Advocacy focusing on socioeconomic issues that impact neurosurgeons in their day-to-day practices is one of the main working goals of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS). The CSNS holds that it is equally important to educate neurosurgeons about these issues and to teach them how to advocate on behalf of neurosurgery in their own communities and beyond.
Education Committee Tackles PLI Crisis at Annual Meetings
To coordinate its crucial educational efforts, the CSNS established the Communications and Education Committee. Under the skillful and solid leadership of William Bingaman, MD, several successful programs have been established and are ongoing.
A superb half-day program on the professional liability insurance (PLI) crisis was held on Thursday during the September meeting in Philadelphia. The results of the CSNS PLI survey were presented in detail. A variety of perspectives, including those of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the American Tort Reform Association, were clearly presented in a lively format. Attendees rated the informative session highly, and a similar session is planned for the October meeting in Denver.
Unfortunately, the PLI crisis continues to plague neurosurgeons across the United States. In recognition of this fact, the CSNS will host a special course titled “The 2003 Malpractice Crisis: Current Perspectives” on Thursday, May 1, during the AANS Annual Meeting in San Diego. Under the leadership of Stanley Fronczak, MD, JD, chairman of the CSNS Medicolegal Committee, the course will provide an update on the status and scope of the problem, along with perspectives from the insurance industry and defense attorneys. The very important topic of how to protect oneself financially will be detailed. With a question and answer discussion, this promises to be a very informative and timely course.
Workforce Committee Addresses PLI Fallout, More
The Workforce Committee will play a vital role in addressing workforce issues in this country. Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, and Debra Benzil, MD, have been appointed to co-chair this committee. With the current PLI crisis pressuring neurosurgeons to retire early, relocate or change their practice patterns, workforce issues have never been so important to our specialty. The committee is charged with surveying and presenting to us the scope and the depth of these problems.
Opportunities Abound for Young Neurosurgeons
The CSNS Young Neurosurgeons Committee provides a forum where residents and neurosurgeons early in their practices can become actively involved through the resolution process. Recently appointed co-chairs Richard D. Fessler, MD, and Cheryl Muzynski, MD, will be involved in several critical projects that affect both residents in training and recently graduated neurosurgeons.
Effective leadership is extremely important for the future of our specialty. Therefore, the CSNS has made every attempt to nurture and prepare young neurosurgeons to become effective and knowledgeable leaders. To further this goal, a separate resident delegate category has been created, allowing neurosurgeons in training to become knowledgeable of complex socioeconomic topics and to participate fully in CSNS proceedings.
Grants Aid Attendance, Add to Knowledge Base
The resident delegates’ attendance at the CSNS spring and fall meetings is supported through unrestricted educational grants from industry that fully fund their travel and lodging. Residents who are interested in participating in this extremely successful and popular program should ask their program directors to submit a letter of nomination along with a brief biographical sketch to their respective regional quadrant chairmen. These are: Northeast: Stephen T. Onesti, MD; Northwest: Fernando G. Diaz, MD; Southeast: R. Patrick Jacob, MD; and Southwest: Philip J. A. Willman, MD.
Another important program of interest to young neurosurgeons and hosted by the CSNS is an afternoon session at the Scientific Program at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons meeting in October. Abstracts dealing with socioeconomic issues will be presented, with prizes presented to the best papers in two categories. A young neurosurgeon and a neurosurgery resident each will be presented with an award certificate and a $1,000 check. Submission of abstracts for this session is strongly encouraged.
David F. Jimenez,MD, FACS, is chair of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies. He can be contacted at [email protected]. edu with questions regarding the CSNS.