Dr. Peter Staats is an internationally recognized leader, innovator, and visionary in the field of pain medicine, neuromodulation, and interventional anesthesiology, widely regarded as one of the pioneers who shaped the modern discipline of interventional pain management. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Positive Outcomes Worldwide, Chief Medical Officer of electroCore, and Founding Chair and President of the Vagus Nerve Society, while also serving on the Boards of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), the Federation for Pain Care Access, and the World Institute of Pain. Over his distinguished career, Dr. Staats has held numerous influential leadership roles including Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, President of the North American Neuromodulation Society, President of ASIPP, President of the World Institute of Pain, and Chief Medical Officer for the National Spine and Pain Centers. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Michigan Medical School, with an MBA from Johns Hopkins University, he combines medical expertise with executive acumen to advance innovation, access, and evidence-based care for patients worldwide. He has edited and authored several seminal textbooks and book sections in pain management including Expert Pain Management: Springhouse Guide, Anesthesiology Clinics of North America: Interventional Pain Management, Textbook of Regional Anesthesia, Radiographic Imaging for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management, and Just the Facts: Pain Medicine, which have become foundational references in the field. A decorated clinician and researcher, Dr. Staats has been recognized with multiple lifetime achievement awards, excellence honors, and innovation accolades from leading medical societies around the globe for his contributions to advancing neuromodulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and compassionate, patient-centered pain care.

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Featured Publications:

Goadsby, P. J., Feoktistov, A., Anitescu, M., Day, M., & Staats, P. (n.d.). Non‐invasive vagus nerve stimulation in cluster headache: A clinical practice guideline. Pain Practice.

Gupta, M., Patil, A., Staats, P., Schatman, M., Kalia, H., Sayed, D., Soin, A., Baranidharan, G., Kapural, L., & Chitneni, A., et al. (n.d.). Chronic abdominal discomfort syndrome (CADS): A narrative review of treatment strategies. Journal of Pain Research.

Wahezi, S., Yener, U., Day, M., Staats, P., Gilligan, C., Schatman, M., & Pritzlaff, S. (n.d.). Are chronic pain fellowships disguised as acute pain fellowships which manage chronic pain? How to recognize and repair. Journal of Pain Research.

Wahezi, S., Yener, U., Staats, P., Eshraghi, Y., Day, M., Schatman, M., & Pritzlaff, S. (n.d.). Mentorship in pain medicine fellowship: Addressing the gaps and advocating for change. Journal of Pain Research.

Kalia, H., Thapa, B., Staats, P., Martin, P., Stetter, K., Feldman, B., & Marci, C. (n.d.). Real-world healthcare utilization and costs of peripheral nerve stimulation with a micro-IPG system. Pain Management.