Matthew D. Smyth, MD, FAANS
Jeffrey R. Leonard, MD, FAANS

41st Annual Meeting of the AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery
"Safety. Efficacy. Efficiency. Pediatric Neurosurgery."
Nov. 27-30, 2012, Marriott Union Station, St. Louis

Meet us in St. Louis for the 41st Annual Meeting of the AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery, to be held Nov. 27-30, 2012, at the Marriott Union Station. This year’s theme — "Safety. Efficacy. Efficiency. Pediatric Neurosurgery." — exemplifies key qualities of the subspecialty, as will be illustrated further by this year’s program.

The meeting will kick off with an opening reception at the Marriott Union Station on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 27. Program highlights will include this year’s Raimondi Lecture by Rosemary Gibson, MD — a national leader in health care quality and safety — who will discuss "Where Are We Headed: Health Care and America’s Economic Future." She will highlight the accomplishments of health care in America and the challenges ahead to sustain them. The SONS/AAP special lecture will be given by Terrie Inder, MD, who will speak on “Advances in Improving Outcomes in the Newborn Brain.” The Annual SONS Lecture is sponsored by the Section on Neurological Surgery of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Annual SONS Lecture is delivered at the annual meeting of the Joint Section of the AANS/CNS by an AAP member on a non-neurosurgical topic of interest to pediatric neurosurgeons. New this year will be e-posters, which provide the opportunity to review the newest research performed, documented and viewed electronically.

We are pleased to announce the addition of two half-day practical courses: Spinal Instrumentation, which will be held on Tuesday afternoon, prior to the meeting; and Endoscopy, which will take place on Friday afternoon, immediately following the meeting. Both courses will be held at the Practical Anatomy and Surgical Education lab at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

A half-day seminar will be available Friday afternoon, sponsored by the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies, with a program emphasizing topics such as contract negotiation with hospitals and insurers, private practice vs. academic pediatric neurosurgery, entrepreneurship and career selection. For the mid-level practitioner, we are excited to provide a pre-meeting half-day seminar focusing on clinical aspects of pediatric neurosurgery to be held on Tuesday; this year’s course will feature a variety of topics including brain tumors, epilepsy, clearance of the cervical spine and traumatic brain injury.

You won’t want to miss Thursday’s social event, Brewery Night at the historic Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Enjoy a relaxing evening of fun, food and entertainment, with behind-the-scenes factory tours and tastings by an A.B. Master Brewer.

While you’re in St. Louis, you also might consider exploring some of the city’s many sights. Take a 630-foot ride up to the top of the Gateway Arch. Then, walk the rest of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, from which Louis and Clark began their famous Corps of Discovery Expedition. Or visit the wildlife at Saint Louis Zoo. There’s no shortage of night life in St. Louis: Hit Laclede’s Landing — the city’s oldest district and only riverfront entertainment and dining destination — or Westport Plaza's 42-acre entertainment district. This year’s meeting destination has something for everyone!

For more information about the 41st Annual Meeting of the AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery, visit www.pedsneurosurgery.org/default.asp.

We look forward to seeing you in St. Louis!

Matthew D. Smyth, MD, FAANS; and
Jeffrey R. Leonard, MD, FAANS
2012 AANS/CNS Pediatric Section Meeting Co-Chairs