The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) proudly serves as the continental society for the North American region. This distinction is shared with four other societies: the Asian Australasian Society of Neurological Surgeons (AASNS), the Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (CAANS), the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and the Federación Latinoamericana de Sociedades de Neurocirugía (FLANC).
Each continental society strives to represent the neurosurgical interests of country members and individual members beyond language and culture with a special emphasis on education. Some have a more homogenous membership base while others represent many different countries, languages and levels of economic prosperity. All work to advance the field of neurosurgery through cross cultural exchanges of research hoping to further the specialty of neurosurgery throughout the world.
In addition to a focus on research, the different continental society congresses have other important elements in common, such as a strong social program that provides time to network with colleagues and meet new neurosurgeons, important governance meetings and the appointment of new leaders to usher in future progress.
The AANS has been supporting its continental society counterparts over the past years by encouraging exchanges during important congresses and developing relationships with society leaders. This past year, the AANS participated in three continental society congresses, including the 2nd Annual CAANS Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, this past summer, or their winter, in July. This conference was reported on in the AANS Neurosurgeon, Volume 25, Number 3 edition. Since then, AANS leaders have been honored to be invited and take part in two other important continental society meetings.
EANS Congress – Athens, Greece
EANS is the voice of neurosurgery in Europe and is a supranational association of close to 40 country society members. The association was founded at the 4th European Congress of Neurosurgery in 1972 in Prague, Czech Republic, and holds annual meetings, biennial congresses and the European Training Courses in Neurosurgery, its flagship educational offering, which consists of four annual 4-day courses.
This year, the EANS 2016 Annual Meeting was held in Athens, Greece, at the modern center of this ancient city, which matched the congress theme “From the Classics to the Future.” The congress was a 5-day affair from Sept. 4–8, 2016, including pre-congress courses. There was time in between research to experience Greece, from a presentation on the new Acropolis Museum to delicious meals featuring traditional Greek dishes.
Overseeing the meeting were Greece’s own EANS Congress President Panagiotis Selviaridis, MD, and the 2015-2017 EANS President André Grotenhuis, MD, PhD, IFAANS, who welcomed attendees to the world-class scientific program “spanning both the older and the younger generations, established and innovative techniques.”
Although many AANS members were in attendance, AANS President Frederick A. Boop, MD, FAANS, and former AANS President Robert E. Harbaugh, MD, FAANS, attended as representatives of the AANS. Dr. Harbaugh shared his career experience with the younger generations of neurosurgeons alongside Dr. Grotenhuis, while Dr. Boop focused on his expertise in pediatric neurosurgery.
At the upcoming 2017 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in Los Angeles, the AANS will have the opportunity to host Dr. Grotenhuis as an International Board Liaison and all EANS members are invited to join the AANS as one of the collaborating societies. Additionally, Dr. Grotenhuis will be recognized as the 2017 AANS International Lifetime Recognition Award Recipient. He was chosen by the AANS Executive Committee “for his contributions to improving neurosurgical education around the world.”
Dr. Grotenhuis will lead EANS as president until the conclusion of the upcoming EANS2017, the 17th European Congress of Neurosurgery, in Venice, Italy, from Oct. 1–5, 2017.
CLAN Congress – Cancún, México
Earlier this year at the 2016 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, the AANS welcomed the FLANC and their members as the primary collaborating society and also celebrated the 2014-2016 FLANC President, Edgardo Spagnuolo, MD, as the 2016 AANS International Lifetime Recognition Award recipient. This past Fall, the FLANC hosted various AANS leaders at their biennial Congreso Latinoamericano de Neurocirugía (CLAN) in Cancún, México, including AANS President, Dr. Boop; William T. Couldwell, MD, PhD, FAANS; Christopher M. Loftus, MD, FAANS; Anil Nanda, MD, MPH, FAANS; and Stacey C. Wolfe, MD, FAANS.
The FLANC is comprised of 17 country societies sharing geographical proximity in both South America and Central America. Most congresses are conducted primarily in Spanish, though some do include English and Portuguese speakers. This was the 37th CLAN Congress; the first was held in 1945 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
This particular congress highlighted the individual culture of Mexico, and the congress dates included The Day of the Dead, which was celebrated from Oct.31-Nov. 2. Under the direction of Congress President Gerardo Guinto-Balanzar, MD, FAANS, from México, and 2014-2016 FLANC President Dr. Spagnuolo, from Uruguay, the Day of the Dead was generously incorporated into the congress’ extensive social calendar.
The venue chosen for the congress was an all-inclusive resort on the beach. Congress organizers credit the location for contributing to the most successful attendance the congress has ever seen: over 1,200 attendees shared research into the newest methods and technologies. The congress theme was “Contemporary Neurosurgery: Security & Quality.”
The end of the congress saw José Marcus Rotta, MD, from Brazil, assume the role of FLANC President for 2016-2018. He will serve until the 2018 CLAN Congress in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Upcoming International Collaborations
Coming off of a year of successful international collaborations, the 2017 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting will continue to build upon these relationships, with the AASNS and EANS participating as the official collaborating societies under the chosen theme “Neurosurgery: A World of Innovation.”
The international activities will kick off with this year’s Spetzler Symposium, April 20–21, and International Symposium, April 22–23, preceding the scientific program and featuring renowned speakers from around the globe. The Board of Directors also welcome seven international board liaisons representing their organizations: AASNS President Basant K. Misra, MD, from India; CAANS President Abderrahmane Sidi Said, MD, from Algeria; EANS President Dr. Grotenhuis; FLANC President Dr. Rotta; WFNS President Yong-Kwang Tu, MD, PhD, from Taiwan; WFNS President-elect Franco Servadei, MD, from Italy; and WHO Representative Walter D. Johnson, MD, FAANS(L) from the U.S.
The international program will conclude with the much-anticipated International Reception that will be held Monday, April 24, from 8–9:30 p.m. at the GRAMMY Museum and Target Terrace for a celebration with international and AANS colleagues.
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