“What Matters” — A General Call to Action

The theme for the 2024 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago May 3-6, What Matters, reflects my personal conviction that physicians, by virtue of public respect and goodwill maintained through their dedication to the art and science of medicine, possess unparalleled potential to enhance both individual and societal health and well-being.  

Even so, physicians generally underestimate their inherent societal impact, despite historical precedents where medical professionals have led important societal transformations. We need to challenge the notion that physicians have limited influence beyond clinical settings. Our voice is powerful and demands attention.  

To leverage our potential, we must redefine our collective discourse and the most appropriate forums for our discussions.

Traditionally, our collective dialogues have focused on the scientific basis of care. However, given modern civilization’s challenges and our central place in humankind’s advancement, it is imperative that we addtionaly and regularly reflect on fundamental, universal questions about the common good and essential values and rights. The answers to these particular questions help define our inclusive responsibilities and ideal societal roles. Disengaging such discussions — particularly at this defining moment in history — is a luxury we cannot afford.

Our large annual assemblies, essential for fostering community and understanding, have yet to fully harness our global membership’s diverse experiences. Specifically, we’ve generally underutilized the tremendous potential of these programs to create new knowledge and extend impact beyond the meetings themselves. 

All of this considered, the AANS scientific program committee determined to create an unprecedented program for this year’s annual meeting which would allow the community of neurosurgery to engage with some of the greatest minds in American medicine, academics, journalism, technology and public life. Together, we intend to consider themes of utmost importance to our professional and personal lives, and to society writ large.  

The program, united in theme, invites all contributors to weave their insights into a broader, thought-provoking tapestry. Universally resonant themes such as empathy, innovation, resilience, leadership, value, trust and equity will frame our discussions, emphasizing our shared humanity and the core values uniting us — despite our differences.

To complement these dialogues, we’ve commissioned original art to inspire our participants, and visually embody our primary meeting theme in ways words cannot. Furthermore, Chicago’s diverse culture and history make it an ideal setting to contemplate “What Matters.”

We envision this meeting’s innovative format setting a precedent for future endeavors — catalyzing a profound reevaluation of our collective objectives, and extend the meeting’s influence beyond its duration. Specifically, our focused deliberations on scientific achievements alongside ethical imperatives are designed to cultivate a shared mission, driving cohesive efforts to extend beneficence, prosperity and security on a broad scale.

Our objectives for the 2024 Annual Meeting are ambitious: to forge new growth pathways for our organizations, influence evolving care areas and inspire collective progress. The planned dialogues offer a unique opportunity for visionary leaders to collaborate on creating lasting value.

In Chicago — our association’s hometown and a city embodying our shared challenges and achievements — we aim to discover our collective wisdom and delineate our role in the contemporary world. Thank you for joining this pivotal dialogue.

I eagerly await the opportunity to welcome you to Chicago, where together, we will delve into “What Matters,” aspiring not only to shape the future of neurosurgery and health care but also to unlock our fullest potential to impact the world at large.