West Los Angeles VA Pain Management Team Honored with Pain Fellowship Excellence Award

This prestigious recognition highlights the team’s dedication to providing outstanding education and training in pain management.

The award is presented annually to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited pain fellowship programs that demonstrate excellence in clinical training, research opportunities, and fostering a supportive learning environment.

“The Pain Fellowship Committee would like to thank you for your ongoing commitment to pain medicine education,” the committee chairs stated. “Your dedication to providing high-quality education to your trainees was clearly demonstrated in your submission. The committee was highly impressed with the comprehensive scope of clinical education, research opportunities, and your emphasis on providing an atmosphere that promotes well-being. We congratulate you on this accomplishment.”

A Commitment to Excellence in Pain Medicine

Dr. Angela Quynh Pham, staff physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and program director of the UCLA/ Greater Los Angeles VA Pain Medicine Fellowship, was present in Austin, Texas, to receive the award on behalf of the team.

It was an amazing experience to be in a room full of clinicians dedicated to the management of pain and an incredible honor to be recognized by the American Academy of Pain Medicine for our Pain Medicine Fellowship Training Program. This achievement would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of my colleagues, faculty, and administrators who spent countless hours to ensure that we deliver the best care to our patents while supporting our trainees in their quest to learn about Pain medicine. 

Dr. Pham expressed her gratitude for the collaboration and support from her team members, including :

Sanjog Pangarkar, MD (PM&R) Udai Nanda, DO, MBA (PM&R) Rebecca Ovsiowitz, MD, (PM&R) Melissa Phuphanich, MD (PM&R), Jennifer Leet, MD (PM&R), Ryan McCarty, MD (PM&R), Davina Sassoon, MD (Psychiatry), Morgan Kay, PhD ( Psychology), Cheryl  Kashona Webster, PhD (Psychology), Katherine Bailey , PhD (Psychology), Lida Bao, NP (PM&R) Nicole Licup Nam, NP (PM&R), Quinn Convery, PharmD (Pharmacy) Samantha Thompson, PharmD (Pharmacy) Amanda Ozuna, MSW  (Social Work)

She also acknowledged the leadership of West LA VA Medical Center Director Robert Merchant, Chief of Staff Dr. Steven Simon, Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Amit Kothari, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Chief Dr. Blessen Eapen, whose support has been instrumental in advancing the program.

Dr. Pham has been closely involved with the fellowship since its inception in 2001, having trained at the VA herself. Reflecting on this milestone, she emphasized the long-standing commitment to multidisciplinary pain management and its impact on both the VA and the wider medical community.

Advancing Multidisciplinary Pain Care

“When someone suffers from chronic pain, it affects every aspect of their life—their mood, their ability to cope, and their interactions with the world around them,” said Dr. Pham. “Our approach ensures that patients receive comprehensive, team-based care, addressing not only the source of pain but also the broader physical and emotional challenges that come with it.”

The West Los Angeles VA Pain Management Team integrates multiple disciplines, including musculoskeletal care, psychiatry, anesthesiology, and pharmacy. Depending on each patient’s needs, the team collaborates to develop a personalized treatment plan, often meeting to discuss cases with or without the patient present. The program also connects Veterans with physical medicine rehabilitation, Whole Health services, and alternative therapies such as chiropractic care and acupuncture.

Dr. Pham highlighted the VA’s leadership in advancing this model of pain management, noting that while some private practices have adopted similar approaches, insurance constraints often make it more challenging. “The VA continues to set the standard by prioritizing patient-centered, multidisciplinary care,” she said.

A Lasting Impact

Chief of Staff Dr. Steven Simon also recognized the program’s achievement, stating, “The Pain Fellowship Excellence Award is a testament to the exceptional training and education provided by the West Los Angeles VA’s pain fellowship program. This program prepares future pain specialists to deliver the highest standard of care to Veterans and the broader community.”

For Dr. Pham, the VA has been more than just a place to work—it has been a professional home.

“I love working with Veterans. I love the staff. Medicine at the VA feels like the ideal way to practice—where patient-centered care comes first, unbound by financial constraints. We work as a team with a shared mission, and that sense of purpose makes all the difference,” she said.

Looking ahead, Dr. Pham hopes to see the program expand fellowship positions and increase its contributions to collaborative research and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring that its model of care continues to benefit patients both within the VA and beyond.

For more information on the fellowship, please visit: UCLA—WLA VA Pain Medicine Fellowship - Orthopaedic Surgery | UCLA Health