ASRA Pain Medicine mourns the death of Dr. Richard L. "Rick" Rauck, a distinguished anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist, who died on October 21, 2025, at the age of 69, following a long battle with lymphoma. 

Dr. Rauck served on the ASRA Pain Medicine Board of Directors from 2004 to 2010 and was honored with the John J. Bonica Award in 2013 for his outstanding contributions to advancing pain management.

After earning his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Dr. Rauck completed his residency in anesthesiology and fellowship in pain management at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He returned to Wake Forest as a faculty member, focusing on patient care, clinical research, and mentoring future leaders in pain medicine. His research included innovative treatments for migraines, diabetic neuropathy, and non-invasive neuromodulation for chronic neuropathic pain, reflecting his commitment to advancing alternatives to opioids.

Dr. Rauck was an early member of the World Institute of Pain, obtaining FIPP certification in its inaugural class in 2001, and served as WIP president from 2013 to 2015. In 2004, he founded the Carolinas Pain Institute, where he continued to mentor fellows and advance the practice of interventional pain management.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Rauck was a civic leader and founder of the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic and the Gears & Guitars concert series, initiatives that combined international-level competition with community engagement.

Dr. Rauck is survived by his wife, Katie; daughters, Lauren Rauck Komanski and Catherine Lee Rauck; and grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held on November 1, 2025, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dr. Rauck’s memory to the National Cycling Center to support Gears & Guitars or to the Piedmont Land Conservancy.