In 2023, The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) established the Global Committee appointing its inaugural chair, Isabelle M. Germano, MD, MBA, committee members and advisory board members. The AANS Global Committee is dedicated to improving neurosurgical care worldwide by fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange and advocacy among neurosurgeons and related organizations. Its mission emphasizes building a culture to foster timely access to safe and affordable neurosurgical care for all individuals, regardless of location or economic status, addressing significant health care disparities that affect patient outcomes globally.
The committee’s primary goal is to encourage standardization of neurosurgical practices and improve access to quality care on a global scale. This is particularly critical in a health care landscape where disparities exist, often leading to dire consequences for patients in underserved areas. The AANS Global Committee aims to promote collaboration among neurosurgeons worldwide, enabling the sharing of innovative techniques and the development of educational resources that transcend national borders.
The committee operates under a clearly defined framework aligned with the AANS Global Strategy, which is part of the broader AANS Enterprise Strategic Plan. This alignment ensures that the committee’s initiatives not only enhance global neurosurgery, but also support the overall objectives of the AANS. The committee regularly assesses its progress through success metrics, allowing it to evaluate the impact of its strategies on global neurosurgical practices. This data-driven approach provides insights to the AANS Board of Directors, ensuring informed decision-making.
One of the committee’s key responsibilities is to monitor the implementation of the Global Strategy continuously. This ongoing evaluation process helps identify both successes and challenges, enabling the committee to adjust its strategies based on real-world feedback and outcomes. By maintaining a dynamic assessment framework, the AANS Global Committee remains responsive to the evolving needs of the neurosurgical community, ensuring that it stays at the forefront of advancements in the field.
The committee prioritizes transparency and accountability, providing regular updates to the AANS Board of Directors about its progress, challenges and the overall impact of the Global Strategy. This open communication fosters trust and collaboration, facilitating informed decisions that align with the organization’s mission.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of the AANS Global Committee’s work. The committee actively engages with leadership and governing bodies in the neurosurgical community to align priorities and leverage existing resources. By fostering this synergy, the committee enhances the effectiveness of the Global Strategy and addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by neurosurgeons worldwide, including resource limitations and varying health care infrastructures.
Advocacy is another critical aspect of the committee’s efforts. By serving as a catalyst for dialogue, the AANS Global Committee aims to unify the global neurosurgical community around shared goals, promoting best practices and enhancing educational opportunities. It also advocates for policies that support neurosurgical health initiatives, thereby increasing recognition of the value of neurosurgical care among governments, NGOs and other stakeholders.
The committee has outlined specific strategic goals to guide its initiatives:
Knowledge Exchange: Serve as a forum for exchanging knowledge among neurosurgeons globally, lowering barriers to access education and building capacity for new knowledge generation.
Advocacy: Further common interests among neurosurgeons and other organizations worldwide. This includes increasing recognition of neurosurgical care’s value, enhancing knowledge exchange to address public health issues and understanding local advocacy needs.
Sustainability: Ensure the sustainability and continuity of global offerings by institutionalizing the global strategy within the AANS Enterprise and identifying sustainable financing options for international member participation.
On behalf of the committee, you are invited to attend the Global Forum at the 2025 AANS Annual Meeting in Boston on Friday April 25, 2025, from 3-4:30 pm at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). To join us, please visit the website to register and add this ticketed event to your registration.
In summary, the AANS Global Committee exemplifies a proactive and collaborative approach to enhancing neurosurgical care globally. As it navigates the complexities of global health care, the committee is poised to contribute significantly to a more equitable and effective neurosurgical landscape, ultimately benefiting both patients and practitioners. Its vision remains steadfast: to work toward the goal of providing every individual access to safe and affordable neurosurgical care, thereby enhancing health outcomes on a global scale. This work is possible thanks to the efforts of its committee members and the neurosurgeons around the globe who believe in this vision.
Isabelle M. Germano, MD, MBA, FAANS, is a tenured professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology Oncological Sciences and Global health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She serves as director of the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and Chair of the AANS Global Neurosurgery Committee (2023-2027) and immediate past-chair of the AANS/CNS Section on Tumor Chair (2022-2024).
