Embrace the Challenge of Pain Management and Care with the Interfaculty Pain Curriculum (IPC Pain Week)
DID YOU KNOW?
Ignoring pain education costs too much.
Chronic pain, a significant but often overlooked health issue, affects 1 in 5 Canadians (translating to nearly 8 million individuals nationwide) and costs Canadians over 40.3 billion dollars per year. The University of Toronto’s Centre for the Study of Pain (UTCSP) recognized that Health Science programs provided very little pain education as part of the curriculum. They discovered that Veterinarians receive five times more dedicated education about pain.
The UTCSP Response
In response to the lack of pain education and these concerning statistics, the UTCSP initiated the Interfaculty Pain Curriculum (IPC)—known by students as ‘IPC Pain Week’—in 2002 to address the significant gaps in pain education. This exclusive program provides in-depth, multidisciplinary pain assessment and management education for students in all healthcare disciplines, aiming to meet the healthcare system’s educational needs and foster a future with comprehensive responses to chronic pain.
MORE ABOUT US
Advancing Pain Education with Diversity, Expertise and Compassion
The IPC Pain Week initiative redefines healthcare education with a comprehensive pain assessment and management approach. It goes beyond traditional methods by integrating biological, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of pain, addressing the significant healthcare and medical training gap.
Students from various health fields, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, and physician assistants learn together, preparing them for the evolving demands of healthcare, where a holistic approach to understanding and managing pain is increasingly vital. By harnessing the collective wisdom of diverse healthcare disciplines, IPC Pain Week offers an unparalleled educational experience.
It was very useful to have someone with a lived experience of chronic pain lead the curriculum. It allowed me to learn from the patient’s perspective.
Nursing Student
CORE VALUES
Elevating the Standard of Pain Education
The IPC is more than an educational program; it’s a commitment to transform pain management. The IPC represents a monumental stride in healthcare education, blending in-depth knowledge with practical learning and empathetic patient care. The IPC is a testament to our commitment to combating the silent epidemic of chronic pain affecting millions worldwide.
Universal Understanding
IPC goes beyond traditional methodologies, integrating the latest research and clinical practices to offer a deep, multi-faceted understanding of pain.
Pedagogical Innovation
At the forefront of pain management education, IPC utilizes the latest global advancements in pain knowledge and practices combined with contemporary teaching methods to enhance learning and foster a deeper understanding of pain in a dynamic healthcare environment.
Patient-Centric Education
At its core, IPC emphasizes the importance of patient-centred approaches, ensuring every graduate values patient well-being and is equipped to provide empathetic, effective care.
Cultivating Leaders
IPC is committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders in healthcare and pain management, encouraging innovation and leadership in medicine.
Diverse Expertise
IPC broadens students’ understanding of pain management with varied insights from scholars, educators, clinicians, and patient partners from diverse disciplines, preparing them for the complexities of modern healthcare.
GET STARTED
Transform your institution’s approach to pain management education.
By providing an interprofessional pain curriculum, we are not just educating about pain care; we are nurturing a new generation of healthcare professionals committed to placing patient well-being at the heart of their practice.
By providing an interprofessional pain curriculum, we are not just educating about pain care; we are nurturing a new generation of healthcare professionals committed to placing patient well-being at the heart of their practice.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
What does IPC Pain Week look like?
IPC Pain Week, the flagship educational initiative of the UTCSP, is an immersive three-day educational experience that equips future healthcare professionals with a deep understanding of pain management.
This innovative program, grounded in the latest pain research, is dedicated to enhancing community health outcomes through a multifaceted approach.
Discover how IPC Pain Week can be integrated at your institution
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
What students had to say about IPC Pain Week
GET STARTED
Transform your institution’s approach to pain management education.
Adopt the University of Toronto’s IPC Pain Week curriculum, crafted for educational institutions to provide an in-depth, interprofessional pain management education. Contact us today to learn how to bring this innovative program to your students.
GET STARTED
Transform your institution’s approach to pain management education.
Adopt the University of Toronto’s IPC Pain Week curriculum, crafted for educational institutions to provide an in-depth, interprofessional pain management education. Contact us today to learn how to bring this innovative program to your students.
LEARN MORE
Got Questions? We've Got Answers!
The intellectual property of the IPC belongs to the University of Toronto’s Centre for the Study of Pain (UTCSP).
While we strongly suggest there are synergistic benefits to the curriculum as a whole, please contact us to discuss implementing components of the IPC Pain Week curriculum in your unique educational setting.
The intellectual property belongs to the UTCSP but it is our goal to advance pain education globally. Please contact us for more information.
You can email us at utcsp@utoronto.ca.
We have run the IPC Pain Week program in hybrid, virtual and in-person formats.
