Ratan Banik is training anesthesiologists worldwide via online program

What began as a simple idea in Ratan Banik’s mind has now blossomed into a global movement, reshaping the landscape of pain management education worldwide. A few years ago, the associate professor in the Medical School on the Twin Cities campus created the Global Online Pain Fellowship to provide anesthesiologists from low-resource settings with essential pain management training without requiring them to leave their home countries.

The journey began with the recognition of a recurring pattern among anesthesiologists in low-resource countries: many were traveling abroad to seek pain fellowship programs due to a lack of local opportunities. The absence of formalized pain fellowships in many parts of the world, particularly in countries with limited healthcare resources, made it difficult for these professionals to access specialized education in pain management. In response to this gap, the Global Online Pain Fellowship was created.

“The fellowship aimed to provide pain management education through an accessible, flexible online platform. Now in its third year, the program has received over 300 applicants from more than 40 countries, reflecting the growing demand for comprehensive pain management training in underserved regions,” says Banik.

The scale of the fellowship's impact continues to grow. In 2024-2025, 74 anesthesiologists from 12 countries graduated from the program. Among them, 14 achieved high distinction, scoring over 80 percent in the program. These graduates are now positioned to become leaders in their respective countries, addressing the critical need for quality pain care where it is needed most.

“Looking back, it is remarkable to see how a simple idea—providing specialized pain education to those who need it—has transformed into a powerful network, uniting clinicians from all over the world in a shared mission: to improve patient care through better pain management,” says Banik.