Sean C. Mackey MD, PhD

Dr. Sean C. Mackey is Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and Redlich Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Neurosciences, and Neurology at Stanford University. Dr. Mackey received his BSE and MSE in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, as well as his M.D. from the University of Arizona.

Under Dr. Mackey’s leadership, the Stanford Pain Management Center has twice been designated a Center of Excellence by the American Pain Society (APS). As Director of the Stanford Systems Neuroscience and Pain Lab, his primary research interest involves the use of advanced psychophysical, neurobehavioral, and neuroimaging tools to investigate chronic pain. Currently, he is a developer of a free, open-source learning health system—CHOIR. Dr. Mackey has served as principal investigator for multiple NIH and foundation-sponsored grants to investigate mechanisms of chronic pain.

Dr. Mackey is the author of over 200 journal articles and book chapters in addition to numerous national and international lectures. He is the past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. Dr. Mackey co-authored the Institute of Medicine’s report, Relieving Pain in America. He was co-chair of the Oversight Committee for the NIH/Health and Human Services National Pain Strategy (NPS), an effort to establish a national health strategy for pain care, education, and research. In the last few years, he has received the American Pain Society Wilbert E. Fordyce Clinical Investigator Award; the AAPM’s Pain Medicine Fellowship Award, Distinguished Service Award, and Robert G. Addison, MD Award; and NIH Directors’ Award for his efforts on the NPS.