As the old year gives way to the new, a moment’s reflection on the American Association of Neurological Surgeons — how it has served its members since inception as the Harvey Cushing Society in 1931 and how it continues to meet our changing needs today — certainly is worthwhile.
The touchstone of our progress is our stated mission: to advance the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of care to the public.
Education Is at the Core
Education is at the core of the AANS mission. As the needs of our members and our specialty grow increasingly complex in today’s healthcare environment, the AANS is dedicated to responding appropriately. A significant restructuring of our education component is what is called for currently.
Why? The body of neurosurgical knowledge was amassed primarily in the 20th century. Assisted by advances in technology, this body of knowledge continues to evolve at a furious pace. At the same time, neurosurgery continues to work for advancements that will lead to better outcomes for our patients. While our profession always has held neurosurgeons to the highest standards of excellence, of which continuing education has played a significant part, recently the public has called for a concrete demonstration of our ongoing commitment to quality care. In response, as Volker K.H. Sonntag, MD, and Robert A. Ratcheson, MD, explain in this issue’s cover section, the American Board of Neurological Surgery is developing a comprehensive protocol — the Maintenance of Certification Program — that provides a framework for lifelong learning.
Realizing that our members would benefit from a complementary interplay between the ABNS requirements and the AANS educational structure, we resolved to redouble our educational efforts and commit to appropriate restructuring. To this effect, Dr. Ratcheson, AANS secretary, was commissioned to chair the blue ribbon Educational Policy Task Force. Dr. Ratcheson’s career-long commitment to education made him the right person for this important job. As the educational requirements for neurosurgeons continue to evolve, I hope it is clear to all that AANS is absolutely committed to making the necessary opportunities for neurosurgical education easily accessible to our members.
An educational opportunity that neurosurgeons and related professionals should not miss is the 71st AANS Annual Meeting, “Cultural Connections: Bringing Global Perspective to Neurosurgery,” beginning April 26. For the past several months, a team led by Ralph G. Dacey, MD, and William T. Couldwell, MD, has been working to create an exemplary event. In addition to the important educational opportunities that fulfill numerous continuing education requirements, participants will find invaluable opportunities to meet face-to-face with colleagues from across our country and around the world.
One aspect of this premier annual event to which I look forward with particular pleasure is the Japanese-American Neurosurgical Friendship Symposium. Planned in the United States by Christopher M. Loftus, MD, and in Japan by Shigeaki Kobayashi, MD, and Kiyonobu Ikezaki, MD, this event follows last year’s inaugural intercultural program, the Francophone Symposium. By building relationships with our international colleagues, we lay a foundation that will allow the bar to be raised for neurosurgery in the United States and around the world. To this end, I heartily encourage your participation in this event on Friday, April 25, and in the 2003 AANS Annual Meeting.
New Year: Education and More
In addition to continuing to serve as the premier forum for presentation of the most important scientific and clinical advances in neurosurgery, the 71st Annual Meeting will feature a diversity of invited presentations by renowned national and international scientists and neurosurgeons. Topics that affect our livelihoods and our patients’ access to care will also be addressed. Among these, Medicare no doubt will be one. Because the rules are confusing for many, the AANS believes it is critical that neurosurgeons have all the necessary information at their disposal to make individual practice decisions. This includes information about the various options for participating in the Medicare program, as described in the Washington Update column within this issue. I want to make clear, however, that the AANS does not endorse, encourage or support one particular option over another. It is up to each individual neurosurgeon to make his or her own decisions about which option best meets the needs of their practices and their patients.
Medicare reimbursement, the professional liability crisis, and issues affecting neurosurgical research are among the topics that the AANS continues to monitor and act upon as deemed appropriate, frequently working jointly with the CNS through our Washington Committee. Our success in making progress toward resolution of these concerns turns in large part upon your participation in organized neurosurgery. I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon how well the AANS is serving you, and to let us know how we can serve you and our profession better in the new year and into the future.
Roberto C. Heros, MD, is the 2002-2003 AANS president. He is professor, co-chairman and program director of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Miami. Read more about Dr. Heros in E Plurbus Unum in this issue.
Manda J. Seaver is staff editor of the Bulletin.