Thousands of medical students each year are faced with the weighty task of choosing the area of medicine in which they will specialize. With so many options-neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, family practice, emergency medicine and other areas-it is essential that the next generation of physicians is educated about neurosurgery, not only to capture the interest of the brightest among them, but also to provide them with useful and easily accessible information about the nervous system and its disorders.
In an effort to address both of these needs, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) created the Neurosurgical Reference Card, a pocket-sized resource that illustrates the Glasgow Coma Scale, peripheral nerve distribution, Karnofsky Scale, dermatomal sensory distribution, and more.
“Regardless of their ultimate choice of specialty, we wanted the Neurosurgical Reference Card to be an essential resource that medical students would use on a regular basis,” said Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, a member of the AANS Public Relations Committee, which spearheaded development of the card. “Medical students may not be aware of the variety of conditions treated by neurosurgeons, and may not learn more until late in their training.”
Today more than 10,000 second-year medical students from across the country are better informed about neurosurgery, having in hand a Neurosurgical Reference Card sent to them this summer compliments of the AANS. A letter from AANS President A. John Popp, MD, introduced each card and acquainted the students with the AANS and its mission to advance the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public.
Only a small number of those who received the cards are likely to become neurosurgeons. Doctors can be certified in a total of 36 general medical specialties and in an additional 88 subspecialty fields, according to the American Medical Association.
“With so many general and subspecialty choices, we would like to continue the tradition of attracting highly qualified students into neurosurgery,” said Alex Valadka, MD, chair of the AANS Public Relations Committee. “Approximately 130 residents per year are accepted into 90 or so training programs.”
For those who choose other medical specialties or even for physicians who are currently practicing, the AANS Neurosurgical Reference Card constitutes a convenient, functional resource. Neurosurgical residents, fellows, nurses, physician assistants and office staff are also likely to appreciate the card’s credible information and functional design.
Heather L. Monroe is AANS director of communications.
More information about the AANS Neurosurgical Reference Card is available at (888) 566-AANS (2267), ext. 539, or the AANS Online Marketplace at www.AANS.org. The cards are $30 for AANS members and $45 for nonmembers.