Professional background
Professor Baranowski qualified from Guy’s Hospital, London, in 1984 having obtained both an honours degree (BScHons, pathology and basic medical science) and his medical qualifications (MBBS). During his first year as a qualified doctor, Professor Baranowski realised that pain was poorly managed and he made the decision to make a career in pain medicine. His pain medicine training was complemented through his higher qualification in pain research, awarded in 1993 (MD, Doctor of Medicine research). He was appointed to the staff of the Middlesex hospital in 1994 where he developed his interest in neuromodulation for neuropathic and complex spinal pain. Through his multi-speciality work with urologists, gynaecologists, urogynaecologists and colorectal specialists, his interest in urogenital/pelvic pain started and he has since set up the largest centre for urogenital/pelvic pain in the UK. All of his work is supported by a comprehensive multidisciplinary team. He was awarded the fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FFPMRCA) in 2008, the first year it was available.
Professor Baranowski has always had an interest in education and has organised over 60 meetings on pain-related subjects. Dr Baranowski was influential within the Royal Society for Medicine Anaesthetic Section Council (2001-2009) and set up the Pain Medicine subsection which he led (2009-2010). He was appointed the Royal College for Anaesthetists, Regional Advisor for Pain Medicine (North Tames Central and then North Thames when they amalgamated) from the inception of the role, for 7 years (2003-2010). Dr Baranowski has sat on several guideline committees including the European Association for Urology CPP group (2003-present) and has influenced pain medicine through guidelines published in the UK, Europe and North America. He was a founding member and President (2001-2005) of the International Society for the Study of Pain special interest group for urogenital pain, PUGO. Professor Baranowski has chaired the Taxonomy Committee of that group 2003-12 with the latest classification published in 2012.
Professor Baranowski has over 150 publications and edited a number of books. He was an elected council member of the British Pain Society (2010) and has served on their education committee, chaired their Pain Patient Pathways Mapping working group and was honorary treasurer, eventually becoming President of the society (2016-19). His work on patient pathways brings him into close contact with pain commissioning and the Department of Health. He was Chair of the NHSCB Clinical Reference Group for Specialised Services - pain (2012-15). He is currently the Pain Lead for the London Complex Mesh Centre based at UCLH.
Research interests
Urogenital pain/visceral pain, neuropathic pain and complex spinal pain.
Publications
Over 150 publications, posters and research papers. My publications have covered the areas of neuropathic pain, complex pain syndromes, spinal pain and urogenital pain. Having been co-editor of one book on long-term pain, I have another on urogenital pain in clinical practice that came out in December 2007. I have organised over 30 meetings on subjects related to pain medicine, including six international meetings and an IASP World Congress satellite meeting for 2008.