The committee was established in 1991 under the guidance of Dr. Roberto Heros and the leadership of Dr. Emily Friedman. The original goals included: 1) to be the representative group for all young neurosurgeons within organized neurosurgery; 2) to encourage early involvement of young neurosurgeons in all AANS activities; 3) to develop future leadership by promoting early participation of young neurosurgeons within the committee structure; 4) to work closely with the council’s state neurosurgical societies and encourage participation of young neurosurgeons in socioeconomic issues; 5) to actively recruit and promote young neurosurgeons’ participation in the annual scientific program and AANS publications; and 6) to convey and summarize to all the young neurosurgeons concise and pertinent information regarding the AANS Board of Directors, the CNS, Washington Committee and other key committee activities.
The committee has been active under the leadership and chairmanship of Drs. Emily Friedman, Paul Camarata, Ian McCutcheon and Karin Muraszko. Most recently, significant reorganization of the committee has taken place. The membership has been expanded to resident physicians and fellows. Elections are held yearly by mailed ballots to the entire young neurosurgery constituency. Interest in the committee has been at an all time high as evidenced by 54 nominations for six positions in our most recent elections. The elected committee members for 1997 are Drs. Mitesh Shah, Assistant Professor at Indiana University; Craig Rabb, Assistant Professor at Oregon Health Sciences, Portland ; Eric Nussbaum, Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota ; Adam Lewis, Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi at Jackson; and Isabelle Germano, Associate Professor at Mt. Sinai in New York. Resident candidates elected are Drs. John D. Davis, Mark McLaughlin, Laurie A. McBride and John K. Park. The elected officers are: David F. Jimenez, MD (2 years); Vice-Chairman: Greg Thompson, MD (2 years); and Secretary: Mitesh Shah, MD (1 year).
Liaisons are maintained with the entire infrastructure of the AANS. Currently, the Young Neurosurgeons Committee has liaisons to the AANS Board of Directors, AANS Research Foundation, Scientific Programs Committee, Publications Committee, Stereotactic and Functional Section, Tumor Section, Spine Section, Cerebrovascular Section, Pain Section, Neurotrauma and Critical Care Section, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Council of State Neurosurgical Societies, and the American College of Surgeons. In addition a representative to the AMA Young Physicians Section is elected from committee membership. Serving on the committee is an excellent way for young neurosurgeons to develop leadership skills and become involved in organized neurosurgery.
Several projects are presently being addressed. The most important one centers on the issue of delay in board certification in the first several years following completion of residency. The effects of this delay on the young neurosurgeons’ ability to access managed care contracts and organizations are being studied. A subcommittee has been established to look at this issue and gather the necessary data. The work is being done in conjunction with the young physicians section of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies.
A luncheon will be hosted by the committee at next year’s AANS Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. The honored speakers will be Russell Travis, MD, (president elect of the AANS) and Arthur Day, MD, (Chairman of the Washington Committee).
All young neurosurgeons attending the meeting are encouraged and invited to attend this free lunch. However, tickets must be obtained when registering for the meeting. For more information regarding the committee and any of its activities, please contact David F. Jimenez, MD, at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics, 1 Hospital Dr., Columbia, MO 65212 or e-mail: [email protected].