Richard Red a Lawhern**Richard A. "Red" Lawhern, PhD, ** is an engineer, researcher, and internationally recognized patient advocate who has spent more than two decades working to improve care for people living with chronic pain. A retired systems engineer and operationsresearch analyst with more than forty years of experience in military systems engineering and acquisition management, Dr. Lawhern has applied his analytical expertise to the study of pain policy, pain management, and patient outcomes. He is co-founder of the Alliance for the Treatment of Intractable Pain and has authored hundreds of articles, commentaries, and educational resources on chronic pain, facial pain, and opioid policy. Widely respected throughout the pain community for his evidence-based advocacy, Dr. Lawhern has helped amplify the voices of patients whose experiences are often overlooked in public policy discussions. He continues to educate clinicians, policymakers, and the public on the realities of living with severe chronic pain and the importance of compassionate, individualized care. Read More Read Less