Ben Campbell鈥檚 lifelong connection to healthcare began at birth. The son of a nurse and a surgeon, his path was clear from the start. But decades later, the USF College of Nursing Advanced Pain Management Fellowship introduced new possibilities. Now, he owns and runs a clinic in Mena, Arkansas, reshaping how chronic pain is treated in a community long underserved by such care.
Campbell's office at his current pain clinic.
Campbell joined the United States Army shortly after becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). He worked with surgical teams, combat support teams, and combat support hospitals, treating soldiers before they returned home.
In the mid-1980s, he moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas and joined a team of anesthesiologists and CRNAs. Opioids were the standard post-surgical treatment during this time; few healthcare professionals questioned whether the benefits outweighed the risks. Campbell鈥檚 practice was one of the few.
鈥淲e all thought that patients do a lot better without a lot of narcotics,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淪o, we were kind of the leading edge of what we can do to help people with pain after surgery. We were just trying to help people with their pain, but it turned out to be a big deal a couple decades later.鈥�
This focus on pain management would soon lead him to the USF fellowship. Campbell continued his work in Jonesboro for 17 years. But when he moved to Mena, Arkansas, he saw a greater need. Pain management care was virtually nonexistent in this rural town of just over 5,000 people near the Oklahoma border. Patients often traveled hours for treatment; opioids were the easy answer.
Campbell and his team waiting for wounded to land. Salerno, Afghanistan.
Confronted with this critical need and his own 24-hour CRNA shifts, Campbell saw an advertisement for the USF College of Nursing Advanced Pain Management Fellowship. It was an easy decision; he applied and was accepted in 2019.
鈥淚 was a little nervous going back to learning at my age and working with these young whippersnappers and wondering if I could keep up with them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was all new knowledge, and I could see that this was something I鈥檇 always been interested in but never had a vehicle to pursue.鈥�
The fellowship allowed Campbell to take the next step toward addressing the unmet need he saw in the community around him. Directly after he completed the fellowship, Ben Campbell opened his own practice.
鈥淔or 35 years, I didn鈥檛 know CRNAs could practice chronic pain management,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here is no greater reward than knowing that we鈥檙e helping patients with chronic pain feel better while also helping them have more functional lives.鈥�
The fellowship offered Campbell the tools and support he needed to make an impact, but his connection to USF didn鈥檛 end there. His discussions with John Maye, the fellowship director, and his belief in the program led to his current role as clinical coordinator for the USF College of Nursing Advanced Pain Management Fellowship.
Campbell (top right) during his time in the Advanced Pain Management Fellowship.
鈥淣ow, I鈥檓 helping expand the practice of CRNAs and getting the knowledge out there among our community that they can do this. We鈥檙e helping the nation to wean off opioids. It鈥檚 pretty awesome to be a part of this.鈥�
The fellowship begins each August with graduation the following August, accepting 30 students yearly on a rolling admission basis. Click to learn more.