American Association of Neurological Surgeons

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Formation	1931
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	8,000+
Executive Director	Kathleen Craig
Website	www.aans.org

Last updated October 29, 2024

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association focused on advancing the specialty of neurological surgery. The organization has over 8,000 members around the world. It is one of the five Continental Associations of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), the other four being the AASNS, CAANS, EANS and FLANC.^[2]

History
Significant dates
Membership
Legislative advocacy
Publications
Patient information and public outreach
Education
Annual meeting
Neurosurgical Research and Education Foundation
Neuropoint Alliance
AANS Award Winners
Cushing Medal
AANS Distinguished Service Award
AANS Humanitarian Award
AANS Cushing Award for Technical Excellence and Innovation in Neurosurgery
AANS International Lifetime Recognition Award
References
External links

History

Attendees at the first meeting of the Harvey Cushing Society in Boston, 1932. 1932harveycushingsocietymeeting.gif — Attendees at the first meeting of the Harvey Cushing Society in Boston, 1932.

Founded in 1931, the AANS was originally known as the Harvey Cushing Society, named for the brain surgery pioneer Harvey Cushing. The creation of the society was spurred initially by R. Glen Spurling and William P. Van Wagenen^[3] who, with Cushing, acknowledged the need for a venue in which younger neurosurgeons could exchange ideas on the specialty. Membership to the Society of Neurological Surgeons, the specialty's key organization during this period, was closed to younger men at this time. Spurling and Van Wagenen enlisted the help of Temple Fay and R. Eustace Semmes in the creation of the group, and on May 6, 1932, the Harvey Cushing Society held its first meeting in Boston.^[3] Twenty-three people attended, many of whom were Cushing's colleagues and neurosurgical trainees.

Other charter members of the society were Gilbert Anderson, Paul C. Bucy, W. Edward Chamberlain, Leo M. Davidoff, Louise Eisenhardt, Edgar Fincher, John F. Fulton, W. James Gardner, William J. German, Franc D. Ingraham, Franklin Jelsma, Edgar Kahn, Roland Klemme, James G. Lyerly Sr., Eric Oldberg, Tracy Putnam, Frederic Schreiber, Merril C. Sosman, and Frank R. Teachenor.

Significant dates

1942 – The AANS adopts new bylaws requiring active members to be certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS).
1944 – The first issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery is printed. An editorial board had been established in 1943, and Louise Eisenhardt was named editor-in-chief.
1967 – At its annual meeting in San Francisco, the Harvey Cushing Society changes its name to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). The group also revamps its membership requirements, now noting that only board-certified neurosurgeons could be considered for active membership. Associate memberships are available for those in related neurological disciplines. This same year, the William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship is established to provide educational funding to medical students.
1969 – The association observes the 100-year anniversary of Harvey Cushing's birth by holding its annual meeting in his birthplace of Cleveland and issuing a commemorative stamp via the United States Postal Service.
1976 – A headquarters office is established in downtown Chicago. The office moves to Park Ridge, Illinois in 1984, and subsequently to its current location in Rolling Meadows, Illinois in 2000.
1988 – The United States Postal Service issues an official Harvey Cushing stamp on June 17 as part of its "Great Americans" 45-cent stamp collection.^[4]

Membership

The AANS is composed of board-certified neurosurgeons from around the world as well as medical students, neurosurgical support staff, and physicians in associated fields of practice.

Legislative advocacy

Throughout its history, the AANS has taken stances on a number of key legislative issues affecting neurosurgical professionals and their patients. Efforts include patient safety and quality improvement, tort reform, and issues relating to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. In addition to a professional staff office in Washington, D.C., the AANS maintains a member-driven Washington Committee to advocate for a number of causes. Washington staff maintains the Neurosurgery Blog which highlights the latest legislative activities affecting health care and the neurosurgical specialty.

Publications

Since 1944, the AANS has published the Journal of Neurosurgery. In addition, the quarterly AANS Neurosurgeon focuses on "issues related to legislation, workforce and practice management."^[5] Each issue is centered on different themes, and past themes include humanitarian neurosurgery, neurosurgeons as patients, stereotactic radiosurgery, and neurovascular neurosurgery.

