The following is a synopsis of AANS’ international activities and programs from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.
AANS Attendance at International Meetings
The AANS attends international meetings to collaborate with international societies and neurosurgeons on courses and educational opportunities and to manage AANS’ international outreach efforts.
- World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) in Beijing, China
September 9-12, 2019
AANS Representation: Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD, FAANS, and John A. Wilson, MD, FAANS - European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) in Dublin
September 24-28, 2019
AANS Representation: Dr. Shaffrey and Shelly D. Timmons, MD, PhD, FAANS - AANSIM (AACNS Congress) – Mumbai
December 5-8, 2019
AANS Representation: Anil Nanda, MD, MPH, FAANS and Dr. Shaffrey
International Visiting Surgeon Fellowship
The AANS International Visiting Surgeon Fellowship is an initiative to assist neurosurgeons or neurosurgeons-in-training from a developing country designated by the World Bank.
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 International Visiting Surgeons Fellowships will take effect in 2021.
The 2020-2021 International Visiting Surgeon Fellows are:
- Khalif Abdifatah Mohamed, MD, from Kenya, will visit Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian in New York City, under the observation of Roger Hartl, MD, FAANS
- Ashish Jung Thapa, MBBS, from Nepal, will visit the University of California in San Diego, under the observation of Michael Lee Levy, MD, PhD, FAANS
Applications for the 2022 International Visiting Fellowship Program will begin April 2021.
AANS and EANS Resident Exchange Program
In August of 2019, the AANS and EANS signed an MOU to trial an exchange program for residents. The AANS would send six residents (two to each of three courses conducted by EANS), and EANS would send six residents, two to each of three courses conducted by the NREF.
Two AANS-sponsored residents, Angela Richardson, MD, and Abdulla H. Feroze, MD, were able to attend a February 2020 course in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The AANS/NREF selected the four other residents for the two other courses, which are in the process of being rescheduled. EANS has selected residents to send here, but the courses have been cancelled.