I am pleased to present the fiscal year 2020 Annual Report for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) and the NeuroPoint Alliance (NPA). 2020 is the year most describe as “unprecedented.” Thanks to the good stewardship of our leadership and professional staff, our organizations had strong foundations to rely on when a worldwide pandemic hit last spring.
The AANS emphasized virtual education long before the pandemic forced member associations to quickly convert live meetings to virtual offerings, providing over 100 hours of online CME. Within weeks, committees and staff organized AANS Virtual 2020: The Complete Collection, providing current, relevant theory and discussion surrounding the vast world of neurosurgery. AANS live courses were effectively redesigned through virtual platforms. The AANS swiftly created a series of webinars to help neurosurgeons practice safely around the virus and the restrictions imposed to control its spread. An AANS online COVID Hub informed members about best practices, the latest science and advocacy efforts, pertinent Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG) publications, patient information and more with neurosurgery-specific resources. Communications also increased in frequency and detail in an effort to keep members up-to-date.
A sound financial foundation of healthy reserves and favorable business practices put our organizations in a position to continue the mission without sacrificing member programs.
Staff in the Executive Office in Rolling Meadows, Ill., the JNSPG office in Charlottesville, Vir., and the AANS/CNS Washington Office in D.C. have been working remotely since mid-March and will continue to do so at least through the end of the calendar 2020. You can be proud of how the staff has risen to the challenge and has continued to deliver programs, initiatives and member service despite the major upheavals.
Physician leadership has gone beyond ‘normal’ commitments to the association, foundation and the NPA. When every decision breaks new ground, when every action sets a new precedent and when no one has comparable experience to rely upon, leadership has worked tirelessly to keep the association moving forward in the service of you, its members.
This annual report highlights major accomplishments in 2020 – explore the rest of the report to learn more about:
- The AANS/CNS Washington Committee provided superb advocacy and high-level representation in meaningful coalitions.
- The Journal of Neurosurgery continues as the most highly cited journal in neurosurgery, recognized worldwide for its authoritative articles on clinical and laboratory research and innovative surgical techniques and instruments, as well as its rigorous focus on the highest quality presentation of scientific and medical advances.
- As it has for years, the NREF supported groundbreaking research efforts and advanced educational training. Historically, the generosity of members and industry partners has enabled the foundation to invest more than $28 million in the future of neurosurgery. Learn more about how the NREF works with AANS/CNS subspecialty sections, neurosurgical organizations and other foundations to fund research, awards, fellowships, education and more.
- Review the pages on the NPA to learn how it is working to demonstrate the effectiveness of therapies and communicating those results to key stakeholders. The NPA’s initiatives support advocacy efforts, advance quality improvement and quality initiative projects with registry data supporting public reporting, payor negotiations and value-based contracting and evidence-based decision support.
The world is changing and the AANS, the NREF and the NPA are also changing to meet these new challenges. Great change can bring great opportunity: we will strive to best meet the needs of our members, donors and supporters moving forward.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Sincerely,
Kathleen T. Craig
CEO