Patient information and public outreach

On its website, the AANS presents information relevant to patients regarding a number of neurosurgical ailments and treatments. In addition to its efforts during National Neurosurgery Awareness Week (which is held in conjunction with the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting and heightens public awareness on topics such as stroke), the AANS also spearheads Neurosurgery Outreach Month every August, touting the importance of concussion and head-injury prevention at the start of a new school year and season for student athletes.

Education

The AANS offers its members a number of educational opportunities, mostly through courses held around the country at various times of the year. Topics include practice management, oral board preparation, maintenance of certification, and resident education. Course offerings also extend to mid-level practitioners such as nurses and physician assistants.

Annual meeting

The AANS has held an Annual Scientific Meeting every year since its 1932 inception except twice; in 1945 due to World War II, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 meeting was exclusively virtual, also due to the pandemic.

Programming includes presentations of neurological studies, seminars, workshops for practitioners at all levels, and keynote speeches. Past speakers^[6] include H. Ross Perot (1987), Colin Powell (1995), George H. W. Bush (1999), Tom Brokaw (2001), Benazir Bhutto (2002), Henry Kissinger (2003), Ken Burns (2004), Walter Isaacson (2013), and Chesley Sullenberger (2013).

Neurosurgical Research and Education Foundation

Established by the AANS in 1981, the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation provides funding for training in the neurosciences and support for career neurosurgeons. Through grants and awards, it supports medical students, residents and young neurosurgical faculty in conducting basic science, patient-oriented, clinical and outcomes research, as well as outcomes studies that protect and support neurosurgical procedures for all practicing neurosurgeons. It also funds North American and international fellowships in all neurosurgical subspecialties.^[7]^[8]

Neuropoint Alliance

As an effort led by the AANS with cooperation of other organized neurological associations, the Neuropoint Alliance was founded in 2008 to collect, analyze, and report clinical data from neurosurgical practices. Services include clinical trial management, study design, and survey facilitation.^[9] Its first nationwide effort was the National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database.^[10]^[11]

AANS Award Winners

The AANS presents several major awards each year during the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting, honoring the lifetime contribution of members for their surgical, scientific and humanitarian accomplishments.^[12]

Cushing Medal

1977 Frank H. Mayfield, MD
1978 William H. Sweet, MD
1979 Henry G. Schwartz, MD
1980 Paul C. Bucy, MD
1981 Bronson S. Ray, MD
1982 W. James Gardner, MD
1983 Guy L. Odom, MD
1984 Eben Alexander Jr., MD
1985 Francis Murphey, MD
1986 Lyle French, MD
1987 William F. Meacham, MD
1988 Charles G. Drake, MD
1989 Lester A. Mount, MD
1990 Robert B. King, MD
1991 William F. Collins, MD
1992 W. Eugene Stern, MD
1993 Sidney Goldring, MD
1994 Byron C. Pevehouse, MD
1995 Richard DeSaussure, MD
1996 Shelley N. Chou, MD, PhD
1997 Robert G. Ojemann, MD
1998 Albert L. Rhoton Jr., MD, FAANS
1999 David J. Kelly Jr., MD, FAANS
2000 Russell H. Patterson Jr., MD
2001 Julian T. Hoff, MD
2002 Edward R. Laws Jr., MD, FAANS
2003 Stewart B. Dunkser, MD, FAANS
2004 John A. Jane Sr., MD, PhD, FAANS
2005 Martin H. Weiss, MD, FAANS
2006 David G. Kline, MD, FAANS
2007 Robert G. Grossman, MD, FAANS
2008 Charles B. Wilson, MD, FAANS
2009 Edward H. Oldfield, MD, FAANS
2010 Roberto C. Heros, MD, FAANS
2011 A. John Popp, MD, FAANS
2012 Donald O. Quest, MD, FAANS(L)
2013 Jon H. Robertson, MD, FAANS
2014 Troy M. Tippett, MD, FAANS(L)
2015 Arthur L. Day, MD, FAANS
2016 Ralph G. Dacey Jr., MD, FAANS
2017 Robert F. Spetzler, MD, FAANS
2018 James R. Bean, MD, FAANS
2019 James T. Rutka, MD, PhD, FAANS

