Plenary Session II

Rhoton Family Lecture

Daniel H. Pink

The Science of Motivation: Lessons for Medicine

In relating his understanding of what motivates medical professionals, Pink shared the results of a few medical-related studies. In a hospital, when patient scans were routed to those who read them, if the file also included a photo of the patient, longer and more meticulous reports were produced. When photos were removed, report length dropped by 80 percent.

Additionally, hospitals were able to improve staff hygiene by focusing on the benefits to the patients, not by focusing on the personal benefits of hand washing. Messages emphasizing the patients resulted in higher compliance. He suggested a focus on the ‘how’ rather than the ‘why’. He challenged the audience to have two fewer conversations about how to do something and two more conversations about why. He evoked the image of a two-year-old – autonomous, curious and self-directed – and suggested that following this element of human nature will make work easier and more interesting and increase efficiency.

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AANS International Lifetime Recognition Award

Jeffrey V. Rosenfeld, MD, MS, IFAANS, FACS

The AANS International Lifetime Recognition Award recognizes an international figure for his or her lifetime of contributions to advancing the field of neurosurgery in a country outside the United States or Canada. This year’s recipient is Dr. Jeffrey Rosenfeld of Melbourne, Australia.

Dr. Valadka reviewed Rosenfeld’s long list of contributions, covering his research and publishing, his military career and his work bringing neurosurgery to the developing world. He listed his awards and titles, as well as shared that he is an accomplished classical and jazz clarinetist.

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In neurosurgical training lineage, Rosenfeld is a third-generation from Harvey Cushing. He commented, “It is a great honor to receive this award and I am proud and humbled to receive it. It is the pinnacle of a neurosurgical career. It is indeed a privilege to practice neurosurgery.”

AANS Cushing Medal

James R. Bean, MD, FAANS

The Harvey Cushing Medal is the highest honor that the AANS bestows. It is awarded to an AANS member for outstanding service to the association and to the neurosurgical community. This year’s Cushing Medalist is James Bean, MD, FAANS. Dr. Bean has served neurosurgery tirelessly for over 30 years. Among his many accomplishments are revising the procedures of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS) assembly and later chairing the CSNS; creating and chairing the AANS/CNS Coding and Reimbursement Committee; representing neurosurgery in the American Medical Association House of Delegates; serving as editor of, and expanding the socioeconomic and political scope of, the AANS Bulletin (now AANS Neurosurgeon); chairing the Washington Committee; serving as AANS treasurer and president; and chairing the Professional Conduct Committee – a vitally important but time-consuming role he still fills today. Equally important, he has been a source of sage advice and counsel to many colleagues over the years.

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From Bean’s acceptance speech

This award is the honor of a lifetime – and one I didn’t expect. Never in my dreams did I imagine standing alongside the giants of neurosurgery who have won this award in the past. I am honored, humbled and grateful.” – James Bean, MD, FAANS

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Cushing Orator

Gen. Stan McChrystal

McCrystal talked about his 34 years in the military and shared the lessons of leadership he has learned. He told stories from his career that supported the leadership style he ultimately adopted. He recommended always starting with trust and a common sense of purpose. The more connected all stakeholders were in simultaneously receiving information, the quicker the orchestrated response could be. He advocated for having everyone in a room, connecting as many as 750 people if that is what is required, so that everyone can hear information and make decisions for action.

“When people close to a problem make the decision about it, they make better decisions and are more successful.” According to McChrystal, “Typical military hierarchy, emphasizing rank rather than proximity, was not enough to outmaneuver an enemy that was decentralized and had many members who were empowered to make decisions and take action.”

“Leaders are like gardeners. They prepare the soil, plant, water, feed, weed, protect and then harvest. If a gardener does a job well, he or she creates an ecosystem where plants can do what only plants can do. A gardener does not limit; a gardener enables. Applying this example to how we think about leadership, we realize leadership should be less ego driven and more about ensuring the organization works.”

McChrystal quoted John F. Kennedy: “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win.”