Aug 8: The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine has selected Ryan S. D’Souza, MD, to receive a 2026 Presidential Scholar Award. He will be honored on November 7, 2026, during the 25th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting in Tampa, FL.
Presented semiannually, the Presidential Scholar Award recognizes mid-career physician-investigators who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to research that have significantly advanced the science and practice of regional anesthesia and/or pain medicine.
Dr. D’Souza is a pain physician in the Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He is a professor of anesthesiology and serves as the director of Neuromodulation, director of Research at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, and the medical director of the Anesthesia Clinical Research Unit within the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Mayo Clinic.
Several nominators wrote of Dr. D’Souza’s prolific and meaningful contributions to the literature, which include supporting the development of consensus guidelines for peripheral nerve stimulation, regenerative medicine treatment for chronic pain, and conducting systematic review methodology in acute and chronic pain.
“His innovative research and dedication to scientific rigor have positioned him as a thought leader whose work will undoubtedly continue to shape the field,” wrote nominator James C. Watson, MD, the vice-chair of Mayo Clinic Practice.
Dr. D’Souza describes the central themes of his work as neuromodulation, evidence appraisal, and digital health. He has written extensively on these topics and related chronic pain conditions, authoring more than 220 peer-reviewed articles and 14 book chapters. He is an editor and social media editor for Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. Editor-in-Chief Brian Sites, MD, wrote of Dr. D’Souza, “What sets Dr. D’Souza apart is not just his record of academic productivity but his clear, sustained impact across research, education, and mentorship,” adding, “It is rare to encounter a physician-scientist who excels simultaneously as an educator, a clinician, a mentor, and a leader.”
Dr. D’Souza’s mentorship and support of residents and fellows was another consistent theme among nominators, something he traces back to his own experience with ASRA Pain Medicine.
“I still remember my very first ASRA Pain Medicine meeting as a young trainee, walking into a room filled with the very people whose research had shaped my thinking about pain medicine. I was struck not just by the science, but by the generosity of a community willing to mentor, challenge, and inspire the next generation,” he said.
At that meeting, Dr. D’Souza presented a five-minute “Best of Meeting” abstract, an experience he said, “lit the spark for my enduring involvement with ASRA Pain Medicine, a spark that has grown into a deep commitment.”
Since then, Dr. D’Souza has served as faculty and in several leadership roles for ASRA Pain Medicine, and will chair the 26th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting, which will be held November 18–20, 2027, in Atlanta, GA.
Dr. D’Souza earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado in Aurora and completed his residency and fellowship at Mayo Clinic.
Established in 2018, the Presidential Scholar Award recognizes ASRA Pain Medicine members with a track record of high-impact publication and demonstrated support of the Society. For more information about the ASRA Pain Medicine awards, visit: www.asra.com.
The Excellence in ASRA Pain Medicine Awards & Recognition will be held on Saturday, November 7, from 10:45 am-12:15 pm at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, FL. View the full Annual Pain Medicine Meeting program and registration on the meeting site at www.asra.com/pain.