Working in organized medicine is not every neurosurgeon’s cup of tea, but it can add a very rewarding dimension to one’s professional life.
Why an individual should devote precious time to involvement in professional organizations is a legitimate question.
First of all, it is an excellent way to better understand the many issues that affect the practice of medicine, surgery, and neurosurgery in our country today. It allows one to broaden the scope of his or her viewpoint and to see a variety of issues in a more global light.
It also is a superb way to become acquainted with people who are at a similar stage of professional development and with whom ideas and goals can be exchanged. It provides an opportunity to travel to other medical centers and to observe others involved in educational activities and neurosurgical practices. This interchange provides exposure to wonderful educational opportunities in anatomy, surgery, and in the socioeconomic aspects and financial management aspects of practice and of life.
Involvement in professional societies allows the individual neurosurgeon to develop executive and administrative skills by gaining experience in organizing time and effort in an effective and productive fashion. Such involvement generally allows enhancement of one’s abilities to handle a variety of issues, both interesting and mundane, that affect every part of professional life.
Lastly, organizational activities allow one potentially to become part of the solution rather than to simply gripe about various problems.
First Steps
How does one become involved in professional organizations?
For medical students, interns, residents, and young surgeons there are a variety of opportunities to join important professional organizations, most of which offer very low rates and attractive incentives.
These organizations include the American Medical Association, which can be key to involvement in many local activities including neurosurgery, and the American College of Surgeons, which has an active group of neurosurgical members who are deeply involved in the issues facing all of surgery today.
The neurosurgical organizations primarily are the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, both of which offer numerous opportunities for young neurosurgeons to serve on a variety of committees. Each of the neurosurgical organizations and each of the larger organizations has a young surgeons committee or a candidate and resident group.
The AANS and the CNS also have sections devoted to subspecialty neurosurgery that encourage participation from residents and younger neurosurgeons. The organizations each offer opportunities for individuals to volunteer for committee work, which usually begins with relatively unsophisticated tasks such as marshaling. This initial involvement can lead to expanded opportunities within the organization, and several of these organizations have professional development committees that are designed to assist young neurosurgeons in participating.
To maximize the potential for involvement, it is important to read the various communications vehicles of the different organizations. The various publications — e-mail messages, newsletters, and the journals — allow an individual neurosurgeon to get a feel for the leadership and for the issues with which the profession is concerned.
Being part of an annual meeting’s scientific program is a wonderful way to join in the most important basic function of these organizations, which is education; I encourage young neurosurgeons to submit a poster or presentation at every possible opportunity. Participating in the scientific program also allows one to announce his or her special skills and special interests. Those who have particular ability with computers, statistics, or various specialty areas are usually welcomed with open arms.
It also is a good idea to try to involve one’s spouse in auxiliary activities if he or she is willing. This can make participation in the meetings less of a family problem and more of a joint venture.
Try to remember that for all of these organizations the leadership is very welcoming for young surgeons, and perseverance pays off. Each of the organizations needs the input from its base, and particularly the input from young neurosurgeons, so we wish you well in your efforts to join in and participate.
Edward R. Laws Jr., MD, FACS, is professor of neurosurgery, clinical internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He also is a past president of the AANS, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the World Federation of Neurological Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons and the Pituitary Society.