Advocacy— it’s part of our mission at the Facial Pain Association, but what does it mean? Well, this year, it means a whole lot more. As a community, we have hit the ground running, adding our voices to the halls of Congress and our words in letters to the White House. We are taking our seat at the table with the organizations in charge of funding what will move research forward. But this is only the beginning, and we need your support.
As we continue to meet you where you are today with educational resources, volunteer support, and connections to experts in the field, we will continue to press forward for progress. As a member of the facial pain community, I understand the gravity of this work, and it cannot wait because the facial pain community cannot wait. Since launching our Research Initiative in 2021, it has become increasingly clear that advocacy is the ingredient that makes progress possible.
- FPA Volunteers have shared their stories with scientists and researchers and served on patient advisory boards.
- Members of the community have participated in clinical trials, completed surveys, and provided research reviews.
- We have signed letters of support for physicians and researchers requesting grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), and the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to better understand facial pain and develop new treatment options.
- We have partnered with organizations to advocate for policy changes that will benefit the facial pain community today, in our everyday lives, including the bipartisan Safe Step Act, so that we can access the treatments we need, and our doctors are not forced to prescribe medications simply because of insurance protocols.
As the proverb states, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” You didn’t choose to have facial pain, but you can be a part of this journey of progress. Your gifts not only help us serve the community today but empower us to advocate and support research that provides hope for tomorrow.
Will you come alongside and support the work we are doing as a community by making a gift today?
With gratitude for your continued support,
Brandi Underwood
Manager of Development, Research, and Advocacy
