Is It Just Back Pain… or Something More?

Featured Topics and Speakers       

Chronic Back Pain: What You Should Consider  

Charles Odonkor, MD

Dr. Charles Odonkor is a double board-certified physician in pain medicine and physiatry. An assistant professor and co-director of clinical research at Yale School of Medicine, he studies physical activity, neuromodulation outcomes, and how mobile and wearable technologies track mobility and function in people with chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.

Mechanical vs. Inflammatory Back Pain   

Raj Sengupta, MD

Dr. Raj Sengupta is a consultant rheumatologist at The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) and the BMI Bath Clinic in Bath, U.K. He has published extensively on ankylosing spondylitis in peer-reviewed international journals. He serves as Chief Clinical Information Officer at RNHRD, is a trustee and chair of the Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases, and holds multiple national and international roles in spondyloarthritis societies and guideline committees, advising on treatment and policy.

What is Spondyloarthritis? 

Abhijeet Danve, MBBS, MD, MHS

Dr. Abhijeet Danve, MBBS, MD, MHS is Associate Professor of Medicine at Yale University, New Haven CT. He is founding director of Yale Spondyloarthritis Program which provides comprehensive multidisciplinary care to patients with spondyloarthritis. Dr. Danve has been active in spondyloarthritis research for more than a decade and his main interest is in facilitating the early diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis among patients with chronic back pain. He is the inventor of A-Tool©, a screening survey for identifying axSpA among back pain patients as well as Principal Investigator for Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network Referral Recommendations for axSpA. Dr. Danve is recipient of Marshall J Schiff Memorial research award (2013) and Distinguished Fellow award (2015) given by American College of Rheumatology and Jane Bruckel Early Career award by Spondylitis Association of America (2019). Dr. Danve completed Medical School and Internal Medicine Residency from Seth G S Medical College Mumbai India, Clinical Rheumatology fellowship from Oregon Health and Science University, Portland OR and Research fellowship at University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. He is a member of Spondyloarthritis and Treatment Network (SPARTAN), Axial Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) and Group for Research and Assessment for Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA). He lives in Glastonbury CT USA with his wife Supriya and 2 boys.

Get Your Voice Heard: How to Talk to Your Doctor        

Chuck Melendri, MBA

Mr. Chuck Melendi is the founder of Disruptive Dialogue, a healthcare consulting and education firm dedicated to demystifying the U.S. healthcare system and empowering organizations to improve access, affordability, and patient experience. He spent 25 years at Johnson & Johnson leading drug-price negotiations, shaping health-policy efforts, and guiding sales and marketing teams. He now partners with benefit consultants and speaks nationally, helping people and organizations better understand, navigate, and reform the U.S. healthcare system.

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