Oh Canada! The AANS 69th Annual Meeting April 21-26 in Toronto will offer highly useful practical clinics, inspiring special lectures and courses, 128 oral abstracts selected from a record-breaking number of submissions and, as always, the chance to catch up and network with colleagues and friends.
That’s not all. Two more attractions are NBC’s Tom Brokaw, the Cushing Orator, and Toronto itself, an acclaimed cosmopolitan city of diverse charms.
“The meeting promises to be absolutely superb,” says Paul C. McCormick, MD, Annual Meeting Chair. “We are presenting a first-rate scientific program, an impressive array of technical exhibits and a number of social events that highlight the best of Toronto.”
This may be the 69th annual meeting, but neurosurgeons, typically ahead of the curve, will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the AANS. The association was founded on Oct. 10, 1931, as the Harvey Cushing Society by pioneers in neurosurgery. The present-day AANS continues to be pioneering, advancing the specialty of neurosurgery through innovative programs. The theme of the 69th Annual Meeting is “Leading Neurosurgery Through Science, Education and Innovation.”
The clinics and seminars will enable neurosurgeons to gather new knowledge and solidify areas of expertise.
“The scientific program offers a comprehensive and innovative variety of topics that address the contemporary issues in neurosurgery,” says William A. Friedman, MD, Scientific Program Chairman. “The most advanced techniques and procedures from all areas of subspecialties will be featured in the scientific sessions and exhibits.”
The three dozen practical clinics are in-depth, hands-on sessions taught by neurosurgical leaders. The five new clinics are “How to Evaluate a Job for Residents,” “Skull Base Tumors,” “Transoral Approaches to the Spine,” “Coding the Basics” and “Evidence-Based Medicine.”
The Breakfast Seminars offer plenty of food for thought as well as food for the body. The 71 seminars run the neurosurgical gamut.
Three special lectures will be given. Albert L. Rhoton Jr., MD, of the University of Florida will be the Schneider Lecturer on Monday, April 23. Canadian neurosurgeon Alan R. Hudson, MD, will be the Special Lecturer on Tuesday, April 24. Dennis Choi, MD, will be the Hunt Wilson Lecturer on Wednesday, April 25. Tom Brokaw, the anchor of NBC Nightly News since 1982 and author of the bestseller The Greatest Generation, will give the Cushing Oration on April 24.
A record-breaking 1,116 abstracts were submitted for presentation. The Scientific Program Committee selected 128 to be presented at plenary, scientific and section sessions. Another 560 were selected for poster presentations.
The meeting concludes with three special courses on Thursday, April 26. Peter McL. Black, MD, PhD, of the Children’s Hospital in Boston will moderate “Advances in Neurosurgical Imaging.” L.N. Hopkins, MD, of Buffalo, N.Y., will moderate “Endovascular Surgery versus Microsurgery.” Curtis A. Dickman, MD, of Phoenix, Ariz., will moderate “Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.” New this year is an incentive program for handing in the Annual Meeting evaluation forms (See sidebar). Prizes include a five-night hotel stay at the 2002 Annual Meeting, complimentary registrations for the 2002 Annual Meeting, a pair of round-trip airline tickets to the 2002 Annual Meeting, AANS gift certificates for AANS products, one-year dues renewal and free admission to the wine and cheese reception.
Registration Details
The registration and housing reservation deadline for the Annual Meeting is March 16. Advance registration materials are being mailed in January. For information, call (888) 566-AANS or visit www.neurosurgery.org/aans/meetings/2001/index.html.
Snowed Over by Toronto
For those who think Canada is all about hockey and snow, Toronto by itself diminishes the stereotype. Peter Ustinov described it as “New York run by the Swiss.” The world-class city offers a startling mix of cultural and culinary attractions. Canada’s largest city (3.2 million people in the metro area) is the nation’s center of culture, commerce and communications.
- After New York and London, Toronto is the third most important theater city in the English-speaking world.
- The rich restaurant scene reflects the cosmopolitan character of the city. Besides its Little Italy, Little India and half a dozen Chinatowns, the city is proud of its many Southeast Asia establishments.
- The Harbourfront features cafes, a bustling antiques market and some of the finest shopping in North America.
- The CN Tower is the city’s unmistakable urban icon, a fluted concrete column that soars over the nearby SkyDome 1,815 feet into the air.
- The Royal Ontario Museum is the nation’s largest museum with six million objects displayed in more than 40 galleries.
- The city is known as “Hollywood North” by virtue of the many major films made here in recent years.
- The average daily high in April in Toronto is 53 degrees and the low is 38, so leave those parkas at home.