented by Carla Rubingh, Pharm.D., assistant professor, UNMC College of Pharmacy; “Healing Touch,” presented by Mary Megel, Ph.D., associate professor, UNMC College of Nursing; and “Biofeedback the Pain Away,” presented by Keith Allen, Ph.D., professor, pediatrics and psychology, Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation at UNMC.

Oct. 28: “Treating Back Pain,” presented by Lyal Leibrock, M.D., professor and chief of neurosurgery, UNMC College of Medicine; “Healing Headaches,” presented by Angie Rakes, M.D., assistant professor, UNMC College of Medicine; “Relieving Oral Pain,” presented by Nagamani Narayana, D.M.D., assistant professor, UNMC College of Dentistry; and “Finishing Touches,” Joe Siracusano, adjunct assistant professor, UNMC School of Allied Health Professions.

Nov. 4: “Growing Old Doesn’t Have to Hurt,” presented by Catherine Eberle, M.D., associate professor, UNMC College of Medicine; “Controlling Cancer Pain,” presented by June Eilers, Ph.D., The Nebraska Medical Center, and Ann Berger, Ph.D., associate professor, UNMC College of Nursing.

Locations of free UNMC Mini-Medical School series and registration information:

Broadcasting live via satellite (6:30-8:30 p.m. central time, 5:30-7:30 p.m. mountain time) to:

Chadron
Chadron State College, Student Center, Scottsbluff Room
1000 Main St., (308) 432-6422 or (308) 432-6434 bfillmore@csc.edu
Sponsored by: Chadron State College

Columbus
Central Community College—Columbus, North Education Building, Room 904
4500 63rd St., (402) 562-1409, toll-free (800) 642-1083, ext. 1409. smahlin@cccneb.edu
Sponsored by: Central Nebraska Area Health Education Center and Central Community College

Grand Island
College Park, Room 203
3180 West Highway 34, (308) 385-6677, mary@cn-ahec.org
Sponsored by: Central Nebraska Area Health Education Center and Central Community College

Hastings
Central Community College, Platte Building, Walnut Room
East Highway 6, (402) 461-2429, rlurk@cccneb.edu
Sponsored by: Central Nebraska Area Health Education Center and Central Community College

Holdrege (register by Monday for each session)
Central Community College Holdrege Center, Phelps County Ag Center
1308 2nd Ave., (308) 995-8133, dwatson@cccneb.edu
Sponsored by: Central Community College Holdrege Center and Phelps Memorial Health Center

Kearney
UNK Center for Distance Education, Communications Building, CMCT 221
1910 University Drive, (308) 865-8503, holoubeckja@unk.edu
Sponsored by: University of Nebraska at Kearney

Lincoln
College of Dentistry Dixon Lecture Hall
40th and Holdrege Streets, (402) 472-9993, gtmason@unmc.edu
Sponsored by: UNMC College of Nursing and UNMC College of Dentistry

Norfolk
Northeast Community College Ag-Allied Health Bldg.
801 East Benjamin Avenue
(402) 844-7000
Sponsored by: Northern Nebraska Area Health Education Center and Northeast Community College

North Platte
McKinley Education Center (south entrance)
301 West F St., (308) 696-1201, shirleensmith@alltel.net
Sponsored by: West Central District Health Department and McKinley Education Center

Omaha
UNMC Durham Research Center Auditorium
Emile Street & Durham Research Plaza
Omaha, NE
(402) 559-4315 jemeier@unmc.edu
and
Clarkson West Medical Center, 144th & Center
2nd Floor conference room, (402) 559-4315 jemeier@unmc.edu

O’Neill
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Courthouse Annex
128 N. 6th St.
(402) 336-2760, rkulm1@unl.edu
Sponsored by: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension

Red Cloud
Webster County Historical Museum Exhibit Hall
721 West 4th (West Highway 136)
(402) 746-3417, dlienemann2@unl.edu
Sponsored by: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension at Webster County

Rushville
Sheridan County Cooperative Extension
105 Loofborrow
(308) 327-2312, jbolek2@unl.edu
Sponsored by: Sheridan County Cooperative Extension and the Gordon Memorial Hospital

Sidney
Western Nebraska Community College
371 College Drive, (308) 254-7401, gentrym@wncc.net
Sponsored by Western Nebraska Community College

Scottsbluff
UNMC College of Nursing University Complex Panhandle Station, Room 201
4502 Avenue I, (308) 632-0410, bhartsho@unmc.edu
Sponsored by: UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division

Wayne
Wayne State College, Connell Room 131
1111 Main St., Wayne, NE, cahobza1@wsc.edu (402) 375-7329
Sponsored by Wayne State College

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