A M E R I C A N A SSOCIATION OF N EUROLOGICAL S URGEONS The Socioeconomic and Professional Magazine for AANS Members • Volume 16 Number 1 • 2007 EMERGENCY CARE FOR KIDS CAN NEUROSURGERY DO EVEN BETTER? AANS NON-PROFIT ORG 5550 MEADOWBROOK DRIVE U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROLLING MEADOWS, IL 60008 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS C ONTENTS VOL. 16 NO. 1 Paul Klee (German, born FEATURES Switzerland, 1879–1940), “The One Who Under- 16 | AANS Bulletin Enters New Era stands,” 1934, oil and gyp- The Bulletin’s new online article submission portal sum on canvas. See page 6 facilitates peer review. for complete information. Manda J. Seaver 22 | 2007 Annual Meeting: A Living Monument to AANS and Neurosurgery Celebrate the AANS’ diamond jubilee April 14–19 in Washington, D.C. 24 | NeurosurgeryPAC Makes Its Mark in 2006 Elections NeurosurgeryPAC contributed to 40 candidates and one leadership PAC. Gary M. Bloomgarden, MD, and Katie O. Orrico, JD 34 | Inspirations and Epiphanies Seven neurosurgeons record for posterity their career influences, mentors, and milestones. Deborah L. Benzil, MD, Gerard Mohr, MD, Alexa Canady, MD, Gail Rosseau, MD, Jamie S. Ullman, MD, Joan Venes, MD, and David A. Yazdan, MD NEWS AND EVENTS ON THE COVER 4 | Newsline 7 | Emergency Care for Kids: Can Neurosurgery The AANS Neurosurgical Procedural Statistics Survey Do Even Better? is underway. Few physicians doubt that patients in need of neuro- 32 | News.org surgical care are best treated by neurosurgeons. Simi- larly, few physicians doubt that children—particularly Kyphon Inc. matches NREF donations 100 percent young children—in need of neurosurgical care are best to $25,000. treated by pediatric neurosurgeons. However, stresses 40 | Calendar of Neurosurgical Events in the emergency care system and on the neurosurgical profession have created a particular threat for children The Michigan Association of Neurological Surgeons who need emergency neurosurgical care. meets June 22–24. Frederick A. Boop, MD, and Manda J. Seaver 10 | IOM: Growing Pains OPINION Key findings of the report on emergency care for children are summarized. 5 | Personal Perspective Neurosurgery must unite to care for kids. William T. Couldwell, MD PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 12 | Letters 3 | 75th AANS Annual Meeting: April 14–19, A reader identifies an overlooked source for recruiting Washington, D.C. the next generation of neurosurgeons. The upcoming 75th AANS Annual Meeting is a time 33 | AANS Answers to honor the past achievements of neurosurgery and to look forward to the future. The risk of advancement outweighs any plan not to fail. Donald O. Quest, MD Thomas A. Marshall Vol. 16, No. 1 • 2007 • AANS Bulletin 1 C ONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 18 | Membership 28 | Advancing Neuroresearch The AANS welcomes 701 new members in 2006. NREF donors July 1–Dec. 31, 2006 are listed; NREF and 27 | Residents’ Forum the Spine Section announce new award opportunity. Critical reading in “Sunday school” helped him 39 | Bookshelf digest neurosurgical literature. The healthcare system needs a bigger dose of capital- K. Michael Webb, MD ism, a new book says. Gary Vander Ark, MD 38 | Timeline Which neurosurgeons understand that the kids for 26 | Coding Corner whom they care ain’t little adults? Five-year review yields significant successes for Michael Schulder, MD neurosurgery. Gregory J. Przybylski, MD 14 | Washington Update With the Medicare payment reduction halted for 13 | Education 2007, attention turns to funding structure and Recent nationwide trends create challenges in training quality reporting. neurosurgical residents in pediatrics. Lori Shoaf, JD Edward S. Ahn, MD, and Lawrence S. Chin, MD AANS MISSION Department editors and CORRESPONDENts LETTERS The American Association of Neurological Surgeons Frederick Boop, Newsline; Lawrence Chin, MD, Education; Send your comments on articles you’ve read in these (AANS) is the organization that speaks for all of neurosur- Fernando Diaz, MD, PhD, CSNS Report; David Jimenez, pages or on a topic related to the practice of neurosur- gery. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of Patient Safety; Katie O. Orrico, JD, Washington Update; Mick gery to [email protected]. Correspondence may be neurological surgery in order to promote the highest Perez-Cruet, MD, NS Innovations; Gregory J. Przybylski, MD, published in a future issue edited for length, clarity and quality of patient care. Coding Corner; Michael Schulder, MD, Timeline; style. