Martin Harvey Weiss, MD, was elected President of The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) at the AANS Annual Meeting recently held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Active in the AANS since 1973, Dr. Weiss has served as a member of the Board of Directors (1988-1991) and as Secretary (1994- 1997) of the Association, as well as Chairman of the Editorial Board of its official scientific publication — the Journal of Neurosurgery.
Dr. Weiss is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. He also serves as Chief of Neurosurgery at the USC Medical Center, as well as attending neurosurgeon at the USC University Hospital. Dr. Weiss is the first to hold The Martin H. Weiss Chair in Neurological Surgery at USC, which was established in his honor by an endowment funded by the William Wrigley Family.
After earning his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Dartmouth College and his medical degree from the Cornell University Medical College, Dr. Weiss served his surgical internship at the University Hospitals of Cleveland. He subsequently spent two years as an associate in general surgery at the United States Military Academy at West Point (New York), following which he returned to complete his residency in neurosurgery at University Hospitals of Cleveland.
In addition to his involvement with the AANS, Dr. Weiss has served as Chairman of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, Chairman of the Residency Review Committee for Neurological Surgery and Chairman of the Neurology B Study Section of the National Institutes of Health, as well as Vice President of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, Vice President of The Society of Neurological Surgeons, Vice President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and President of the Southern California Neurosurgical Society. He also is a member in the American College of Surgeons (past Chair of the Neurosurgical Advisory Council), the American Medical Association, Western Neurosurgical Society, Neurosurgical Society of America, Research Society of Neurological Surgeons and The Neurosurgical Forum.
A prolific writer and scientific investigator, Dr. Weiss has served as Editor-In-Chief of Clinical Neurosurgery and as a founding member of the Editorial Board of Neurosurgery. He is presently Associate Editor of Neurosurgical Focus, the online version of the Journal of Neurosurgery.
Dr. Weiss and his wife of 38 years, Debora, are the parents of three children; Brad, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the College of William & Mary; Jessica, a former Montessori teacher and now President of YOGAMOMS in suburban Washington, D.C.; and Elisabeth, a cable TV producer in San Francisco. All are married; and Dr. and Mrs. Weiss delight in their two grandchildren, Ezra and Madison (and one on the way).
Following are some brief comments from Dr. Weiss as he embarks upon his year as President of the AANS. If you have questions, e-mail him at: [email protected].
What are some of the key issues facing neurosurgery in the year ahead?
We must advance the discipline of neurosurgery both intellectually and technologically to meet the needs of future medical care. As we face the development of evidence-based medicine permeating medical practice, we must make a valid contribution to the public health of our nation. We will have to do better with intrinsic tumors, learning more about the molecular biology to apply methodologies to their management and to enhance survival far beyond our present capacities. We need to enhance our involvement in evidence-based medicine in order to compete with related disciplines and justify our practices.
If you could accomplish just one thing in your Presidency, what would it be?
I hope to incorporate a better integration of technology and basic neuroscience into our practice to meet the challenges of the future.
As you begin your Presidential year, is there one message that you have for AANS members?
Although we face significant economic challenges to our stability, neurosurgery is more exciting and offers more opportunity for patient service and career satisfaction than ever before.
What have been some of the most significant changes in neurosurgery since you began your career?
In the past 30 years, we have witnessed the development of allied disciplines in neuroradiology (CT, MR and functional imaging), neuroanesthesia and neurology (cortical mapping), in addition to the evolution of neurosurgical techniques for the spine, skull base and deep brain nuclei that have revolutionized our practices.
What advice would you give to a neurosurgeon who is just starting his or her career?
Retain the dedication to your profession that propelled you to your present position, never forget the need for continuing education as our discipline evolves, and don’t forget or neglect your family.
What are some of your interests outside of medicine?
My family and fly fishing.
What do you plan to be doing 10 years from today?
Operating with the USC residents (my greatest neurosurgical legacy).