We are thrilled to announce that Cindy Steinberg, U.S. Pain Foundation’s National Director of Policy & Advocacy, received the American Massage Therapy Association’s (AMTA) 2021 President’s Award. Each year, the AMTA National President openly honors a recipient who has contributed to the profession in an outstanding manner.
“We are proud to honor Cindy with the AMTA 2021 President’s Award. Her work in the field of pain management is exceptional,” said AMTA President Steve Albertson. “She has been an important advocate for our profession and has helped advance the conversation on massage therapy for pain.”
Cindy has an exceptional history advocating for the rights of people with chronic pain throughout the U.S. Among her many accomplishments include being invited to testify at a hearing on “Managing Pain During the Opioid Crisis” of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee by Chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member Patty Murray. Cindy was the only patient and pain advocate invited to testify.
In May 2018, Cindy was also appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, to serve on the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force created by Congress, along with being appointed to a three-year term on the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (IPRCC) in 2015 by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell.
“We applaud the AMTA for their commitment to helping people with pain through massage and restorative therapies,” said Nicole Hemmenway, CEO of the U.S. Pain Foundation. “We greatly appreciate their recognition of Cindy’s contributions to improving access to safe and effective multidisciplinary treatments to manage pain. A leader in pain policy, Cindy is dedicated to making others understand chronic pain and the patient journey, communicating the importance of individualized, multimodal care.”
The American Massage Therapy Association is the largest non-profit, professional association serving massage therapists, massage students, and massage schools. The association is directed by volunteer leadership and fosters ongoing, direct member involvement through its 51 chapters. AMTA works to advance the profession through ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all states, and public education on the benefits of massage.
The mission of the U.S. Pain Foundation is to empower, educate, connect, and advocate for people living with chronic conditions and serious injuries that cause pain. As a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving those who live with pain conditions and their care providers, the U.S. Pain Foundation helps individuals find resources and inspiration.