2017 John and Emma Bonica Public Service Award
Linda Porter, PhD
Linda Porter joined the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke in 2003. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from McGill University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Porter trained in neurophysiology at Rockefeller University with Hiroshi Asanuma. She was on the faculty of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences for 15 years, where she directed an NIH funded research program aimed at elucidating mechanisms of sensory-motor integration. As a Program Director at NINDS, Dr. Porter was responsible for managing the institute’s pain research portfolio. She played an essential role in promoting the objectives and activities of the NIH Pain Consortium, a trans-NIH entity whose mission is to advance the NIH pain research agenda. In 2012, Dr. Porter became Director of the Office of Pain Policy at NIH, which was established in response to recommendations from the 2011 Institute of Medicine report on pain. Her office supports and guides the activities of the NIH Pain Consortium and those of the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee, a congressionally mandated advisory committee to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. She co-chaired the development of the National Pain Strategy report and now co-chairs the Strategy’s implementation committee. She also is co-chair for the committee that oversees development of the Federal Pain Research Strategy on behalf of the IPRCC. Dr. Porter has been recognized for her work in advancing the federal pain research agenda and efforts on moving forward the National Pain Strategy.
The John and Emma Bonica Public Service Award honors outstanding contributions by an individual or an organization to the field of pain through public education, dissemination of information, public service, or other efforts to further knowledge about pain. The award is named for John Bonica, a leading force in the development of the pain treatment movement, and his wife, Emma.
