In my laboratory, we utilize a social neuroscience framework to help guide our understanding of the mechanisms that drive pain disparities. For instance, work by our group has previously demonstrated that experiences of racial discrimination are associated with altered central nervous system processing of noxious stimuli in African Americans with painful knee osteoarthritis. Relatedly, we have recently shown that high levels of internalized health — related stigma promote depression and inflammatory cytokine proliferation in persons living with HIV and chronic pain. Ultimately, the goal of our research is to increase awareness of the influence of social factors on pain physiology and perception. This knowledge may encourage other researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to consider how social factors affect pain and move beyond a view of disparities in pain experiences as intractable or inevitable.