AANS Distinguished Service Award

1993 Roy W. Black, Codman & Shurtlett, Vice President
1994 William A. Buchheit, MD, FAANS
1995 Charles Edwin Bracket, MD, FAANS
1996 Robert E. Florin, MD, FAANS
1997 Ernest W. Mack, MD
1998 Mark J. Kubala, MD, FAANS
1999 W. Ben Blackett, MD, JD, FAANS
2000 George Ablin, MD
2000 Robert H. Wilkins, MD, FAANS
2001 Frank P. Smith, MD
2002 Donald H. Stewart Jr., MD, FAANS
2003 John A. Jane Sr., MD, PhD, FAANS
2004 Troy M. Tippett, MD, FAANS
2005 John A. Kusske, MD, FAANS
2006 John C. Van Gilder, MD
2007 Mary Louise Sanderson
2008 Peter W. Carmel, MD, FAANS
2009 In Memory Of Samuel J. Hassenbush, MD, PhD
2010 Katie O. Orrico
2011 Thomas A. Marshall
2012 James R. Bean, MD, FAANS
2013 Ralph G. Dacey Jr., MD, FAANS
2014 Sir Graham Teasdale, FRCP
2015 Kim J. Burchiel, MD, FAANS
2016 Blas Ezequiel Lopez Felix, MD, FAANS
2017 Volker K.H. Sonntag, MD, FAANS(L)
2018 Robert E. Harbaugh, MD, FAANS, FACS
2019 M. Ross Bullock, MD, PhD

AANS Humanitarian Award

1987 Courtland H. Davis Jr., MD, FAANS
1988 Gaston Acosta-Rua, MD
1989 Hugo V. Rizzoli, MD
1990 A. Roy Tyrer Jr., MD
1991 George B. Udvarhelyi, MD
1992 William H. Mosberg Jr., MD
1993 Manuel Velasco-Suarez, MD
1994 E. Fletcher Eyster, MD, FAANS
1995 Melvin L. Cheatham, MD, FAANS
1997 Robert J. White, MD
1998 Lee Finney, MD,
1999 Thomas B. Flynn, MD, FAANS
2000 Merwyn Bagan, MD, MPH, FAANS
2001 Gary D. Vander Ark, MD, FAANS
2002 Edgar M. Housepian, MD, FAANS
2004 Charles L. Branch Sr., MD,FAANS
2005 Tetsuo Tatsumi, MD, FAANS
2006 Gene E. Bolles, MD, FAANS
2007 Benjamin C. Warf, MD, FAANS
2008 Robert J. Dempsey, MD, FAANS
2009 Armonando J. Basso, MD, PhD
2010 Timr Banerjee, MD, FAANS
2011 Barth A. Green, MD
2012 A. Leland Albright, MD, FAANS(L)
2013 Mark Bernstein, MD, FAANS
2014 Anselmo Pineda, MD, FAANS(L)
2015 Michael M. Haglund, MD, PhD, FAANS
2016 Karin M. Muraszko, MD, FAANS
2017 John Ragheb, MD, FAANS
2018 Jack P. Rock, MD, FAANS
2019 David I. Sandberg, MD, FAANS

AANS Cushing Award for Technical Excellence and Innovation in Neurosurgery

2013 Edward H. Oldfield, MD, FAANS
2014 Robert H. Rosenwasser, MD, FAANS
2015 Ossama Al-Mefty, MD, FAANS
2016 L. Dade Lunsford, MD, FAANS
2017 Fady T. Charbel, MD, FAANS
2018 John R. Adler, Jr., MD, FAANS
2019 Kevin T. Foley, MD, FAANS

AANS International Lifetime Recognition Award

2008 Jose Humberto Mateos Gomez, MD, FAANS(L), from Madrid, Mexico
2009 Albino Bricolo, MD, from Verona, Italy
2010 Shigeaki Kobayashi, MD, PhD, from Matsumoto, Japan
2011 Shigeaki Kobayashi, MD, PhD, from Matsumoto, Japan
2012 Leonidas M. Quintana, MD, IFAANS, from Vina del Mar, Chile
2013 Johannes Schramm, MD, from Bonn, Germany
2014 Nicolas de Tribolet, MD, from Geneva, Switzerland
2015 Andrew H. Kaye, MD, IFAANS, from Melbourne, Australia
2016 Edgardo Spagnuolo, MD, from Montevideo Uruguay
2017 André Grotenhuis, MD, PhD, IFAANS, from Nijmegen, Netherlands
2018 Jeffrey V. Rosenfeld, MD, MS, IFAANS, FACS
2019 Franco Servadei, MD, Italy
2020 B. K. Misra

