Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read AANS Student. My name is Kurt Lehner, and as the student editor of this new section of AANS Neurosurgeon, I hope to collect articles from students around the country that illustrate how the field of neurosurgery is viewed by us, the young learners, some of whom will (hopefully) be neurosurgeons, and others who will be serving patients in some other manner. AANS Student aims to serve as a platform for students to voice their views regarding neurosurgery, medical education, research and patient care. We hope to provide neurosurgeons with a glimpse of the students they interact with in the operating room and on the floors.
Neurosurgery can be a polarizing topic for students. We are at once awed by the abilities of those operating and dumbfounded by the sacrifices made by those individuals. We are eager to learn and impress, but apprehensive to make mistakes and be chastised. The sight of the human brain and the act of cutting into the organ that most distinguishes us from other primates triggers diverse emotions and reactions within students. A similar range of feelings is evoked when discussing the training that is required to become an expert in this demanding field. I hope that the views of my colleagues illustrate our varied backgrounds, mixed expectations, and assorted motivations for pursuing not just neurosurgery, but the broader scope of medicine.
Thanks again, and enjoy!
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