Dr. Richard Payne Biography Favorites Color Brownish Yellow Food Roasted Chicken Breast Quote “Self discipline in the highest form of self-respect.” Time of Year Autumn Vacation Spot The Caribbean

The eighth child of a family of thirteen, Dr. Richard Payne was born on August 24, 1951, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Payne's earliest memories are of a household brimming with family and neighborhood activity.

Payne attended the local elementary and junior high schools, which were integrated and provided a nourishing and supportive atmosphere. In high school, his interests focused on math and science and after graduation he enrolled at Yale University. After receiving his B.S. from Yale, Payne obtained his M.D. at Harvard Medical School.

Payne is one of the foremost experts on pain management and palliative care in the country. He describes palliative care as total care of patients with cancer. He has worked tirelessly to educate the medical community about the issues and breakthroughs in pain management, co-chairing the expert panel of the Agency for Health Care Policy panel that established clinical guidelines for pain management in cancer patients. Payne was also a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee that evaluated end-of-life care in the United States.

Presently, Payne works as attending neurologist and chief of the Pain & Palliative Care Service at Memorial Sloan – Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, in addition to holding the Anne Burnett Tandy Chair in Neurology.

Payne was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on September 10, 2001.