From the Chair

Alan R. Cohen, MD

Alan R. Cohen, MD

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery.  Founded in 1972 by Kenneth Shulman and Robert McLaurin, the Section’s mission has been serve as a forum for the intimate exchange of ideas and to assure the advancement of the field.  Over the years we have grown to become a robust national organization promoting education, research and patient care.  To learn more about the activities of the Section please visit our website at www.pedsneurosurgery.org.  Anyone wishing to participate on one of our committees should feel free to contact our Secretary Sarah Gaskill at sgaskill@mac.com.

Mark your calendars- the Section’s Annual Meeting is set for the Hilton Hotel in Austin, Texas from Tuesday November 29 to Friday December 2, 2011. Meeting chair Tim George has been hard at work organizing the academic and social programs. Some highlights include talks by Mack Brown, Head Coach of the University of Texas football team, pediatric transplant surgeon Francisco Cigarroa, who is also Chancellor of the University of Texas System and Ben Carson, pediatric neurosurgeon and recipient of the 2008 Congressional Medal of Freedom. Mike Scott, neurosurgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital Boston, will receive the Franc Ingraham Award for Distinguished Service and Achievement.

This should be a great meeting. Austin, the capital of Texas, has a rich history. It holds claim to the largest state capitol building in the country. Home to the City Limits Music festival, Austin is also known as the live music capital of the world. It is a warm, beautiful city with 300 days of sunshine a year. Austin residents include deceased blues star Stevie Ray Vaughan, actor Owen Wilson, director Wes Anderson, cyclist Lance Armstrong and actress Sandra Bullock. In May 2010 the Austin City Council changed the name of Second Street to Willie Nelson Boulevard as a tribute to the longstanding resident and country music icon. Actor Matthew McConaughey was arrested in Austin in 1999 for disturbing the peace by loudly playing a set of bongo drums while naked. Who knows what’s in store for us?

Future meeting sites are St. Louis in 2012 and Toronto in 2013.

Hope to see you in Austin!

Al Cohen, MD
Chairman, AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery