American Association of Neurological Surgeons

In 1931, when American association of neurological surgeons was founded it was Harvey Cushing Society, named for the brain surgeon pioneer Harvey Cushing. The two main founders are R. Glen Spurling and William P. Van Wagenen, who encourages the younger neurosurgeons and develops a platform where they can exchange ideas on the specialty. The first meeting if this society conducted in Boston in 1932, where 23 people attended, mostly were Cushing's colleagues and neurosurgical trainees. Nowadays, association is having more than 8000 members across the world. This association member includes neurosurgeons, neurosurgical support staff, neuro or brain related physicians and medical students. They are continuously working on the legislative issues affecting neurosurgical professionals and their patients. They are working towards patient safety and quality improvement, tort reform, and issues relating to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. The AANS also maintains a member-driven Washington Committee to advocate for the number of causes. Since 1944, the AANS has published the Journal of Neurosurgery, in which each issue is focused on different themes, and past themes include neurosurgeons, humanitarian neurosurgery, and patients, neurovascular neurosurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery. AANS provides its members to educational opportunities, through courses held around the country at various times of the year. The Topics covers oral board preparation, practice management, maintenance of certification, and resident education. They also offer the course to mid-level practitioners such as nurses and physician assistants. The association dedicated to enhancing the specialty of neurological surgery and to promote the highest quality of patient care. They ensure the neurosurgeons are recognized as the preeminent providers of quality care to patients with surgical disorders that affect the nervous system. The members of this association will work expand the field of neurosurgical care by implementing new technologies and treatments of neurological disorders and also support and promote appropriate clinical and basic science to expand the scope of neurosurgical practice.