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Canadian Interventional Pain Course (CIPC)

CANADIAN INTERVENTIONAL PAIN COURSE (CIPC)  MAY 2&3, 2025, Toronto

 This course is held in parallel with the 2025 Canadian Pain Society (CPS) Annual Scientific Meeting 

Program Chair: Dr. David Flamer, Dr. Abeer Alomari


Join us for Canadian Interventional Pain Course (CIPC), running alongside the Canadian Pain Society's 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting. This comprehensive 2-day course features expert-led didactic sessions on May 2 (Day 1) and a hands-on workshop on May 3 (Day 2), covering ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy-guided procedures. Topics include spine interventions, nerve blocks, musculoskeletal injections, neuromodulation, radiofrequency ablation, and regenerative medicine.

Space is limited—reserve your spot today by emailing Danielle.Alvares@uhn.ca .

 



    Day 1 (Didactic Day) - Friday May 2, 2025 

Venue: Women’s College Hospital- Main auditorium 77 Grenville Street, Toronto ON M5S 1B2 


Registration on & Breakfast 0730-0830 


Welcome Remarks 

Course Directors: Dr. David Flamer and Dr. Abeer Alomari

0830 – 0840 


Panel 1: All about the Spine – I 

Algorithm for Diagnosis and Treatment for Pain in the neck 

Dr. Ivan Cohen 0840 – 0900 


Thoracic-mediated pain: Approach and interventional considerations 

Dr. Harsha Shanthanna 

0900 – 0920


Low Back Pain: Correlating imaging findings with causality 

Dr. Anuj Bhatia 

0920–0940 


Fluoroscopic Guided Procedures for Lumbar Spine: TFESI, ILE, MBB 

Dr. Ian Beauprie 

0940 – 1000 


Q & A   

1000 – 1015   


Coffee and Networking 1015 – 1045 


Panel 2: All about the Spine – II 

SIJ mediated Pain: Diagnosis and Interventions 

Dr. Mohan Radhakrishna 

1045-1105   


Optimizing Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation: Anatomical Updates 

Dr. Eldon Loh & John Tran 

1105-1125 


Pro-Con debate for Ultrasound-guidance for Lumbar Spine procedures to relieve pain 

Dr. Rod Finlayson 

1125-1145 


Update: surgical referrals and decision making 

Dr. Raj Rampersaud 

1145-1205


 Q & A   

1205-1215   


Lunch & Networking Time 1215-1315 


Panel 3: All about the Joints 

Shoulder interventions: GHJ, ACJ, Hydrodilation for frozen shoulder, SSN block

Dr. Nimish Mittal 1315-1335


 Hip interventions: intra-articular, PENG block, GTPS injections, denervation techniques

 Dr. Abeer Alomari 

1335-1355


Update: Regenerative Medicine 

Dr. Steven Helper 

1355-1415


Q & A   

1415-1430


Coffee and Networking 1430 – 1450


 Panel 4: Specialty Topics 

Update on headache management: medications and interventions 

Dr. Aaron Kirschner

1450-1510 


Update: Neuromodulation 

Dr. Anuj Bhatia 

1510-1530 


Running an efficient chronic pain practice 

Dr. Aarun Gupta 

1530-1550


Q & A   

1550-1600

 

Concluding Remarks and feedback   

1600-1615       


Day 2 (Workshop Day) - Saturday May 3, 2025 

Venue: Mount Sinai Hospital- Surgical Skill lab 2nd floor 

600 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5 


0700 -0800  Breakfast with Faculty 

0745-0800  Introduction and safety review 

0800-0900  Rotation One 

0900-100  Rotation Two   

1000-1015  Coffee Break 

1015-1115  Rotation Three 

1115-1215  Rotation Four 

1215-1315  Lunch 

1315-1415  Rotation One 

1415-1515  Rotation Two   

1515-1530  Break 

1530-1630  Rotation Three 

1630-1730  Rotation Four 

1730           Conclusion and Evaluations 


Bundle A: Fluoroscopy Stations

Hands-on anatomy station (mandatory) AND choose 3 of 4 

1. Lumbar Procedures - I: transforaminal epidural, interlaminar epidural, caudal 

2. Lumbar procedures - II: medial branch block/radiofrequency ablation, lumbar sympathetic plexus injection 

3. Sacral procedures: sacroiliac intra articular, sacral lateral branch block, sacral lateral branch RFA 

4. Cancer procedures: ganglion impar, superior hypogastric plexus, splanchnic/celiac 


Bundle B: Ultrasound Stations Choose 4 of 5 (one station will be a cadaver, others live models)

1. Peripheral nerve blocks –intercostal nerves, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, stellate ganglion block, greater and lesser occipital block 

2. MSK I: hip, greater trochanteric bursa, PENG block, knee, genicular nerve block 

3. MSK II: glenohumeral joint, AC joint, suprascapular, rotator cuff interval, ankle joint 

4. Spine: lumbar medial branch/facet joint, sacral lateral branch block, sacroiliac joint (cadaver)

 5. Miscellaneous: erector spinae block, pudendal, piriformis, genitofemoral nerve, ilioinguinal/ iliohypogastric nerve. 

*First come first served basis for station preference for both bundles 


REGISTRATION INFORMATION

 

Course Directors: Dr. David Flamer and Dr. Abeer Alomari 

Course Coordinator: Danielle Alvares 

Please contact Danielle.Alvares@uhn.ca to register 


Practicing physicians – 

$2000 to a end both days, $800 to a end only day 1 (didactic session on May 2) 


Trainees and Allied health – 

$1000 to attend both days, $400 to a end only day 1 (didactic session on May 2) 


Discounted rate if attendee is also registered for the CPS meeting: 


Practicing physicians – 

$1500 to attend both days, $600 to a end only day 1 (didactic session on May 2) 


Trainees and Allied health – 

$750 to attend both days, $300 to a end only day 1 (didactic session on May 2) 


Planning Committee:

Dr. Harsha Shanthanna, McMaster University 

Dr. David Flamer, University of Toronto 

Dr. Philip Peng, University of Toronto 

Dr. Rod Finlayson, McGill University 

Dr. Ian Beauprie, Dalhousie University 

Dr. Anuj Bhatia, University of Toronto 

Dr. Abeer Alomari, University of Toronto


Faculty:

Dr. Harsha Shanthanna, McMaster University 

Dr. David Flamer, University of Toronto 

Dr. Rod Finlayson, McGill University 

Dr. Ian Beauprie, Dalhousie University   

Dr. Anuj Bhatia, University of Toronto 

Dr. Paul Tumber, University of Toronto 

Dr. Nimish Mi al, University of Toronto 

Dr. Aaron Kirschner, University of Toronto 

Dr. Arun Gupta, University of Toronto 

Dr. Ivan Cohen, Dalhousie University

Dr. Mohan Radhakrishna, McGill University 

Dr. Eldon Loh, Western University 

Dr. John Tran, Western University

Dr. Steven Helper, University of British Columbia 

Dr. James Khan, University of Toronto 

Dr. Paul Etheridge, University of British Columbia 

Dr. Abeer Alomari, University of Toronto