Robert D. Kerns, PhD, professor emeritus and senior research scientist of psychiatry, has been selected as an inaugural inductee as a United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP) Fellow, the highest recognition of membership within the organization.
This prestigious designation is awarded to people who have demonstrated exceptional and sustained contributions to the field of pain through research, education, clinical practice, administration, and service. The USASP Fellowship reflects the diverse and multidisciplinary nature of work in the field, recognizing those who have made a profound impact on pain science and the broader professional community.
Kerns was honored at the 2025 USASP Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago on April 29.
He is one of three directors of the Pain Management Collaboratory Coordinating Center (PMC), a Yale-based research center that supports 16 large-scale pragmatic clinical trials of non-drug approaches to manage pain.
The PMC was established in 2017 to develop, implement, and test methods of treating pain and related conditions in veterans and active-duty military members without medication. Last year it was awarded a funding extension to continue its work for six years.
Kerns retired from the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and service to the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2016 following a nearly 38-year career. His primary area of scholarly and academic interest is in the fields of behavioral medicine and health psychology, with a more specific interest and expertise in pain and pain management.
He has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and books, and he frequently delivers invited addresses at professional and scientific meetings. His research has been funded through the VA, the NIH, and through other federal and private sources for 40 years.