Around Associations
American Academy of Pain Medicine Collaborates on Back Pain Guidelines… The American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM), the Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center at Oregon Health & Science University, and Aggregate Analytics have announced the publication of a new clinical practice guideline and accompanying systematic review in Pain Medicine.
“Assessment and Treatment of Acute Low Back Pain: A Multidisciplinary Clinical Guideline” provides evidence-based recommendations for outpatient care of adults with atraumatic acute low back pain lasting six weeks or fewer, with or without radiculopathy. The recommendations are intended to support individualized clinical judgment and shared decision-making.
Key findings include not routinely obtaining imaging unless signs, symptoms or risk factors suggest serious spine pathology; reassuring patients that movement is generally safe; encouraging continued low-impact activity; exploring appropriate self-management options; adding evidence-based options when needed; and avoiding routine initial opioid use.
“Many patients with acute low back pain can improve without intensive intervention,” said Devan Kansagara, MD. “This guideline gives clinicians a practical framework to identify serious conditions, help patients remain active, and add treatment selectively while respecting individual needs and preferences.”
AAPM has also developed multiple implementation resources for clinicians and patients, including a point-of-care reference, patient discussion tools, and a free 1.5-credit clinician education activity.
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Metro NYSAE Synergy Awards Coming October 28… Metro NYSAE said its Annual Synergy Awards honor the brightest minds and the most impactful contributions within our association community of Metro New York. The gala is set for October 28 at ICSC Headquarters in Manhattan.
“This prestigious event recognizes individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and innovative practices, setting new standards of excellence in our industry,” the association said.
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IGLTA Foundation Announces Afrigay Travel as 2026 Impact Award Recipient… The IGLTA Foundation has named Afrigay Travel as the recipient of the 2026 Impact Award, presented in partnership with Destination Toronto. The annual honors recognizes a travel business in the IGLTA network that is helping create positive change for travelers, local communities, and the destinations they impact.
“It’s particularly exciting to honor the impact of Michael’s LGBTQ+ tourism journey, as he was one of our first Fellowship recipients from Africa, nearly 10 years ago,” said Anthony Warner, Interim CEO of IGLTA. “His innovative contributions to travel are helping to make LGBTQ+ inclusion more than a seasonal campaign and instead something that is built into the foundation of a business.”
Afrigay Travel is based in Cape Town. The IGLTA Foundation said it was selected for its direct approach to responsible tourism. Afrigay pairs custom group journeys with All Stay, an LGBTQ+ education platform that has trained more than 8,000 tourism and hospitality workers across three continents, focusing on cultural respect, local economic benefits, and community involvement.
Michael Gladwin, Founder of Afrigay and All Stay, will accept the Impact Award at the IGLTA Global Convention in Seville, Spain, on November 19.
“Winning the IGLTA Foundation Impact Award is incredibly special because it recognizes something I have believed for a long time: LGBTQ+ tourism in Africa is not only possible, it is powerful,” said Gladwin. “This award gives visibility to work that has often happened quietly, in complex spaces, and sometimes against the odds. It strengthens our commitment to building tourism that is responsible, intersectional, community-conscious, and proudly African.”
Gladwin attended the 2017 IGLTA Global Convention through the Foundation Fellowship Program, which supports the next generation of LGBTQ+ tourism professionals through mentorship, education, and networking opportunities.
“Afrigay Travel gets that a truly memorable trip isn’t only about where you go, but how fully you’re embraced when you arrive,” said Jeremy Maunder, Director, Content and Communications at Destination Toronto. “That idea resonates with us in Toronto, a city shaped in so many ways by its LGBTQ+ communities. We’re proud to sponsor the 2026 Impact Award, presented by the IGLTA Foundation, and to celebrate Afrigay Travel for its work advancing LGBTQ+ tourism in Africa.”
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