As part of CHAMP (Coalition For Headache And Migraine Patients), team members of U.S. Pain Foundation participated in RetreatMigraine: the 2020 Virtual Experience April 17-19. The weekend was originally planned for an in-person event, where 300 people living with migraine would meet for an educational conference in Redondo Beach, CA. As a result of COVID-19, the retreat has been postponed.

Despite the change in plans, CHAMP recognized the need for the migraine community to connect, learn, and lift each other up during this time, and pivoted to host RetreatMigraine as online series of educational events and discussions. During the original three days scheduled for the in-person event, interactive online content was offered for all to partake in via Facebook Live. Special content was provided for those who were planning on attending the in-person retreat.

U.S. Pain’s Migraine Advocacy Liaison, Katie Golden, was part of the planning team and also spoke on the topics of advocacy and alternative treatments. Together with U.S. Pain’s CEO and Director of the INvisible Project, Nicole Hemmenway, and the INvisible Project’s Project Manager, Katie Neal, the three spoke about the release of the INvisible Project: Migraine and Headache 4th edition. Hemmenway also briefly talked about the U.S. Pain Foundation’s programs and services as part of introductions to CHAMP members.

Over the course of three days, a total of 13 presentations were given with topics ranging from self-care, new medications, and devices approved for migraine, insurance access, and barriers to lifestyle management for migraine. INvisible Project alumni and contributors Kerrie Smyres, Jaime Sanders, Kevin Lenaburg, Amaal Starling, MD, William Young, MD, Alan Rapoport, MD, and Dawn Buse, PhD, were all featured presenters during RetreatMigraine’s virtual event.

If you are interested in watching any of these sessions, visit CHAMP’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.