A Legacy of Progress

Dr. James Carter was one of the founding members of the IPPS in 1995. As a founder, he had a conviction and vision for dramatically improving the quality of life for women with pelvic pain. He realized that, at the time, women with chronic pelvic pain were often misdiagnosed, underwent unnecessary surgeries, and faced prejudice. Often, they were told that their only option was to seek psychological help, and many lived in frustration and hopelessness. Dr. Carter was frustrated that the medical community was not able to adequately care for women with pelvic pain because of a lack of healthcare provider education. Thus, he dedicated his career to promoting pain education, research, and progress. Dr. Carter passed away in 2006, but his legacy lives on in the James E. Carter Memorial Award Lecture.