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Donald O. Quest, MD, is the 2006-2007 AANS president. |
The diamond jubilee anniversary celebration of the AANS founding will be held April 14–19 at the 2007 AANS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. This is a time to honor the past achievements of neurosurgery as well as an opportunity to look forward to the future.
The educational program is outstanding with a multitude of practical courses, breakfast seminars, superb oral and poster presentations, and plenary and subspecialty section sessions. There are exceptional invited speakers. Award-winning journalist and Middle-East expert Thomas Friedman will deliver the Cushing oration, while Johannes Schramm, MD, will provide the Van Wagenen lecture and Nick Hopkins, MD, the Schneider lecture. Additional speakers and their topics are Eric Kandel, MD, cognitive neuroscience; Lisa Randall, PhD, the multidimensional universe, revealed through particle physics and string theory; Joseph Piepmeier, MD, ontogeny of glial cells and glioma-specific targets; Michael Gazzaniga, PhD, the ethical brain; and Sally Ride, encouraging young people and women to enter scientific fields.
The meeting’s increased focus on socioeconomic and governmental affairs complements the Washington location. For this reason and many others, the nation’s capital is an ideal venue for the AANS celebration.
The Washington Convention Center is state of the art and a beautiful light, airy, and modern facility conducive to education and communication. The city also is replete with outstanding restaurants, and the mid-April weather should be delightful.
Washington itself is filled with beautiful and monumental architecture and provides a wealth of unique and varied opportunities to explore art, history, culture, and more. Among the multiple outstanding attractions waiting to be explored are the National Museum of Natural History, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the International Spy Museum. The numerous art museums include the newly opened National Portrait Gallery, the Freer and Sackler galleries featuring Asian Art, the National Museum of African Art, the American Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Corcoran Gallery, and the Phillips Collection of modern art.
The history of the United States is palpable at the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, the Capitol, the Library of Congress, the White House, and the National Mall. Magnificent museums include the multiple branches of the Smithsonian Institution. One such branch is the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the world’s most visited museum and the venue for the opening reception.
The opening reception marks the official start of festivities, and this year’s anniversary-themed gala will be an event to remember. The Navy band will welcome all to the party, followed by an enjoyable evening with musical offerings by the Neurosurgical Jazz Quintet. This 75th anniversary gala offers a prime opportunity to forge new friendships and renew acquaintances before the meeting with its multitude of activities gets under way.
The 75th AANS Annual Meeting represents a wonderful opportunity to expand knowledge and celebrate neurosurgery. The extent to which the event will be rewarding for me is directly related to the positive experience of each and every attendee.
To help ensure an educational and enjoyable experience for all, many people have worked diligently throughout the year to create a unique meeting. Among them are Annual Meeting Chair Mitchel Berger, MD, and Social Program Co-chairs Lisa and Kevin McGrail, MD. Scientific Program Chair Timothy Mapstone, MD, has led his committee in planning a program of which the AANS founders would be proud, if not astonished, at the breadth and depth of issues and information that confront neurosurgeons today.
That the 75th anniversary of the AANS is celebrated at the 75th AANS Annual meeting is symbolic of the organization’s roots in education and fellowship. The AANS was conceived as an educational organization by founders who recognized the essential values of coming together to share ideas and information, to support one another in serving patients, and to improve the profession. For 75 years our forebears have accepted this responsibility, carried the torch and inspired successors to carry on the tradition.
I will pass the torch of AANS leadership to the organization’s 75th president in April feeling honored to have served as the AANS president during this landmark year. I invite and encourage you to attend the 75th AANS Annual Meeting in April, and I hope the experience will inspire you to continue striving to maintain the excellence of our profession and enhance its prospects for the future.