Deep Dive into Opioid Conversion Calculations and Breakthrough Pain: Innovation Informing the Art and Science

Friday, March 6, 2026

1:00pm - 3:30pm PST

Location: Room 33 ABC

Speaker(s)

Mellar Davis, MD

Faculty Physician, Section of Oncology- Palliative Medicine
Atrium Health Wake Forest Carolinas Medical Center

PDF Session Takeaways Slides
Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD PhD FAAHPM (she/her/hers)

Professor, Director, Graduate Studies in Palliative Care
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Kathleen Broglio, DNP, ANP-BC, ACHPN, CARN-AP, FPCN, FAANP, FAAHPM

Associate Professor of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Health
Marcin Chwistek, MD, FAAHPM (he/him/his)

Chief, Supportive Oncology and Palliative Care Program; Professor, Department of Hem/Oncology
Fox Chase Cancer Center

Disclosure(s):

Mellar Davis, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD PhD FAAHPM: No financial relationships to disclose

Kathleen Broglio, DNP, ANP-BC, ACHPN, CARN-AP, FPCN, FAANP, FAAHPM: No financial relationships to disclose

Marcin Chwistek, MD, FAAHPM: No financial relationships to disclose

This deep dive equips oncology and palliative care professionals with evidence-based strategies for opioid conversion in adult cancer patients. It emphasizes clinical assessments, conversion ratios, and post-conversion monitoring, while addressing breakthrough pain definition, gaps and management will be addressed.

Effective opioid conversion is essential in cancer care to ensure optimal pain control while minimizing adverse effects. This session draws on the MASCC-ASCO-AAHPM-HPNA-NICSO guideline to provide a structured approach to opioid conversion in adult cancer patients. Participants will learn to conduct comprehensive pre-conversion assessments, apply evidence-based conversion ratios, and implement individualized strategies tailored to patient-specific factors. The session will explore the nuances of post-conversion monitoring, including dose titration, side effect management, and reassessment of pain control. Special attention will be given to complex scenarios such as methadone conversions, managing breakthrough pain, and case studies.

Learning Objectives:

Apply evidence-based opioid conversion strategies, including pre-assessment, ratio selection, and post-conversion monitoring, in adult cancer patients.
Identify and address special considerations such as methadone use, breakthrough pain, and disparities in opioid prescribing.