The Board of Directors convened in Chicago November 22-24 for its 1996 Interim Meeting. Although the primary focus of the meeting was the 1997 budget, a number of other key discussions took place. The highlights of the major actions taken are presented here.
Long Range Planning Committee
Edward Laws, Jr., Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC), presented a report detailing several committee recommendations for future action. Bylaw amendments will be proposed to accomplish the following:
- Develop stipulations regarding membership maintenance requirements for nurses and physician assistants in the Associate Membership category.
- Change the name of the Quality Assessment Committee to the Committee for the Assessment of Quality
- Use the term “AANS/CNS” to replace the term “joint” (where appropriate) with reference to committees and Sections.
In a discussion of outcomes research the LRPC suggested initial outcomes efforts be directed toward carotid disease and spine surgery. However, it emphasized the importance of producing outcomes that can be directly utilized by neurosurgeons in their practices, and be of tangible benefit to them.
The concept of the AANS as spokes-organization for neurosurgery was discussed at length. It was agreed the AANS must continue this role by enlisting highly motivated individuals who are armed with information provided by the AANS to respond to questions from outside sources such as the media and insurance carriers.
Nominating Committee
Sidney Tolchin, MD, Immediate-Past President and Chairman of the Nominating Committee announced the recommended slate of Officers, Directors and Nominating Committee members for 1997. The Board of Directors approved the following slate of nominees which will be presented for consideration by the voting members:
President-Elect: Russell L. Travis, MD
Vice President: William Shucart, MD
Secretary: Stan Pelofsky, MD
Director-at-Large: Robert A. Ratcheson, MD
Members, Nominating Committee: Ronald I. Apfelbaum, MD, Ralph G. Dacey, MDZ, L. N. Hopkins, MD
In addition, Robert B. Page, MD, and William E. Mayher, MD, have been proposed by the Joint Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (JCSNS) as Northeast Quadrant Director and Southeast Quadrant Director, respectively.
In accordance with the Bylaws, the foregoing slate will be mailed to the voting members by mid-January. If no opposing candidates are proposed, this slate will be voted on at the Annual Business Meeting on Monday, April 14, 1997 in Denver, Colorado. In the event opposing candidates are proposed, written ballots will be distributed as prescribed in the Bylaws.
Membership Committee
The Board of Directors approved the member-ship applications of 28 Active Members, 24 Active (Provisional) Members, 24 Associate Members, and 47 transfers from Active (Provisional) Membership to Active Member-ship. Twenty applicants for International Associate Membership were also approved.
The complete list of new members appears on page 90. Total membership for the AANS is now 4,920.
Coordinating Committee for Continuing Education
The Board approved the “AANS/CNS Guidelines for Commercial Support of Continu-ing Medical Education.” These new guidelines were designed to clarify AANS and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) policies governing commercially-supported CME programs, such as those offered at Annual Meetings. The two key stipulations are:
- there must be full disclosure by the presenters or faculty of any relationships they may have with manufacturers, and;
- demonstrations of off-label products, or off-label use of these products, in hands-on workshops should be avoided.
Future Meeting Sites Committee
A change in site for the 2002 AANS Annual Meeting from Nashville to Chicago was approved.
Professional Development Committee
Under the auspices of the Professional Development Committee, a training course will be developed to help neurosurgeons prepare for the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) oral certifying examinations. While this course will not provide an in-depth review, the Board felt that the program would provide participants with a valuable exchange of information, as well as an excellent rehearsal for the oral examinations.
Strategic Planning
Members of the Senior Staff presented a progress report to the Board of Directors on the development of a program plan to implement the AANS Strategic Plan. The points covered are too numerous to be reported here, however, the following resolutions regarding the plan’s implementation were approved by the Board:
- The Long Range Planning Committee will follow the priorities of the Board and membership.
- Strategic areas of the long range plan should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-framed (S.M.A.R.T.).
- The strategic plan will be consistent with the resources provided by the long range financial plan through fiscal year 1999.
- The long range plan is to be embedded in the existing organization and structure of the AANS to facilitate implementation and accountability.
The AANS Executive Director is to update the long range plan annually.
Joint Spine Section
The AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves pre-sented revised Rules and Regulations for approval by the AANS Board. The regula-tions provide for governance of the Section. They had already been approved by the CNS Executive Committee.
Public Relations Task Force
A special Ad Hoc Task Force on Communications was appointed in April to study the possibility of initiating a public relations effort which would better acquaint the public with what neurosurgeons do. The impetus for this endeavor arose out of recommendations made by the JCSNS last spring.
Dr. Laws, who served as Chairman of the task force, presented a proposal for a project entitled, “Getting S.M.A.R.T. – A New Communications Program About the Nature and Benefits of Neurosurgery,” that will, with assistance from a professional PR firm, develop activities and materials that will help tell the neurosurgery story. The Board approved this concept, and authorized the task force to proceed. The CNS is also considering participating in the program.
Joint Quality Assessment Committee
Robert Florin, MD, Chairman of the Joint Quality Assessment Committee, reported on its activities in recent months. He noted the Sections will be heavily involved in the work of the committee, and this will be invaluable for solving quality-related issues. Dr. Florin also mentioned the importance of training neurosurgeons to do outcomes as soon as possible.
Young Neurosurgeons
The Board of Directors welcomed a new liaison from the Young Neurosurgeons Committee, Co-Chairman Karin Muraszko, MD, who reported on the projects in which the committee is engaged at this time. She stated that the need for fellowships is being assessed, although the quality of the available fellowships has not been addressed as yet.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the AANS Board of Directors will be held during the 1997 Annual Meeting.