Over the past seven months, I have emphasized our Board’s efforts to embrace the diverse interests of our membership, and have highlighted the importance of our Research Foundation as we broach the new millennium. At this point, I wish to address the importance of broadening neurosurgery’s representation by focusing on the evolving relationship between the AANS Board and the leadership of the AANS/CNS Sections. This relationship serves as evidence of our organization’s commitment to developing the focused interests of our membership.
Broader Representation for Subspecialty Sections To support these interests, the AANS initially sponsored various subspecialty Sections that have subsequently been embraced by the AANS and CNS leaderships. We also have worked with the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) and the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for Neurosurgery to ensure that neurosurgical residency, accreditation and certification reflects the developments emphasized by the Sections. The position of the AANS with respect to these areas of focused interest is parallel to the ABNS, in that we recognize and support the growth of Section interests, but are opposed to subspecialty certification. We believe that it is important to support the efforts of our Sections and advance their particular areas of interest through a continued investment in research and education. By doing so, all of us, including our patients, will benefit from such efforts. Expanding the Playing Field We believe that this two-way information transfer between the AANS Board and the Section leadership will enhance the understanding of both groups and enable the incorporation of multiple principles across the full spectrum of neurosurgery. Therefore, it is imperative that we work together to expand the broad playing field that constitutes neurosurgery. With this in mind, I encourage each of you to consider participating in the activities of those Sections that impact upon your practices and complement your knowledge base. The AANS offers two mechanisms by which such participation can occur.
Your Board feels that it is in the best interest of the discipline to engage those groups that have developed representation for the specific foci that constitute the breadth of organized neurosurgery. We realize that focused interests have emerged both within practice groups, as well as residency training programs, and it is important that these focused interests be supported and integrated into the global practice of neurosurgery.
To provide a voice for areas of special interest within the realm of neurosurgery, the AANS Board of Directors recently approved a new policy that established ad hoc positions on the Board of Directors for nominated Section leaders. Each ad hoc position, which we anticipate will span three years, allows appointees to participate in the deliberations of the AANS Board in order to enhance communication between the Sections and the AANS. To date, the deliberations have been enlightening for the Sections and AANS Board alike, and we look forward to the continued interaction during our mid-year meeting in November.