President’s Message

Dear Members of the AANS:

The Privilege of Service was the theme of the year that ended with the New Orleans meeting. As seems to happen every year, the ways in which the AANS serves our patients, our specialty and our members expanded in unprecedented ways during those 12 months.

AANS Strategic Plan

Much of the AANS’ growth was driven by the strategic planning process that began in 2016. What made this process necessary? There are a few answers: the recent transformation of the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) and NeuroPoint Alliance (NPA) into separate entities; the growing importance of data-based assessments of the quality and value of the care we provide; continued growth in the proportion of neurosurgeons who are employed by hospitals; the expansion of shared initiatives with other neurosurgical organizations; the relentless threats to neurosurgical practice from declining reimbursements; the need for the AANS to generate new revenue streams to offset potential future decreases from print journals and medical meetings; the AANS’ greater engagement with international organizations and the need to increase the pace at which the AANS evolves the offerings that make it the leading neurosurgical educational organization and the preferred home for young neurosurgeons.

Implementation of this plan began during this past year and will continue for the next few years, at which time the plan will be updated. Only in this way can the AANS ensure that it will continue to provide the best possible service to its many constituencies.

Governance

Another very positive change during the past year was a restructuring of the format of the semiannual Board of Directors meetings to minimize presentation of information-only reports and to focus instead on deep discussion of a few timely issues.

Education

The AANS has also recommitted to its role as the global leader in neurosurgical education. The structure of its education-related committees was reformatted and the online education platform was updated and given a new look. Much of the educational format has been modified to accommodate the way in which modern neurosurgeons seek and consume information: less print, more smartphones.

NREF and NPA

Over the past year, the revitalized NREF has continued its remarkable success in raising funds to support all types of education and research for neurosurgeons at all stages of their careers, including medical students who are planning to enter the specialty. NPA’s mission of acquiring, analyzing and reporting high-quality clinical neurosurgical data is best illustrated by the success of the Quality Outcomes Database (QOD), which continued its dramatic growth over the past year by enrolling thousands of patients and capturing high-quality data about their care.

Journal of Neurosurgery

Other high-profile AANS activities also enjoyed a highly successful year. The Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG) continues to produce the world’s premier neurosurgical journal, with a robust readership both domestically and internationally. The JNSPG dominates social media related to our specialty.

Washington Office

The AANS/CNS Washington Office scored numerous successes, including the long-sought repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board. The Washington Office also transitioned to a modern building that is within walking distance of the Capitol and literally just a few feet from several large medical organizations, thus greatly facilitating communication and collaboration with our colleagues.

Relationships with Other Neurosurgical Organizations

The AANS has reinvigorated its relationships with other important neurosurgical organizations. The AANS/CNS Sections and the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies represent vital forums at which AANS officers, directors and committee chairs interface with the larger neurosurgical community. The energy and creativity of these groups are inspiring. The Young Neurosurgeons Committee has worked to increase its voice and impact. Strengthening relationships with international neurosurgery pays dividends not only by raising the knowledge base of the world’s neurosurgeons, but also in improving the care of the most disadvantaged people on this planet. Part of the strategic plan calls for the AANS to serve as the core resource for organized neurosurgery, and I am proud that the AANS continues to increase the services provided to other societies.

2018 Annual Scientific Meeting

All these activities — and many more — culminated in the 2018 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans. Considerable planning had gone into ensuring that the theme of service was woven into the fabric of the meeting, from the selection of featured speakers at the plenary sessions, down to much smaller details. The meeting venue and theme created the perfect environment for all of us to take a brief break from our hectic lives and appreciate the wonder of what we do.

We celebrated the unique fellowship that exists among neurosurgeons. Other physicians recognize that neurosurgeons are different. We are natural leaders, we take charge, we get things done. The very nature of what we do leads society to view us differently than it does our colleagues. We really are a unique band of brothers and sisters. I have truly appreciated the opportunity to lead the premier society of the premier specialty in all of medicine and to spend the past year steering the AANS towards new and better ways to support and improve the world in which we live.

These themes were captured in the presidential address, which can be viewed by clicking here. The main points of that address are that service is an essential part of our humanity and doing the right thing for the right reasons will make us not only better doctors, but better people as well. I urge you to find a way to pay it back. Our work has incredible meaning, and the privilege of doing this work makes us the most fortunate people on this planet. I challenge you to use your compassion, intellect, work ethic, incredible life experience and many other talents to make this world a better place.

The need is great. The opportunity is greater.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you.

Alex B. Valadka, MD, FAANS

2017-2018 AANS President