NPAC In-Depth: Meet Dr. Tamara Baker
Director Kate Nicholson sat down with Tamara Baker PhD to talk about her work with NPAC, equity, and pain.
Kate: Why are you involved with NPAC’s Science and Policy Advisory Council and why do you think advocacy and education about pain are important?
Tamara: For the past few years, I’ve been interested in policy and advocacy but I didn’t know where to start. Being a Mayday Fellow gave me a glimpse, but being involved with NPAC has allowed me to take a ‘deeper dive’ into community advocacy/policy. Everyone should have equal access to care and resources. For this to become a reality globally, we can no longer work in silos. Ensuring access to care must be a collective effort among researchers, community advocates, politicians, and the healthcare system. NPAC is definitely paving the way in all areas.
Kate: What project or research are you working on right now that excites you?
Tamara: I’m currently working on a project, A biopsychosocial approach establishing baseline chronic pain experiences of (older) Black men: Assessing race, gender, and other social determinants of health, that is funded by The Mayday Fund. To appreciate the significance of this scholarly work, some context is needed.
The National Vital Statistics report that Black men have a lower life expectancy than their White, Asian, and Hispanic counterparts (71.2, 76.3, 83.5, and 79.1 years, respectively). This is second to that of Native Americans who have a life expectancy of 68.8 years. Heart disease (24.1%) and cancer (19.7%) are the leading causes of death in Black men. Black men also have increased rates. Their health status in the United States is a persistent crisis.
Kate: Can you tell us a little about your work, especially about equity and pain?
Tamara: I’m trained as a Gerontologist and Psychologist, so my (research) interest has always focused on older adults, and specifically older Black adults and their pain outcomes. My mother was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in her mid-thirties and I always was astonished that, despite all the pain she experienced, she was so resilient. Through her experiences I became interested in pain research and what I call “the 7-As” that are essential to ensuring effective pain research, service, treatment, and policy – accessibility, availability, affordability, acceptability, adequacy, awareness, and accountability.
We must recognize that despite the deleterious outcomes of pain, everyone is not privy to the same resources. The experiences of some Americans have been dictated by a historical backdrop embedded in slavery, Jim Crow, a lack of Civil Rights, discrimination, prejudice, oppression, bias, and exclusion. The impact of these events and behaviors has long-standing emotional and health consequences. Action is needed to restructure a fragmented social system dictated by power and wealth and the inequities, social injustices, and economic hardships that accompany it. This cannot be the responsibility of one person, community, or institution. Rather, it’s a collective obligation of those willing to serve as ‘change agents’ in improving the pain care needs of those most disenfranchised.
Kate: Why are you involved with NPAC’s Science and Policy Advisory Council and why do you think advocacy and education about pain are important?
Tamara: For the past few years, I’ve been interested in policy and advocacy but I didn’t know where to start. Being a Mayday Fellow gave me a glimpse, but being involved with NPAC has allowed me to take a ‘deeper dive’ into community advocacy/policy. Everyone should have equal access to care and resources. For this to become a reality globally, we can no longer work in silos. Ensuring access to care must be a collective effort among researchers, community advocates, politicians, and the healthcare system. NPAC is definitely paving the way in all areas.
Kate: What project or research are you working on right now that excites you?
Tamara: I’m currently working on a project, A biopsychosocial approach establishing baseline chronic pain experiences of (older) Black men: Assessing race, gender, and other social determinants of health, that is funded by The Mayday Fund. To appreciate the significance of this scholarly work, some context is needed.
The National Vital Statistics report that Black men have a lower life expectancy than their White, Asian, and Hispanic counterparts (71.2, 76.3, 83.5, and 79.1 years, respectively). This is second to that of Native Americans who have a life expectancy of 68.8 years. Heart disease (24.1%) and cancer (19.7%) are the leading causes of death in Black men. Black men also have increased rates
Their health status in the United States is a persistent crisis.
Although several psychosocial and behavioral factors are recognized as contributing to this less-than-favorable health outcome, deeply understanding the intersection of these domains in relation to the unique pain experiences of Black men is entirely underdeveloped in the research. Several reasons have been proposed as to why these experiences are unknown. First, men are often socialized to project strength and individuality to avoid any expression of emotion or vulnerability, which could be interpreted as a weakness. Secondly, while some may consider this masculine façade as a protective factor, the opposite may hold true, which often increases health risks, risk-taking behaviors, and emotional distress while diminishing health-promoting behaviors. Thirdly, since childhood, many boys often mimic how to experience pain. Studies show that boys who deviate from the socially ‘masculine role’ (e.g., masking emotions, not crying) are often teased and/or rejected by their peers when physical pain is outwardly expressed. Hiding the emotional and physical expression and experience of pain validates behaviors whereby boys neither fear getting hurt, nor acknowledge their pain. As boys mature to adolescents, young men, and older adults, messages that accepting physical pain as a gesture of strength and resilience may prove harmful to their physical and mental health, social adjustment, and emotional well-being.
Kate: What’s your favorite way to unwind and de-stress?
Tamara: In no particular order: 1) anything that involves being outdoors…walking, biking, etc.; 2) eating delicious and flavorful food (my true favorite!); and 3) strength training.
Kate: Thanks, Tamara, I can attest that you have impressive biceps!