Expanded Mission Statement: Education Beyond Borders

#ThePowerOfCollaboration

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

From the Executive Board of the Latin American Pain Society (LAPS), we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the academic and professional growth of physicians dedicated to the treatment of pain throughout Latin America.

LAPS is a young, nonprofit organization, free from commercial or political interests, and deeply committed to raising the standard of specialized medical education in pain management. Our focus is centered on clinical practice and the continuous education of medical professionals, promoting scientific dialogue and rigorous academic updates—not only in English, the common language of scientific activity, but especially in Spanish and Portuguese, the native languages of millions of patients and professionals in our region who, for decades, have lacked educational resources tailored to their reality or any significant efforts to improve it.

It is important to highlight that LAPS was created as a complementary space, focused on the specific needs of pain medicine specialists in a region with unique challenges and an enormous human and scientific potential to be developed. We have deep respect for all institutions that work toward the advancement of knowledge, and we have consistently maintained a posture of collaboration, openness, and respect toward all of them.

LAPS is not defined by the doors that close, but by the ones we open. To every professional and every society, we will always extend our hand with respect, dignity, and a spirit of collaboration. Because we firmly believe that knowledge does not compete; it is shared—and that science, like pain, knows no borders.

Those of us who are part of LAPS have exercised, and will continue to exercise, our fundamental human right to free association. This right, universally recognized, ensures that every individual may organize for lawful, academic, and scientific purposes without fear of reprisals or exclusions. Attempting to censor or restrict this right is not only unjust; it is profoundly serious and strikes at the very principles that govern coexistence and scientific progress.

The future of Pain Medicine is being written, and Latin America has much to contribute. From LAPS, we renew our commitment to continue building bridges, promoting the free exchange of ideas, and strengthening medical education excellence—with the firm purpose of serving our patients and our region.

Let us continue walking together, with integrity, respect, and a passion for knowledge.

See you in Santiago de Chile!

Regards,

the Executive Board of LAPS