Overview . On-line Issues

Dear Alumni:

Welcome to Saint Louis University School of Law’s on-line edition of your alumni magazine, Saint Louis Brief. We’re excited about this issue, and when you read the feature stories listed below, you’ll see why. We’ve got diplomats, we’ve got mediators, we’ve got judges, we’ve got the inside scoop on the goings-on of our graduates. Reading this condensed Web version of Saint Louis Brief is a virtually pain-free experience — unless you count our cover story, “Relieving the Pain,” written by our resident pain expert, Professor Sandra H. Johnson.

One of the driving forces behind our Center for Health Law Studies, Sandy has made it her priority to get at the core of the pain management problem in this country. The work she and her students do is infinitely important, and those whose lives have been touched by pain will tell you just how important. A recent knee injury and fractured tailbone gave me a glimpse of what it means to be at the mercy of medicine. Despite countless trips to doctors, physical therapists and acupuncturists, any efforts made to improve my health were thwarted by my inability to tolerate the pain I was experiencing. If it hadn’t been for prescription pain medication, I might have lost something far more valuable than time off work and gas mileage — my sanity. I remember my doctor’s reluctance to give me anything, as well as his words: “I very rarely prescribe these to anyone.” I’m sure these are words spoken by countless other physicians. My experiences, while small in comparison with the millions of people who suffer severe, intractable pain, have opened my eyes to the very real problem of pain in this country. I applaud the efforts of Professor Johnson and those like her who believe that through research and policy changes, we can help the large percentage of Americans for whom pain is the only word they know by heart.

I’d like to extend an invitation to contact me with your comments and I welcome your story ideas. Remember, this is your magazine and your law school and my job is to make sure you continue to be as proud as I am to be a part of Saint Louis University School of Law.

Enjoy,
Stefanie Ellis
Editor, Saint Louis Brief
(ellissc@slu.edu)

P.S. Don’t forget to let your classmates know what’s going on in your life. Send your class notes to brief@law.slu.edu.