In the United States, we refer to the sport as soccer; every other country refers to it as football. We might not agree on what to call it, but we can definitely agree on the game’s popularity worldwide and its growing popularity in the United States, especially with the performance of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team at the World Cup. It’s a sport enjoyed by billions around the globe and has a long legacy of bringing together countries to cheer on their teams. Between June 11, 2015, and July 4, 2015, 12 teams from countries around Latin America, plus Jamaica, competed to bring the Copa América championship home to their country. Around the same time, neurosurgeons from 17 countries around Latin America were gearing up for the Interim Meeting of the Federación Latinoamericana de Sociedades de Neurocirugía (FLANC) in Bogotá, Colombia, held July 2-4, 2015. Just like the Copa América, this meeting was the culmination of much hard work and dedication, with neurosurgeons from all over Latin America presenting the best research and neurosurgical experience from their region of the world.
The FLANC is a federation composed of 23 member organizations, representing the country neurosurgical societies throughout South America, Central America and the Caribbean. The federation is composed of an administrative committee with leaders from seven different countries, tasked with assuring the smooth operation of the organization. There is also an executive committee with representation from all member societies and various honorary presidents who speak on behalf of each participating Latin American society. This interim meeting took place at the Hilton Bogotá in Bogotá, the bustling, world-class capital and cultural center of the country that is home to almost 10 million.
FLANC Interim Meeting Highlights
FLANC has had a long tradition of scientific meetings every two years, dating back to the first one in 1944. However, the federation’s interim meetings are in their infancy, as this meeting is the third interim gathering of its kind. This new structure provides an opportunity for FLANC members to meet and exchange research every year.
This interim meeting was historic in that it was the first time the federation and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) collaborated to provide meeting attendees with a FLANC-AANS Symposium. Four AANS members — 2015-2016 AANS President H. Hunt Batjer, MD, FAANS; AANS Past-president Robert E. Harbaugh, MD, FAANS; International Programs Chair Christopher M. Loftus, MD, FAANS; and P. David Adelson, MD, FAANS — participated in the symposium, delivering two presentations each.
The meeting was also characterized by a strong social program that highlighted the wonders of Colombia from its beautiful collection of gold treasures in the Banco de la Republica’s Museo de Oro to its boisterous and colorful carnival at the welcome reception to its fine dining at Harry Sasson, considered among Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants by The Diner’s Club.
The last day of the interim meeting coincided with the final game of the Copa América championship, with Chile pursuing its first potential championship title against soccer powerhouse Argentina. FLANC members and other international attendees took a break Sunday afternoon from the scientific program in the meeting room to enjoy a favorite international pastime. Chile was successful in obtaining its first championship, defeating Argentina in the end with a penalty shootout.
Unlike the Copa América, however, the FLANC Interim Meeting was not just a win for a single country, but for all of those participating in the meeting and for neurosurgery as a whole.
Looking Ahead
Next year, the Copa América championship will celebrate 100 years. For the first time ever, it is expected to be held outside of South America in the United States, incorporating the U.S. Men’s National Team in its competition and welcoming soccer fans from all over Latin America to the U.S. Similarly, neurosurgeons from all over Latin America will join the AANS for the first time as the continental guest society at its 84th AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, April 30-May 4, 2016.
[aans_authors]
