2020: The Year that Changed Everything
The recent and unprecedented societal prohibition on mass gatherings precipitated by the COVID-19 crisis has profoundly impacted all forms of professional activity. Traditional forums such as national meetings have proved essential to the maintenance of united and vigorous cultural fabrics. The effects of this condition have had a particularly acute impact on medical practice, where regular assemblies have facilitated our collective advance of medical practice, science and ethos.
Now more than ever, it is essential we preserve the ability of individuals committed to common and beneficial aims to effectively gather for the purpose of sharing ideas and experience. As such, early this year, I presented to the AANS leadership a proposal to allow the entire community of U.S. neurosurgeons, along with essential outside stakeholders, to participate in a novel, recurring, collaborative, information-sharing forum to discuss and synthesize widespread experience with the objectives of charting new and more vital paths forward as a community of learners.
This line of thinking and these sensibilities ultimately gave rise to a new program we have termed AANS Envision. The AANS Board of Directors has formally approved and embraced this program, and with their support, I’m happy to share that the first installment of AANS Envision is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30, 8-9:30 ET.
In reviewing the proposal, it was roundly acknowledged that as we begin to emerge from perhaps the greatest public health crisis in 100 years, it is essential we collectively pause to take stock of how this experience has influenced all of our lives in general and, more specifically, the practice of medicine. Therefore, we have proposed that our initial collective dialogue will relate to the lessons learned from 2020, with a discussion regarding the challenges and/or opportunities created by this extraordinary era, along with a sharing of perspectives about the current and future state of our specialty. It’s our sincere hope that an initial conversation focused on this epochal period and its wide-ranging effects might serve as a foundational event around which we will develop an even more ambitious program devoted to issues that have broad import to medical economics, ethics, science and practice.
Based loosely on the townhall format, AANS Envision presents “2020: The Year that Changed Everything,” which will include presentations by luminaries from various walks of life, each addressing an aspect of the changes initiated in and by 2020. The topics covered in the first session explore the following areas deeply affected by COVID: the worldwide health crisis; political, social and racial disharmony; and economic instability and the emergence of new business and economic paradigms.
Presenters for “2020: The Year that Changed Everything,” are highly regarded national leaders in their respective fields and include:
- William McDade, MD, PhD, chief diversity and inclusion officer, ACGME, will address medical education, focusing on diversity and inclusion.
- Aaron Chatterji, PhD, associate professor at Duke Fuqua School of Business, will present on the changes we will see in business models, post-COVID and the likely influence on the practice of medicine.
- Helen “Keipp” Talbot, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, will discuss how medicine will emerge post COVID.
- Frederick G. Barker II, MD, FAANS, professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and associate visiting surgeon in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, will serve as moderator.
After the scheduled presentations, the speakers will convene as a panel to discuss questions and topics proposed by attendees. They will be joined by John Wilson, MD, FAANS; Carl B. Heilman, MD, FAANS; Russell Lonser MD, FAANS; and Nathan Selden, MD, PhD, FAANS. The full panel will address topics specific to the future of neurosurgery: the future of large meetings, the future of the Oral Boards, neurosurgical research in the post COVID world and speculation as to the new normal for Neurosurgical Match and rotations. Given the collegiality, spirit and independence of thought among this group, I anticipate a very lively and rewarding discussion.
The Q&A will be directed by attendees, who can contribute topics and questions throughout the session. Moderators will scan for trends and present inquiries to the panel to garner their thoughts and expertise. As all are invited – neurosurgeons from all regions, practice settings and stages of training – I believe all voices will be heard and amplified by this forum.
In closing, I’d like to respectfully make the following requests of my colleagues: First, I’d like to personally appeal to you to join us in this dialogue. Specifically, we would all benefit from your willingness to take time from your incredibly busy schedule to listen in and ask questions. Second, I ask that you share information about this session with your friends, co-workers and peers. Invite them to join you and all of neurosurgery on March 30. The more voices we can gather at this table, the more productive the evening will be, so please: Go register. Share that you plan to attend on social media and ask others in your circle to join you. Get the word out so that this session can be representative of all of neurosurgery.
I look forward to welcoming you to the first AANS Envision session on March 30.
