San Francisco – Welcoming the World of Neurosurgery

Plans are coming to fruition for the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, to be held April 8-13, 2000 in San Franciso, California. Steven L. Giannotta, MD, AANS Annual Meeting Chair, said, “President Martin Weiss, MD, and the Planning Committee have organized a unique educational program, while the Local Arrangement Chairs, Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Pitts and Dr. and Mrs. Mitchel Berger, have planned a wonderful selection of tours and evening events that showcase all that San Franciso has to offer.” “The meeting promises to be first-rate,” Martin H. Weiss, MD, AANS President, added. “The Scientific Sessions and exhibits will showcase the most advanced technical innovations in the field, and position the AANS Annual Meeting as the preeminent educational gathering for neurosurgery.”

Program Highlights

• Special Symposium Sunday, April 9, 8 a.m. Paul C. McCormick, MD, will lead a full-day symposium titled, “The 21st Century Neurosurgical Organization: Strategic Management of Neurosurgical Practice in a Competitive Market Environment.” A panel of consultants, CEOs and neurosurgical practice managers will examine the challenges and opportunities for neurosurgical practice within an increasingly competitive health care environment.

• Opening Reception Sunday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. The AANS will welcome members to the 68th Annual Meeting with a spectacular Opening Reception in the Yerba Buena Ballroom of the San Francisco Marriott. The gala event will be the perfect place for you to visit with colleagues, while admiring life-size recreations of sculptures and paintings by reknown artists, such as Monet and Picasso. Shuttle busses will be provided from select AANS hotels, and hors d’ouvres and beverages will be served.

• Special Lecture I Monday, April 10, 11:40 a.m. W. French Anderson, MD, will deliver an interesting presentation titled, “Human Gene Therapy.” Dr. Anderson is an international expert in the field of molecular genetics and led the team of researchers that performed the first approved human gene therapy trial in 1990.

• Presidential Address Monday, April 10, 12:20 p.m. Martin H. Weiss, MD, will discuss the evolution of North American neurosurgical societies and the legacy organizations, such as the AANS, must create.

• Special Lecture II: Schneider Lecture Tuesday, April 11, 11:25 a.m. AANS members are invited to attend a special presentation by John A. Jane, Sr., MD, PhD, Chair and David D. Weaver Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville) and Editor of the Journal of Neurosurgeryand the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. Dr. Jane will discuss “The Orbit and Paranasal Sinuses-the Role of the Neurosurgeon.”

• Cushing Oration Tuesday, April 11, 12:10 p.m. Acclaimed historian, Pulitzer Prize winning author and former Harvard professor, Doris Kearns Goodwin, will deliver this year’s Cushing Oration, which will focus on “Leadership in the New Millennium.”

• Special Lecture III Wednesday, April 12, 11:15 a.m. John E. Wennberg, MD, Director of the Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School and co-founder of the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making, will discuss neurosurgical outcomes. -Special Symposium Wednesday, April 12, 11:45 a.m. Victor Fuchs, PhD, Henry J. Kaiser, Jr., Professor Emeritus in the Department of Economics and Health Research and Policy at Stanford University, will conduct a special socioeconomic symposium titled, “The Future of Medicare.”

• Young Neurosurgeons Session Wednesday, April 12, 1 p.m. Volker K.H. Sonntag, MD, Vice Chair and Director of the Residency Program for the Division of Neurological Surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute, will discuss, “Subspecialization: Private Versus Academic Practice.” In his talk, Dr. Sonntag will examine the pros and cons of private versus academic practice and discuss the topic of neurosurgical subspecialization.

• A Taste of California Wines Reception Wednesday, April 12, 6:30 p.m. In lieu of this year’s Annual Reception and Banquet, the AANS will host a one-of-a-kind gourmet wine-tasting event. The wine-tasting will be conveniently located in the Yerba Buena Ballroom of the San Francisco Marriott, where vinyard representatives will be on hand to present a selection of wines and answer your questions.

• Special Course I: Video Surgical Tutorial Thursday, April 13, 9:45 a.m. Expert faculty will discuss surgical techniques for a variety of intracranial approaches in video format. Presentations will emphasize microsurgical anatomy and operative technique.

• Special Course II: Surgical Management of Movement Disorders Thursday, April 13, 9:45 a.m. This course focuses on current concepts and management strategies for the treatment of movement disorders. Stereotactic methods and techniques of anatomical and physiological targeting will be discussed, including brain stimulation.

• Special Course III: Sports Neurotrauma-A Special Symposium Thursday, April 13, 9:45 a.m. This course is designed to clarify the assessment and management of sports-related head and spinal cord injuries, including return-to-play guidelines. In addition, the course will highlight the long-term assessment of sports-related concussions and the differences that may exist in applying guidelines to high school, collegiate and professional athletes.

Honors and Awards
In addition to the Scientific Program, the following AANS members will be recognized with honors:

• George Ablin, MD, will be honored posthumously with the 2000 Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Ablin is being recognized for his service to the AANS, the neurosurgical community and his patients.

• Merwyn Bagan, MD, MPH, will receive the 2000 Humanitarian Award in recognition of his extensive volunteer work in Nepal, where he provided neurosurgical care to patients and training to physicians. Dr. Bagan, the 1992-93 AANS President, has been instrumental in obtaining more than $1 million in medical equipment for the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Nepal.

• P. Charles Garell, MD, will receive the 2000 Van Wagenen Fellowship. He will use the Fellowship to study under Alim-Louis Benabid, MD, PhD, at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Grenoble, France.

• John A. Jane, Sr., MD, PhD, will receive the Decade of the Brain Medal in recognition of his pioneering work in the area of brain injury research.

• Dr. Jane is Chair and David D. Weaver Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville) and Editor of the Journal of Neurosurgeryand the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.

• Russel H. Patterson, Jr., MD, FACS, will receive the 2000 Cushing Medal for his many years of dedication and service to the field of neurosurgery. He is Chair of the AANS Adjunct Subcommittee on International Associate Membership and was the 1985-86 AANS President.

• Robert H. Wilkins, MD, will be presented with the 2000 Distinguished Service Award for his many years of dedicated service to the AANS and the field of neurosurgery.