Chan Gunn, clinical professor of anesthesiology and a visiting scientist at the UW Multidisciplinary Pain Service, has been appointed to the Order of British Columbia.

The Order of British Columbia was established by statute in 1989 to recognize British Columbians who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any endeavor benefiting the people of the province or elsewhere.

Gunn was honored for his work in the treatment of chronic pain. He became interested in the topic while working as a physician for the Workmen's Compensation Board of B.C.

Perplexed by cases of pain that did not have obvious accompanying tissue damage or inflammation, and frustrated by the unsatisfactory results of conventional physical therapies for chronic pain, he began studying patients to determine a pattern to their conditions. From this, he developed a technique called intramuscular stimulation. The treatment involves using thin needles to target muscles that have become shortened from distress.

Sixteen individuals, including health-care professionals, artists, entertainers, business leaders, community workers, environmentalists, scholars and humanitarians, were named to the Order of B.C. this year.