Thank you for the honor that you have bestowed upon me in allowing me to serve as President of the AANS. During my tenure as president-elect, I have gained a deep appreciation of the dedication of our leadership to the Association and to neurosurgery; it is my sincere hope to carry these efforts forward in the coming year.
Speaking up for Neurosurgery
The AANS has been the spokesorganization for North American neurosurgery since 1965, serving as the neurosurgical voice on such topics as managed care reimbursement, FDA regulations and socioeconomic affairs. The Association has broadened its membership base by welcoming into its ranks certified neurosurgeons from Canada and the Republic of Mexico. We also have invited representatives of their leadership to attend our Board of Directors’ meetings as a way to enhance the relationship with our North American colleagues.
Communications
The Bulletin constitutes one of numerous communication efforts of the Association. It is our major vehicle for the dissemination of Association-related material and socioeconomic news. Including information on CPT coding, legislation, managed care markets, and outcomes studies. It is your forum for comment to the membership about such issues, and I would strongly encourage you to bring your resources to the membership through this vehicle.
Our major scientific publication is the Journal of Neurosurgery. Combined with its online edition, Neurosurgical Focus, the Journal provides sophisticated peer reviewed neuroscience pertinent to our present practice, as well as the potential growth of neurosurgery.
Research and Education
Medicine is facing an extraordinary challenge from both the private health insurance industry, as well as governmental sources. Your Association is actively involved at all levels to ensure that neurosurgery is fully represented in such negotiations. Our ongoing focus on growth and development of the discipline is essential if we are to ensure the position of neurosurgery in the hierarchy of medical practice.
This growth can only come from continued investment in R&D by the Association and all of the agencies and organizations that it represents and supports. The Research Foundation of the AANS actively supports neurosurgical research efforts at every level, and its recent decision to combine translational research efforts (including clinical research) with the strong basic science program presently in place bodes well for the development of new fundamental precepts for neurosurgical care.
In terms of continuing medical education, the Association’s Professional Development Program offers the premier vehicle for dissemination of technical, cognitive and socioeconomic information relevant to our practices. It continues to enjoy great success in service to the membership.
Subspecialization
Although the AANS remains officially opposed to “certified subspecialization” in neurosurgery, we clearly recognize the evolution of specialized areas of interest. This understanding has led to the development of Sections that represent the “focused” interests of our membership.
The leadership of the Sections will now participate in the deliberations of the AANS Board in order to enhance communication and understanding between the Sections and the AANS.
Young Neurosurgeons
Since Active membership in the AANS requires certification by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada) or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, A.C., there may be a perception among young neurosurgeons that they are not included in the programmatic efforts of the AANS.
Broader Representation
During the past year, the AANS leadership has made a deliberate effort to reach out to our constituency. We recognize that this is a two way street – the leadership must have input from our members to develop the programs best designed to meet their needs.
In the past, we have broadened participation on the Board of Directors by developing the quadrant representative positions, thereby assuring input to the Board from each State Neurosurgical Society. With the addition of Board participation by Section leadership and the Young Neurosurgeons Committee, your organization embraces every aspect and need of the entire community of neurosurgeons.
I look forward to working with and for you in the coming year in the firm conviction that our united efforts will assure that the stature of neurosurgery in the medical community is sustained. Martin H. Weiss, MD, is President of the AANS and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.