Peter Stilwell is a Canadian pain researcher who currently holds a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Southern Denmark where he is affiliated with the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) and the Department of Sports Science & Clinical Biomechanics in the research unit Movement, Culture and Society (MoCS). He is also an Affiliate Member at McGill University in the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences - School of Physical & Occupational Therapy. Previously, he held a Fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) at McGill University, and was the Ronald Melzack Fellow in Chronic Pain Research at the Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain (AECRP) at McGill.
Most of his research training was at Dalhousie University, where he completed a MSc in Rehab Research in Physiotherapy and then a PhD in Health. All his research is interdisciplinary. He regularly collaborates with clinicians and scientists in the health professions, as well as patient partners, philosophers, and cognitive scientists. He has published articles in leading journals in the areas of pain, qualitative methods, philosophy, and medical humanities. His research has garnered national and international attention; he has completed over 60 invited speaking engagements and is regularly invited on podcasts and academic conference panels to discuss his work. Further, he has developed educational materials for nationally and internationally recognized pain programs and continuing education platforms for health professionals.
Before becoming a researcher, he did full-time clinical work as a kinesiologist and licensed chiropractor in Canada. He obtained his undergraduate Kinesiology degree (BKin) from the University of Calgary, and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree (DC) from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in Toronto. He has extensive experience in hospital and private practice settings, where he worked mostly with people experiencing persistent spinal pain. Using best available evidence and clinical practice guidelines, his clinical work placed an emphasis on patient education, exercise, and supported self-management.
In addition to his research and clinical background, he has been heavily involved in teaching, student supervision, and community-based initiatives, including co-creating and facilitating a highly successful free health education and walking program in Canada that attracted over 1700 members.
Email: PeterStilwell@Dal.ca