John Loeser

This uniquely written title presents both the fascinating biography of Dr. John Loeser, a visionary pioneer in the field of pain medicine, as well as the compelling account of the birth and evolution of pain medicine in the United States and beyond.  In this captivating work, readers are taken down the path of an extraordinary man who not only shaped the discipline of pain medicine but also embraced a multitude of passions, leaving an indelible mark on those lucky enough to know him.  Prior to the pivotal role Loeser played in helping pain medicine emerge as a recognized field in the 1980s, he had already established himself as a highly respected neurosurgeon and co-author of a definitive text on neuroembryology.   However, when he became immersed in the world of pain medicine, an entirely new frontier beckoned—one that held the promise of reducing human suffering and revolutionizing the way we understand and manage pain.  Soon Loeser was deeply engaged in pain research and clinical practice and was advocating for better diagnostics, cutting-edge technologies, and a deeper understanding of pain mechanisms. 

Loeser not only played a leading role in the evolution of pain medicine in the 1980s but became the chief architect and champion of multidisciplinary pain management.  Indeed, this outstanding biography amounts to two absorbing stories in one – the exceptional life of Loeser, complete with engrossing details of his early-life background, along with an absorbing history of the modern pain management movement.  A colleague of Loeser for many years, the author skillfully and colorfully details the major, and often intimate, landscape of people, friendships, anecdotes, episodes, and ideas that weave into a rich context for understanding a multi-talented man who was not only a fighter for his beliefs and a major leader among all pain management professionals and organizations, but was also equally at home in his command of the operating room and in carving wooden masks based on northwestern indigenous traditions.  An invaluable contribution to the literature, John Loeser: The Man Who Reimagined Pain will be of great interest to physicians and clinicians in every field, as well as to laypersons interested in the incomparable story of a man who accomplished so much and means so much to family, friends, and colleagues around the world.

Jane Ballantyne, MD was a highly accomplished professor of medicine and anesthesia in the UK before moving to Boston US in 1990. She became Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine in the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 1999.  Dr. Ballantyne moved to the University of Washington in Seattle in 2011 as Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, a position she still holds. She has editorial roles in several leading pain medicine journals and textbooks and is a widely published author.  Dr. Ballantyne was an early advocate for restraint in opioid prescribing for chronic pain and has continued to focus her teaching and research on the clinical implications of evolving opioid science. Selected to be a member of many FDA anesthesia drug approval boards over the years, Dr. Ballantyne has been a member of the International Association of the Study of Pain since 1996 and has held multiple positions within the organization.