The Power Over Pain Empowerment Jubilee: A Novel Community-Engaged Event to Conquer Pain

Dr. Staja “Star” Booker, PhD, RN, FAAN is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Florida, College of Nursing, widely recognized for her pioneering scholarship on pain disparities, injustices, and health equity. She leads a transformative program of research on the science of pain and aging, advancing understanding of the lived experiences and management of chronic pain among older adults—particularly those who identify as African American/Black. Dr. Booker’s research portfolio is distinguished by multiple NIH-funded studies, reshaping how pain in later life is conceptualized and managed and improving health and quality of life for older adults experiencing pain and disability. Her current NIH-funded R01 is a randomized controlled trial testing an innovative pain self-management intervention designed to address social determinants influencing chronic musculoskeletal pain in African Americans/Blacks.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, she has authored over 110 peer-reviewed publications and editorials, eleven book chapters, and delivered 140 scientific presentations. She is a distinguished scientist, nurse, and advocate. She served on the inaugural Board of Directors for the United States Association for the Study of Pain, helping to develop a new scientific organization in the U.S. Her exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the University of Florida Excellence Award for Assistant Professors—the first ever awarded to College of Nursing faculty—as well as the Southern Nursing Research Society’s Early Science Investigator Award, the IASP Pain in Older Persons SIG Junior Investigator Award, and the American Society for Pain Management Nursing® Excellence in Nursing Award for Pain Management of the Older Adult. Dr. Booker remains an influential leader and active member in several national and international pain, gerontology, and nursing organizations, where she continues to advance equity, innovation, and excellence in pain research, care, and education.

Candace helps individuals and organizations create healthier, more empowered lives through education, connection, and strategy. With a clinical background and over 15 years of experience teaching health concepts in accessible, human ways, she specializes in wellness program design, virtual health education, and instructional content creation. Whether leading a workshop on stress and burnout, designing a musculoskeletal wellness module, or guiding a group of women in letting go of over-functioning, her work is driven by purpose: helping people take off the cape and care for their whole selves.