The National Pain Foundation's Triumph Dinner is the organization's opportunity to recognize the individuals who inspire and motivate us to continue to educate, support and empower people living with pain. The 2008 Triumph Dinner, held on April 18 at San Francisco's City Hall, was a moving event with stories of perseverance, dedication, tragedy, hope and love. In presenting the John C. Oakley, MD, Pioneer in Pain Medicine Award, the Celina Field Caregiver Award and the Triumph Award, the NPF honored three extraordinary people who have made a difference in the lives of others. The NPF is humbled and grateful for the support of the many pain experts, family members, individuals and corporations who contributed to the success of the event. Click here to view more photos from the event.

The John C. Oakley, MD, Pioneers in Pain Medicine Award
Named for pain medicine pioneer and patient champion John C. Oakley, MD, the Pioneers in Pain Medicine Award honors health care professionals and researchers who demonstrate a passion for patient care and a commitment to improving pain medicine as a science.

Dr. Elliot Krames (left) presents Dr. Allan Basbaum. with the Pioneers in Pain Medicine Award.

Dr. Elliot Krames, NPF founder and board member, presented the award to Allan Basbaum, PhD, FRS, professor and chair, department of anatomy, and member, W.M. Keck Foundation Center for Integrative Neuroscience, at the University of California, San Francisco, for his achievements in pain research and his contributions to the science of pain medicine. Watch the video about Dr. Basbaum.

Dr. Basbaum's research focuses on neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, molecular, and behavioral approaches to the neurobiology of pain and its control. As a scientist, his research focuses on gaining a better understanding of how the pain associated with injury evolves, where changes occur in the nervous system and what are the best ways to treat pain. Colleagues admire Dr. Basbaum for his energy, curiosity and passion for teaching, his dedication to understanding pain, his open-minded approach to research and his willingness to embrace new technologies and new ways of looking at the science of pain.

Dr. Basbaum embodies Dr. Oakley’s passion and commitment to understanding pain so that researchers and clinicians can develop approaches and treatments to overcome the harmful consequences of long-term pain.

Celina Field Caregiver Award
Caregivers, whether they are health care providers, family members or friends, are the unsung heroes of people living with pain. The Celina Field Award recognizes an individual for excellence in caregiving and his or her devotion to helping those living in pain.

Host Committee member Peggy O'Brien (left) presents Dr. Julia Hallisay with the Celina Field Caregiver Award.

Jim Hemmenway, past Caregiver Award honoree, and Peggy O'Brien, member of the Triumph Dinner Host Committee, presented Julia A. Hallisy with the Caregiver Award for her strength, determination, unending love for and devotion to her family, and most of all her commitment to help others find their way through the health care system. Watch the video about Julia Hallisy.

Julia, a successful dentist, wife and mother, embodies the best of the millions of caregivers throughout the country who wake up each day to care for those they love who live with pain. As a child and young adult, Julia helped her parents and brother care for her younger sister, who suffered from a genetic cardiac condition until her death at age 25 and later helped care for her father after he was stricken with cancer.

In 1989, Julia and her husband John began a family. The unimaginable happened after the birth of their second child — at five months old, their Kate was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma. Again, Julia became caregiver — along with her husband and two sons — to her brave and beautiful daughter. For 10 years until Kate’s death, Julia fought to find the best care for Kate while Kate fought to stay alive and showed those around her the beauty in life amid the tragedy.

Inspired by her daughter’s strength and hope, Julia became an advocate for patients everywhere and shared what she learned in her book, The Empowered Patient. The book helps patients and their loved ones to successfully navigate the complex health care system by encouraging, emboldening and educating consumers to proactively participate in their own medical care.

Triumph Award — Triumph of the Spirit
The Triumph Award is presented to an individual living with pain who has made a significant difference in the lives of others. NPF CEO Mark Rasmussen presented the Triumph Award to Heidi Stokes for her amazing courage and strength in the face of daily pain, for her ability to bring joy to those around her despite her own challenges, and for her example of finding beauty and possibility in life in spite of her pain, illness and other challenges. Watch the video about Heidi Stokes.

National Pain Foundation CEO Mark Rasmussen (left) presents the Triumph Award to Heidi Stokes.

Heidi Stokes’ list of accomplishments is impressive — former executive director of the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota, co-owner and director of marketing and business development for Aaron/Stokes Music + Sound, wife, mother, daughter, friend and more. Unless you know her, you would never know that Heidi has lived with lupus and excruciating pain since she was 17 years old. You would never know that her husband is very ill and awaiting a second liver transplant. You would never know that her son has had type 1 diabetes since he was 15 months old. You would never know that she, her husband and her child have each faced death and triumphed.

Heidi inspires and awes those around her — she lives each day with gratitude and the complete understanding of what a gift life is. She believes that you have a choice when you live with pain. “Everyday you have to make a choice that you are going to live with this the best you can. And choose not to be bitter. Choose to embrace the life that you do have. Don’t postpone your life until you are well because it may never happen. Redefine joy."

Focusing on Seniors in 2008
This year, the National Pain Foundation will focus on developing educational materials and resources for older adults who live with pain and for the people caring for them. There is a great need to address this underserved and undertreated population. During the Triumph Dinner, the National Pain Foundation made an appeal to attendees to help us fund this work. Watch the video about Seniors Living with Pain.

Thank you!
The National Pain Foundation extends a heartfelt thanks to the many individuals and companies involved in making the Triumph Dinner possible. Your generous support is invaluable to our mission of helping people living with daily pain.

2008 San Francisco Host Committee

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Goldman Fund

Triumph Dinner Supporters

The National Pain Foundation extends a heartfelt thanks to:

and to the wineries, individuals and companies that donated wine for the dinner:

The 2008 San Francisco Triumph Dinner Auction was made possible
by the generous support of the following companies and individuals: