Leora Kuttner, PhD, is a pediatric clinical psychologist specializing in children’s pain management and a documentary filmmaker. She is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, at the University of British Columbia and British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Kuttner is the recipient of the American Pain Society’s Jeffrey Lawson Award for Advocacy in Children’s Pain Relief in 2007, and is internationally recognized for her work in pain management. 

She has published over 45 Journal articles and has written two books, the most recent A Child in Pain, What Health Professional can do to Help (2010) has been translated into Italian, French and Mandarin. As a documentary filmmaker, Dr. Kuttner has co-produced and directed the award-winning documentaries: “No Fears, No Tears – Children Coping With Pain” (1985) on hypnosis to alleviate procedural cancer pain management; “No Fears, No Tears – 13 Years Later” (1998) on the long-term benefits of hypnosis for children and teens with cancer; with The National Film Board of Canada “Making Every Moment Count” (2003) on state the art pediatric palliative care and “Dancing with Pain” (2013) exploring chronic pain treatment in teens through the lens of dance.

Dr. Kuttner was trained in Hypnosis in 1976 has taught pain management and pediatric hypnosis since 1987 to pediatric professionals in hospitals throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. She taught with The Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics from 1987 and with NPHTI since it’s founding in 2010 and as co-coordinator of the Advanced workshop. She has been on the Board of the Canadian Clinical Hypnosis Society (BC Division) since 1987 and is an approved ASCH Consultant. Dr. Kuttner was awarded the Vancouver Woman of Distinction for Health and Wellness in 1998.