Two of the most important considerations of strategic planning for a business are human resources and research and development. Talent and technology are almost always critical determinants of the success of an enterprise. A CEO must attract, nurture, empower and retain talented individuals capable of leading the business in the future. And these individuals must develop the technology required for the company to fulfill its mission.
The leadership of the AANS has long realized the importance of both human resources and R&D. It actively seeks to identify and encourage future leaders of the specialty and it invests heavily in education. The Neurosurgery and Research Foundation, NREF, is one component of the strategic plan of the AANS that addresses both human resource and R&D needs. By providing support to neurosurgeons doing research early in their careers, the NREF attracts, nurtures, empowers and retains promising young scientists with the capacity to develop new technologies that will improve and expand the specialty.
NREF grants to Research Fellows and Young Clinician Scientists encourage pursuit of research in three ways: They diminish the financial imperative for clinical activity, they facilitate acquisition of research training, and they validate the recipient’s commitment to research. As a result, neurosurgeons with high potential for research receive opportunity, training, and encouragement.
The NREF’s superb Scientific Advisory Committee, led by Robert Grossman, MD, rigorously analyzes the attributes and achievements of potential Research Fellows and Young Clinician Scientists, just as would a human resources department of a major corporation conducting a search, to identify those individuals with the greatest promise.
This committee, composed of highly knowledgeable senior neurosurgical scientific experts, also carefully analyzes the scientific merit of each proposed research plan. It draws on vast experience in neurosurgery, science, and objective criticism to select the most promising proposals. Realizing that the future of neurosurgery is dependent upon our ability to advance our understanding of nervous system disease and to develop the technical tools for combating neurological disorders, it seeks truly innovative projects. Just as a good CEO would, the NREF Scientific Advisory Committee very carefully chooses projects to which to allocate its R&D budget.
Unfortunately, the NREF’s budget for investing in human resources and R&D is limited. Although all of the net funds raised goes to Research Fellowships and Young Clinician Investigator Awards, the NREF can sponsor only half of the candidates whose proposals the Scientific Committee considers meritorious. The importance of such investments makes it incumbent on neurosurgeons to provide more funding. It is not uncommon for rapidly growing technological companies to invest more than 50 percent of annual revenues in R&D. Although the NREF aggressively pursues support from partners in industry, it is reliant on gifts from individual neurosurgeons for the majority of its funding.
You will soon be asked, in a letter sent to you or in an addendum to your AANS dues, to voluntarily contribute to the NREF. As you decide to participate, as the CEO of your business, please consider the importance of the investments in neurosurgical human resources and R&D in your specialty that your contribution will allow. We neurosurgeons know better than anyone else how important to our patients and to the future of our profession are continued discovery and innovation. Please give wisely and generously.
Griffith R. Harsh IV, MD, FACS, MBA, NREF chair and 1986 NREF Research Fellow, is professor, program director and vice-chair of neurosurgery at Stanford University.