The committees of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons are the volunteer backbone of the association. Many of the AANS committees, their chairpersons, members, and links to each person’s contact information are available at https://www.neurosurgery.org/ aans/about/committees.asp.
International Outreach Committee.
The AANS is expanding its international efforts. In late 2001, an International Advisory Task Force was created, headed by Benjamin T. White, MD, of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. At its July 19 meeting, the Executive Committee officially designated the Task Force as the International Outreach Committee. The committee will be chaired by Dr. White, and includes: Christopher Loftus, MD, Diana Kraemer, MD, Daniel Kelly, MD, Russell Andrews, MD, Gail Rosseau, MD, Paul Francel, MD, and AANS President Roberto Heros, MD, as an ex-officio member.
One of the IOC projects is to compile a list of programs that are willing to accept international visiting surgeons. The University of Oklahoma, for example, has international visitors on a regular basis. Visiting surgeons stay for periods ranging from one to three months and are self-funded. Because of licensing, credentialing and insurance reasons, the visits are limited to observational experiences.
The IOC is now compiling a list of institutions, hospitals and practices that are willing to accept international visitors. The host institution would solely determine the structure, length and content of the visiting surgeons’ experience. The information compiled will be featured on the AANS Web site. If you have questions, or would like to include your organization in the directory of programs that accept international visiting surgeons, contact: Benjamin T. White, MD, Department of Neurosurgery The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; [email protected], (405) 271-4912.
The committee also will be sponsoring a competition for the Best International Abstract submitted by a Resident or Fellow, for the 2003 AANS Annual Meeting. The IOC received AANS funding to support a $2,000 travel scholarship, which will be used to offset some of the winner’s travel costs to attend the San Diego Meeting.
Ethics and Human Values Committee.
Recent headlines have spotlighted unethical and unprofessional behavior in the business and medical communities. Fraudulent accounting, obstruction of investigations, and issues surrounding informed consent have brought attention to the need for ethical behavior standards.
The AANS Ethics and Human Values Committee is an advisory committee that may make recommendations to the AANS Board of Directors. The committee can be asked to review specific cases, or discuss general issues such as informed consents, research conduct, the ethical use of new and investigational technologies, the relationships between neurosurgeons and commercial sponsors, and the necessity of full disclosure of financial ties. The committee requests that members who have concerns submit their questions and issues to the committee’s chair, Ann Marie Flannery, MD, Medical College of Georgia, 1120 15th St.; Augusta, Ga., 30912-4010; aflanner@ mail.mcg.edu.
Susan M. Eget is the AANS associate executive director.