Episode #86- The DAP presents Claudia Merandi with guest Dan Laird

Claudia Merandi,  is the founder of the national "Don't Punish Pain Rally Organization". Claudia, a retired court reporter/self published author is from East Providence, Rhode Island. 

As a person living with severe Crohn's Diisease since a child, she witnessed first-hand the challenges a person with pain encounters when trying to obtain adequate pain management.

Claudia, in 2017, created the Don't Punish Pain Rally organization focusing on organizing protests/rallies throughout the country for people with pain who could no longer access pain management due to the 2016 CDC opioid prescribing guidelines. She started with five members. Today, there's thousand of members across the country. There's chapters in Canada, Australia, and the UK.

Today, Claudia works with doctors, throughout the country, who have been targeted unfairly by governmental agencies and medical boards. She can be reached at [email protected].

Dan Laird, M.D. has 20 years of experience as a medical doctor and an anesthesiologist. He is board certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Laird grew up in south central Idaho not far from the border town of Jackpot, Nevada. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Idaho, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in vertebrate zoology with highest honors. He then attended medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, receiving honors recognition in several basic science and clinical courses. Following medical school, he remained at the University of Washington School of Medicine for a three year residency in anesthesiology, followed by a fellowship in interventional and non-interventional pain management. Following several years in private practice, Dr. Laird returned to Seattle as a faculty member of the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Laird is also a licensed attorney and worked for several years as the physician risk manager of a large hospital system in the Pacific Northwest. He has served on numerous hospital committees and has held several offices in medical organizations, including president of the Nevada State Society of Anesthesiologists and Chair of the Board of Directors of the nation’s largest medical specialty political action committee. Throughout his career, patient safety and well being have been the central focus of his clinical interactions with patients.