Building on the tremendous successes of former chair Jon H. Robertson, MD, FAANS, NREF continues to create stronger relationships, introduce more fellowships and expand educational programs for those at all stages of their careers, working to fulfill NREF’s mission to advance neurosurgery and improve patient care.

Here are some highlights:

• The NREF introduced four new spine post-residency clinical fellowships supported by industry partners Globus Medical and Medtronic. Two additional fellowships are under consideration by another industry partner, to begin in 2019.
• The NREF is now funding education at all stages of a neurosurgical career: Medical Student Training Camps, courses for residents and fellows, post-residency clinical fellowships and neurotrauma and critical care symposiums for mid-career neurosurgeons such as the program at the 3^rd Joint Symposium of the International and National Neurotrauma Societies and AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care.
• New fellowships were funded this year: an Albert L. Rhoton Jr. microanatomical fellowship, two new cerebrovascular traveling fellowships funded by industry partners Medtronic and Microvention and more medical student summer fellowships than in years past.
• Strengthened relationships with the Academy, SNS, NSA, the Sections representing all subspecialties, institutions and private practices have allowed NREF to provide new research and fellowship opportunities.
• The NREF’s first public partnership with the family and community of an Ohio town has resulted in a jointly funded AVM research project honoring the memory of a young girl.
• NREF now has 49 Honor Your Neurosurgical Mentor funds collecting monies for a wide range of projects: education, research, fellowships, institutional programs, military neurosurgical education, global projects, socio-economic activities and more. Eight of the HYM Funds are now disbursing collected funds.

The NREF’s work continues to raise the monies to fund more research projects and fellowships and educate both young and mid-career neurosurgeons long into the future.

With your help, we will succeed. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Regis W. Haid Jr., MD, FAANS
NREF Chair