The core mission of the AANS is to provide the highest level of educational opportunity for its membership. The educational experience may range from insight into the molecular basis of a neurological disease to mastering the complex business aspects of neurosurgical practice. The educational needs must be addressed for all categories of membership, and for neurosurgeons the educational offerings must meet the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and of the American Board of Neurological Surgery for its Maintenance of Certification program.
The process by which AANS educational products are developed and delivered to our members is of great importance. Yet the average member will attend the AANS Annual Meeting without any concept of the year-long organizational effort that must take place to have a successful meeting. Similarly, many readers enjoy the outstanding quality of the AANS Journal of Neurosurgery with little thought of the enormous amount of time devoted by the volunteer editorial board members and the devoted professionals in the JNS editorial office.
An understanding of the process required to produce successful medical educational products is sure to spark increased appreciation for them as well as for the volunteer AANS members and professional staff that develop and produce them. The proposal for a new educational product may originate from an individual AANS member or committee. The capital required to support the process is derived from the finances of the organization and the collective value of the time contributed by physician volunteers. Production of the new medical educational offering at the hands of AANS professional staff follows a business plan with oversight from our organization’s leadership. The measure of the educational product’s success will not be determined primarily by its profit margin, but instead will be gauged by the level of satisfaction of our valued members for the high standard of quality that the product embodies.
Because of the strong AANS infrastructure for education, our organization is able to provide educational experiences all year long. A selection of our educational products includes the AANS Annual Meeting, the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Focus, AANS Neurosurgeon, preparation courses for ABNS Oral Board Examination and MOC, socioeconomic courses, neurosurgical resident hands-on educational courses, and joint sponsorship of many neurosurgical meetings for continuing medical education credit.
In fiscal 2008 the AANS will directly sponsor no less than 22 educational meetings and courses with a budget of $4.5 million and expected net revenue of $2.2 million. In addition, the AANS will produce online CME courses, including the learning modules and CME for Neurosurgical Focus, and will jointly sponsor a multitude of meetings and courses.
Several of our educational offerings require the financial support of industry. To address concerns regarding conflict of interest, the AANS Guidelines for Corporate Relations were developed in 2004. These guidelines specify complete control by the AANS of all aspects of an educational product when industry sponsorship is involved.
An example of what is involved in the production of a successful AANS educational program is the recently developed group of hands-on educational courses for neurosurgical residents. With the financial support of corporations through the AANS Pinnacle Partner Program, AANS resident members are able to experience outstanding educational experiences with all expenses paid. Before the first three courses were held in 2006, the AANS Development Committee in a three-year process built the appropriate relationship between the AANS and industry sponsors. The process included establishing the AANS Guidelines for Corporate Relations, holding numerous meetings to identify potential industry sponsors, planning and developing the educational courses, determining course budgets, and informing AANS resident members of the educational opportunity. Including the five resident courses completed in 2007, over the past two years approximately 250 neurosurgical residents have participated in these educational activities, and the cost of nearly $750,000 was paid entirely through industry sponsorship.
The quality, variety, and timely production of AANS educational programs reflect a dynamic organizational effort to address the ever-changing needs of today’s members to their satisfaction. This is a business that cannot fail.
Jon H. Robertson, MD is the 2007-2008 AANS president. He is a practicing member of the Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute in Memphis, Tenn.