Dr Elspeth Shipton

Dr Elspeth Shipton is an experienced pain professional whose career spans more than four decades across clinical practice, research, education, and service development in both South Africa and New Zealand. Her work has centred on improving understanding of pain, advancing pain education for health professionals, and advocating for evidence-based approaches to chronic pain management.

Since 2002, Dr Shipton has been the Practice Manager and Registered Nurse at Christchurch Pain Management Services, where she liaises closely with ACC, leads pain-related contract negotiations, contributes to interdisciplinary care and provides patient support and education on chronic pain. She has played a significant role in shaping the clinical and operational foundations of the Pain Rehab service in New Zealand. Included in this is her genuine contribution whanaungatanga and respect for diversity of all.

Since 2004 Elspeth has also worked as a pain researcher, establishing research protocols, conducting literature reviews, analysing data and contributing to national and international scholarship on pain medicine education, chronic pain epidemiology, vitamin D and pain, opioids, cannabinoids and topical/local anaesthetic use.

Dr Shipton has also been an active contributor to the New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS). Her involvement includes multiple peer-reviewed presentations at NZPS Annual Scientific Meetings (ASMs). Her poster presentation in 2021 was awarded 1st Prize for People’s Choice – Best Poster Display. She has also collaborated on research and education initiatives reflecting NZPS priorities and has spoken at conjoint conferences with the Australian Pain Society.  She has represented New Zealand research internationally at IASP World Congresses in Boston (2018) and Amsterdam (2024) through presentations/peer reviewed poster presentations.