Golden anniversary for the Professor Tess Cramond Multidisciplinary Pain Centre

This year marks 50 years since the late Tess Cramond opened the Multidisciplinary Pain Centre at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).

Her motivation was to assist people with intractable pain from advanced cancer. However, word quickly spread and referrals of patients with chronic non-cancer pain soon followed.

The centre’s Director Associate Professor Paul Gray said the centre had a rich history that deserved to the celebrated.

“When it began, the centre was only the second of its kind in Australia, which was, and still is, a very significant achievement,” A/Prof. Gray said.

“The centre flourished under Prof. Cramond’s leadership over the next 42 years with a strong focus on patient care, teaching, education and research.

“Today, we are proud to say the centre is one of the oldest in the country and over the past 50 years has helped thousands patients.”

Following the establishment of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, the centre was accredited as one of the inaugural centres for training in pain medicine ensuring generations of clinicians could support those in chronic pain.

“More than 40 trainees have completed their fellowship at the centre, with many other research higher degree students also completing their studies under Prof. Cramond’s stewardship over the years,” he said.

“With chronic pain becoming more prevalent, the centre has an important role in training our next generation of healthcare professionals.”

In 2008, to honour Prof. Cramond and her many years of service, the centre was renamed the Professor Tess Cramond Multidisciplinary Pain Centre. She retired the following year to spend more time with family and friends but left a legacy of patient focussed care.

Today, the centre supports people in pain through outpatient and inpatient self-management programs, individual medical and allied health assessments and interventional procedures.

“The centre’s proud history is really only the beginning,” A/Prof. Gray said.

“I’m proud to be leading the centre and have no doubt that we have an exciting future ahead and will continue to advance evidenced-based, patient-focused care underpinned by teaching and research.”