Dr. Kerns is Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Psychology at Yale University. He is currently the Program Director of the National Institutes of Health-Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Pain Management Collaboratory. Dr. Kerns has an extensive background as a clinician, educator, scientist, administrator, advocate and policy maker in the area of pain management. As evidence of his recognition as a thought leader in the field, he was invited to serve as a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Advancing Pain Research, Care and Education and as one of the work group chairs for the development of the National Pain Strategy.