Related Research Articles

Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the medical specialty that focuses on the surgical treatment or rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nervous system, and cerebrovascular system. Neurosurgery as a medical specialty also includes non-surgical management of some neurological conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Dandy</span> American neurosurgeon (1886–1946)

Walter Edward Dandy was an American neurosurgeon and scientist. He is considered one of the founding fathers of neurosurgery, along with Victor Horsley (1857–1916) and Harvey Cushing (1869–1939). Dandy is credited with numerous neurosurgical discoveries and innovations, including the description of the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, surgical treatment of hydrocephalus, the invention of air ventriculography and pneumoencephalography, the description of brain endoscopy, the establishment of the first intensive care unit, and the first clipping of an intracranial aneurysm, which marked the birth of cerebrovascular neurosurgery.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is a professional society representing over 40,000 neurologists and neuroscientists. As a medical specialty society it was established in 1948 by A.B. Baker of the University of Minnesota to advance the art and science of neurology, and thereby promote the best possible care for patients with neurological disorders. It is headquartered in Minneapolis and maintains a health policy office in Washington, D.C.

Roy Glenwood "Glen" Spurling was an American neurosurgeon remembered for describing Spurling's test.

The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) is a professional association representing neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents, medical students, and allied health professionals.

Axel Herbert Olivecrona was a Swedish professor and brain surgeon, credited with founding the field of Swedish neurosurgery, and pioneering developments in modern neurosurgery.

Albert Loren Rhoton Jr., was an American neurosurgeon and a professor specializing in microsurgical neuroanatomy. He was on the editorial boards of six surgical journals, and worked as professor and chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Florida. He was also president of organizations such as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, among other surgical organizations.

Michael L. J. Apuzzo is an American academic neurological surgeon, the Edwin M. Todd/Trent H. Wells, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics at the Keck School of Medicine, of the University of Southern California. He is also editor emeritus of the peer-reviewed journals World Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery. He is distinguished adjunct professor of neurosurgery at the Yale School of Medicine, distinguished professor of advanced neurosurgery and neuroscience and senior advisor, at the Neurological Institute, Wexner Medical School, The Ohio State University, and adjunct professor of neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery & Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center.

Frank Henderson Mayfield, was an American neurosurgeon and founder of the Mayfield Clinic and Spine Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. A pioneer in brain and spine surgery, he invented the spring aneurysm clip and the Mayfield skull clamp. Mayfield is best known for his clinical interests in peripheral nerve and spine injuries, development of neurosurgical instruments, and medical politics.

Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol is a professor of clinical neurological surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Council of State Neurosurgical Societies</span> Surgical society

The Council of State Neurosurgical Societies is a professional body and an American surgical society created in 1976 to provide a national forum for the State Neurosurgical Societies of the United States of America. As a forum for practicing neurosurgeons, it focuses primarily on discussion, consideration, and proposals of action regarding socioeconomic issues concerning neurological surgery. The CSNS is composed of active neurosurgeons which are members of the various state neurosurgical societies in the ratio of 1 representative per 50 state society neurosurgeon members. The Presidents of the AANS and CNS appoint members/delegates to the CSNS in addition to the state designated delegates and 13 neurosurgery residents are elected as delegates from the four Quadrants with one selected from the Armed Services. The Council meets twice a year just before the annual meetings of the AANS and the CNS during which it considers resolutions submitted by delegates or its committees and receives reports from those committees as well as the AANS and CNS. Resolutions that are adopted by assembly vote are sent to the AANS/CNS for consideration and potential implementation.

James Rutka is a Canadian neurosurgeon from Toronto, Canada. Rutka served as RS McLaughlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto from 2011 – 2022. He subspecializes in pediatric neurosurgery at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and is a Senior Scientist in the Research Institute at SickKids. His main clinical interests include the neurosurgical treatment of children with brain tumours and epilepsy. His research interests lie in the molecular biology of human brain tumours – specifically in the determination of the mechanisms by which brain tumours grow and invade. He is the Director of the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre at SickKids, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), founded in 1955, in Switzerland, as a professional, scientific, non governmental organization, is composed of 130 member societies: consisting of 5 Continental Associations, 6 Affiliate Societies, and 119 National Neurosurgical Societies, representing some 50,000 neurosurgeons worldwide. It has a consultative status in the United Nations. The official Journal of the Organization is World Neurosurgery.

The Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS) was founded in 1920 and is composed of neurosurgical department chairs, residency program directors and other senior educational leaders in America. It is the oldest neurosurgical professional organization in the world. The president of the SNS is E. Sander Connolly, Jr., MD.

Robert Wheeler Rand, was an American neurosurgeon, inventor, and Professor of Neurosurgery in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) from 1953 to 1989.

William T. Couldwell is a Canadian neurosurgeon who is professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Utah, a position he assumed in 2001.

Stewart Dunsker M.D., a neurosurgeon, is Professor and Director of Spinal Neurosurgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Director of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dr. Basant Kumar Misra is a neurosurgeon specialising in treating brain, spine, cerebrovascular and peripheral nervous system disorders, injuries, pathologies and malformations. He is the Vice-President of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, and the former President of the Asian Australasian Society of Neurological Surgeons, and the Neurological Society of India. He is a recipient of Dr. B. C. Roy Award, the highest medical honour in India.

Temple Sedgwick Fay, M.D. was an American neurologist and neurosurgeon. He is known for experimental use of extreme cold to treat patients with malignant tumors or head injuries.

Linda M. Liau is an American neurosurgeon, neuroscientist, and the W. Eugene Stern Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Liau was elected to the Society of Neurological Surgeons in 2013 and the National Academy of Medicine in 2018. She has published over 230 research articles and a textbook, Brain Tumor Immunotherapy. She served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Neuro-Oncology from 2007 to 2017.

References

↑ "AANS Leadership and Governance". aans.org. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
↑ "About the Foundation | World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies".
1 2 Mathews, Marlon S.; Linskey, Mark E.; Binder, Devin K. (2008-02-29). "William P. van Wagenen and the first corpus callosotomies for epilepsy". Journal of Neurosurgery. 108 (3): 608–613. doi:10.3171/JNS/2008/108/3/0608. ISSN 0022-3085. PMID 18312112.
↑ "1988 45c Harvey Cushing, M.D. – Catalog # 2188 For Sale at Mystic Stamp Company". Mysticstamp.com. 1988-06-17. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
↑ "AANS Neurosurgeon – About". Aansneurosurgeon.org. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
↑ "2009 AANS Annual Meeting – Housing". Aans.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
↑ "Medical Student Summer Research Fellowships". Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation. NREF. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
↑ "Research Fellowship Grants & Young Clinician Investigator Awards". Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation. NREF. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
↑ "NPA N²QOD". Neuropoint.org. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
↑ "NPA Home". Neuropoint.org. Archived from the original on 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
↑ "Spine Patient Data Gathering of the Future: Q&A With Drs. Anthony Asher and Matthew McGirt of N2QOD". Beckersspine.com. 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
↑ "AANS Award Winners".

External links

Official website

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[1] "AANS Leadership and Governance". aans.org. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

[2] "About the Foundation | World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies".

[:0-3] 1 2 Mathews, Marlon S.; Linskey, Mark E.; Binder, Devin K. (2008-02-29). "William P. van Wagenen and the first corpus callosotomies for epilepsy". Journal of Neurosurgery. 108 (3): 608–613. doi:10.3171/JNS/2008/108/3/0608. ISSN 0022-3085. PMID 18312112.

[4] "1988 45c Harvey Cushing, M.D. – Catalog # 2188 For Sale at Mystic Stamp Company". Mysticstamp.com. 1988-06-17. Retrieved 2014-05-31.

[5] "AANS Neurosurgeon – About". Aansneurosurgeon.org. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-31.

[6] "2009 AANS Annual Meeting – Housing". Aans.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2014-05-31.

[7] "Medical Student Summer Research Fellowships". Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation. NREF. Retrieved 2024-01-21.

[8] "Research Fellowship Grants & Young Clinician Investigator Awards". Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation. NREF. Retrieved 2024-01-21.

[9] "NPA N²QOD". Neuropoint.org. Retrieved 2014-05-31.

[10] "NPA Home". Neuropoint.org. Archived from the original on 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-05-31.

[11] "Spine Patient Data Gathering of the Future: Q&A With Drs. Anthony Asher and Matthew McGirt of N2QOD". Beckersspine.com. 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2014-05-31.

[12] "AANS Award Winners".

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