Malaysian doctor Mary Suma Cardosa makes history as first Asian to lead global pain research body

BANGKOK, Oct 30 — Malaysian physician Dr Mary Suma Cardosa has made history as the first Asian to become president of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) in the organisation’s more than 50-year history.

Cardosa assumed the two-year presidency, which runs until 2028, at the closing of the 2026 World Congress on Pain in Bangkok on Friday, succeeding Andrew Rice of the United Kingdom.

In a statement issued by IASP, she said her presidency would focus on advancing pain science, strengthening healthcare education and improving access to effective pain management worldwide.

“Pain affects people in every country, but access to effective pain care remains profoundly unequal,” she said, highlighting the importance of education, stronger clinical services and multidisciplinary cooperation.

An anaesthesiologist with more than three decades of experience in pain medicine, Cardosa has played a pivotal role in developing Malaysia’s pain management services and strengthening pain education in the country and across Southeast Asia.

Her contributions include establishing the Health Ministry’s first acute pain service in 1993 and the country’s first multidisciplinary pain clinic in 2000.

She also spearheaded Malaysia’s Pain Free Hospital initiative, launched in 2011 to improve pain recognition and management in healthcare facilities.

Cardosa previously made history in 2011 as the first woman to serve as president of the Malaysian Medical Association.

Beyond Malaysia, Cardosa has contributed to regional and international initiatives to expand pain-care capacity, including training healthcare professionals and supporting the development of multidisciplinary services in resource-limited countries.

As IASP president, she will lead the association’s global efforts to advance pain research and translate scientific knowledge into better patient care, alongside the implementation of its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.

IASP is a leading international organisation dedicated to the study of pain and the translation of scientific knowledge into improved pain relief worldwide. It brings together scientists, clinicians, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to advance pain research, education, and care. — Bernama

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曼谷，10 月 30 日——马来西亚医生玛丽·苏玛·卡多萨博士创造了历史，成为国际疼痛研究协会 (IASP) 成立 50 多年来首位担任该协会主席的亚洲人。

卡多萨于周五在曼谷举行的 2026 年世界疼痛大会闭幕式上就任为期两年的主席，任期至 2028 年，接替了英国的安德鲁·赖斯。

国际疼痛研究协会（IASP）发表声明称，她的主席任期将致力于推进疼痛科学、加强医疗保健教育以及改善全球范围内获得有效疼痛管理服务的机会。

“疼痛影响着每个国家的人们，但获得有效疼痛治疗的机会仍然极不平等，”她说道，并强调了教育、更强大的临床服务和多学科合作的重要性。

卡多萨是一位拥有三十多年疼痛医学经验的麻醉师，他在发展马来西亚的疼痛管理服务以及加强该国和整个东南亚的疼痛教育方面发挥了关键作用。

她的贡献包括：1993 年建立了卫生部第一个急性疼痛服务机构，以及 2000 年建立了该国第一个多学科疼痛诊所。

她还牵头开展了马来西亚的“无痛医院”计划，该计划于 2011 年启动，旨在改善医疗机构的疼痛识别和管理。

卡多萨此前曾在 2011 年创造历史，成为马来西亚医学协会首位女主席。

除了马来西亚，卡多萨还为扩大疼痛护理能力的区域和国际倡议做出了贡献，包括培训医疗保健专业人员和支持资源匮乏国家发展多学科服务。

作为国际疼痛研究协会 (IASP) 主席，她将领导该协会在全球范围内推进疼痛研究，并将科学知识转化为更好的患者护理，同时实施其 2026-2030 年战略计划。

国际疼痛研究协会（IASP）是致力于疼痛研究和将科学知识转化为全球更有效的疼痛缓解措施的领先国际组织。它汇聚了科学家、临床医生、医疗保健专业人员和政策制定者，共同推进疼痛研究、教育和护理。——马来西亚国家通讯社（Bernama）

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