Centre for Pediatric Pain Research

04/13/2026

⭐Student Research Feature: Bianca Matthews⭐

Bianca is a Clinical Psychology PhD student whose research focuses on inequities in pediatric pain management. Her work examines how racism and systemic factors shape pain experiences and pain management behaviours among racialized children and youth.

Through community-engaged and equity-focused approaches, her research contributes to a stronger evidence base for improving pain care in pediatric health settings.

Thank you to the Dalhousie University - Department of Psychology and Neuroscience for featuring Bianca and her research.

https://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/psychology_neuroscience/news&events/2026/04/08/dalhousie_graduate_research_examines_inequity_in_children_s_pain_management.html

Under our current healthcare system, some children are set up to manage pain under far more difficult conditions than others. Bianca Matthews, a third‑year Clinical Psychology PhD student at Dalhousie University supervised by Dr. Christine Chambers and Dr. Alexandra Neville, studies how racism and...

04/11/2026

04/01/2026

✨Implementation Spotlight ✨

This month, our spotlight shines on Brigadoon Village, whose new camp, Camp-o-Sore-Us, is creating an environment for children and youth with chronic pain to explore what living well with pain can look like. Camp-o-Sore-Us brings together camp leaders, healthcare professionals, volunteers and families to blend evidence‑informed pain‑management strategies with inclusive camp experiences - supporting kids to safely rediscover movement, confidence, and participation through play, nature and connection.

A powerful example of how pediatric pain care can extend beyond clinical settings and truly take a village! 👏

Read the full story in our latest 'In the Loop' newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/2bz8t92u



IWK Health The Camping Association of Nova Scotia & PEI (CANSPEI)

03/30/2026

🌟 Open Lecture by Dr. Julia Moore 🌟

Join us for an insightful lecture "Making Research Matter: The Power of Implementation Science"! This introduction to implementation science will highlight the ways that researchers can apply or embed implementation science into their research, implementation, and evaluation initiatives.

Thanks to Dalhousie University's Next Wave Fund for its research centres and institutes, SKIP is able to bring this campus-wide learning opportunity to the Dalhousie community – all faculty, staff, and students are welcome!

📅 Date: May 7, 2026
⏰ Time: 4:00-5:30 PM
📍 Location: Collaborative Health Education Building Room 170 on the Dalhousie University Campus – Halifax, NS.

💻 Register Online: https://tinyurl.com/29bfu9nv

Don't miss out on this opportunity!

Dal Health

03/26/2026

03/11/2026

Have you registered for the TREKK-PERC collaborative education session yet? Join us to hear from Samina Ali, who will explore the latest evidence surrounding pain care in pediatric emergency medicine.
📅 Tuesday, March 17th
⏲️ 12:00- 1:00 PM CST
💻 Via Zoom

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/5fxyphfv
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Vous êtes-vous déjà inscrit à la session de formation collaborative TREKK-PERC ? Rejoignez-nous pour écouter la Dre Samina Ali qui présentera les données probantes les plus récentes sur la prise en charge de la douleur en médecine d'urgence pédiatrique.
📅 Mardi 17 mars
⏲️ 12 h à 13 h (heure du Centre)
💻 Via Zoom
https://tinyurl.com/5fxyphfv

02/24/2026

The latest episode of the Action on Pain podcast is out!

Featuring a conversation between co-hosts, Jennifer Daly-Cyr, Keith Meldrum, and Virginia McIntyre, and special guest, Dr. Christine Chambers, Episode 21 is about the evolution of children’s pain care in Canada, the creation of Solutions for Kids in Pain, and the importance of translating research into real-world solutions. The episode highlights the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing to improve pain management for children and families.

Links to podcast:
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2znpmesf
Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/3ywnt8ab
Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/m79kap4y

Podcast · 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 preve...

02/23/2026

Have you checked out the Action on Pain podcast yet? Tomorrow - Feb 24 - the latest episode will feature a conversation with Dr. Christine Chambers on the evolution of children’s pain care in Canada, the creation of the Solutions for Kids in Pain network, and the importance of translating research into real-world solutions!

✅ Check back here tomorrow for the episode link
✅ Follow Action on Pain (LinkedIn) so you don't miss new episodes
✅ Search for them on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music to listen to all the Action on Pain episodes

02/21/2026

Expecting your first baby in 2026? Just welcomed a newborn?

We’re inviting first-time parents in Nova Scotia to take part in a research study with IWK Health. Participants may receive supportive postpartum text messages during the first 6 weeks after birth — right when things can feel overwhelming.

This study is open to first-time parents who are:
• 28+ weeks pregnant
• OR have delivered within the past week

If that’s you, we’d love to connect
Text “pregnant” (if 28+ weeks) or “birth” (if baby arrived in the last week) to 902-702-6278 to learn more.

If you're not 28 weeks yet but still interested, you can still text us “pregnant” and we can send you a reminder about the study at 28 weeks.

Please feel free to share with someone who might be interested! All parents welcomed.

02/05/2026

Preparing children and youth for blood work can reduce their worries about it. What works best depends on age and temperament.

Did you know that you can request Child Life Support if your child needs help coping with blood collection at the IWK?

IWK care teams use a variety of strategies including sucrose, numbing cream, comfort positions and distraction to reduce the pain children feel during needle procedures.

If your child requires child life support, book your appointment by phone.

Appointment Booking Line: (902) 497-1764
For more information and helpful resources please visit

https://iwkhealth.ca/clinics-programs-services/blood-collection

02/03/2026

“Having practiced at the IWK my entire nursing career, I have witnessed the evolution of how we treat children during potentially painful procedures.” says Jacqueline van Nieuwenhuizen, Clinical Nurse Specialist, on the Pediatric Medical Unit (PMU) at IWK health. “From restraint and ‘getting it over as quickly as possible’ to employing the ‘Comfort Promise.’ When research showed a better, kinder way to care for children—reducing fear, pain, and psychological harm—I was all in.

PMU was the first unit in the hospital to start employing the ‘Comfort Promise.’ As a Pain Champion, van Nieuwenhuizen was able to share experiences with other pain champions, learn from their experiences, and receive regular education on best practice in pain management through talks from researchers and experts in the field.

“Being a pain champion has shown me how we can affect change on a personal, unit and organizational level and change practice for the better,” says van Nieuwenhuizen. “The knowledge I gained in this work translates to practice changes we can make in other areas of our care.”

“Employing the “Comfort Promise” is a very respectful way to treat children and it empowers both the child and their family. Parents and guardians have an important role to play in distracting their children during the procedure and, with guidance from health care providers, they can embrace that role and not feel so helpless.”

“It is heartwarming to see a child who is afraid of a potentially painful procedure, receive the ‘Comfort Promise’ strategies, and have a positive outcome.”

The IWK is committed to doing everything we can to prevent and treat pain through our Comfort Promises. IWK Pain Champions lead the way in using proven pain management methods and help create a culture that prioritizes comfort and care for all ages.

01/22/2026

Have pediatric pain management resources that you love? SKIP wants to hear from YOU!

Help us build a collection of trusted tools, guides, and resources by sharing ones you've found helpful. These may be assessment tools, family-facing guides and handouts, online education and training modules, organizational standards, or other formats - share as many as you'd like!

Take a moment to contribute through our short survey by Jan 31: https://tinyurl.com/mujkxd73