Elizabeth Loder received an undergraduate biology degree from Harvard College, studied Medicine at the University of North Dakota and received a Master’s degree in public health from the University of Massachusetts. She has worked as a clinician and researcher in headache field since completing a fellowship in headache medicine in 1990. She currently divides her time between her position as a clinical editor at the BMJ and duties as the chief of the Division of Headache and Pain in the Department of Neurology at the Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals in Boston. She is an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.

Competing Interests

Have you in the past five years accepted the following from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of papers in the BMJ?

Reimbursement for attending a symposium?
Yes, I have been reimbursed by many professional organisations for expenses incurred in attending symposia, meetings or courses, generally in connection with a speaking engagement or board meeting.

A fee for speaking?
Yes, I have received honoraria for lectures on topics relating to headache and pain from pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and professional organisations and associations. At present I speak only at academic and professional meetings and when offered I do accept speaking fees for these talks.

A fee for organising education?
No

Funds for research?
Yes, I have been an investigator in many clinical trials of headache treatments funded by pharmaceutical or device companies. As a hospital employee, I do not directly receive research money; the hospital contracts with the company and then pays me for my work on the trial from those funds.

Funds for a member of staff?
No

Fees for consulting?
Yes, I have received fees for consulting from academic organisations, such as the Thomas Jefferson Office of Health Policy, and from professional organisations such as the American Headache Society or National Headache Foundation for consulting on specific educational or research projects. I have received consulting fees from medical education, pharmaceutical or medical device companies for consulting or serving on advisory boards related to product development, research design, and marketing.

Have you in the past five years been employed by any organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of papers in the BMJ?
Yes, I have been an employee of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and now am an employee of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Both are members of Partners Healthcare Network, a non-profit healthcare corporation. Partners and its institutions are heavily involved in medical research and Partners benefits from the publication success of its researchers.

Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation?
Yes, I have shares or stock in many companies and mutual funds and a family trust. None of these investments involves drug, medical device or health care companies.

Do you have any other competing financial interests?
My husband is a partner in a law firm that provides services to many clients in the healthcare field, but his work does not involve healthcare.

I have no competing interests/I have the following competing interests?
I serve as an associate editor (unpaid) for the journal Headache. I am active in the International Headache Society and the American Headache Society.