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication Gary Vander Ark, Bookshelf; K. Michael Webb, MD, Resi- unless otherwise specified. AANS BULLETIN dents’ Forum; Monica Wehby, MD, and Michael Chabraja, The official publication of the American Association of JD, Risk Management BULLETIN ONLINE Neurological Surgeons, the Bulletin features news about The current issue and searchable archives since 1995 are the AANS and the field of neurosurgery, with a special WRITING GUIDELINES available at www.aans.org/bulletin. emphasis on socioeconomic topics. www.aans.org/bulletin PUBLICATION INFORMATION William T. Couldwell, MD, editor OPEN, ONLINE ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS The AANS Bulletin, ISSN 1072-0456, is published four Patrick W. McCormick, MD, associate editor Articles or article ideas concerning socioeconomic topics times a year by the AANS, 5550 Meadowbrook Drive, Manda J. Seaver, staff editor related to neurosurgery can be submitted to the Bulletin, Rolling Meadows, Ill., 60008, and distributed without [email protected]. Objective, nonpromotional articles that charge to the neurosurgical community. Unless specifi- BULLETIN ADVISORY BOARD are in accordance with the writing guidelines, are original, cally stated otherwise, the opinions expressed and state- Deborah L. Benzil, MD and have not been published previously may be considered ments made in this publication are the authors’ and do Frederick A. Boop, MD for publication. not imply endorsement by the AANS. Lawrence S. Chin, MD The AANS reserves the right to edit articles for compliance Fernando G. Diaz, MD, PhD with publication standards and available space and to © 2007 by the American Association of Neurological David F. Jimenez, MD publish them in the vehicle it deems most appropriate. Surgeons, a 501(c)(6) organization, all rights reserved. Katie O. Orrico, JD Articles accepted for publication become the property of the Contents may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval Mick J. Perez-Cruet, MD AANS unless another written arrangement has been agreed system, or transmitted in any form by any means without A. John Popp, MD upon between the author(s) and the AANS. prior written permission of the publisher. Gregory J. Przybylski, MD Gail Rosseau, MD PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH ADVERTISING SALES Michael Schulder, MD The Bulletin seeks submissions of rigorously researched, Richard Devanna, Cunningham Associates, Gary D. Vander Ark, MD hypothesis-driven articles concerning socioeconomic topics (201) 767-4170, or [email protected]. K. Michael Webb, MD related to neurosurgery. Selected articles are reviewed by Rate card, www.aans.org/bulletin. Monica C. Wehby, MD peer-review panelists. Papers must comport with the writing Richard N. Wohns, MD guidelines at www.aans.org/bulletin. Peer-Review Panel led by Deborah L. Benzil, MD William E. Bingaman Jr., MD; Frederick A. Boop, MD; Fernando G. Diaz, MD; Domenic Esposito, MD; David F. Jimenez, MD; Mark E. Linskey, MD; Mick Perez-Cruet, MD; Richard N. Wohns, MD 2 Vol. 16, No. 1 • 2007 • AANS Bulletin P RESIDENT ’ S M ESSAGE D ONAL D O . Q UEST , M D 75th AANS Annual Meeting April 14–19, Washington, D.C. f all of the responsibilities I have un- April weather should be delightful. new friendships and renew acquaintances dertaken during this past year, pre- Washington itself is filled with beautiful before the meeting with its multitude of ac- paring for the 75th AANS Annual and monumental architecture and provides tivities gets under way. O Meeting has been one of the most a wealth of unique and varied opportunities The 75th AANS Annual Meeting repre- enjoyable. I believe the upcoming meeting to explore art, history, culture, and more. sents a wonderful opportunity to expand will prove to be a most rewarding experience Among the multiple outstanding attrac- knowledge and celebrate neurosurgery. The for AANS members and for the entire neuro- tions waiting to be explored are the Nation- extent to which the event will be rewarding surgical community. al Museum of Natural History, the Folger for me is directly related to the positive ex- The diamond jubilee anniversary cel- Shakespeare Library, and the International perience of each and every attendee. ebration of the AANS founding will be Spy Museum. The numerous art museums To help ensure an educational and en- held April 14–19 at the 2007 AANS Annual joyable experience for all, many people Meeting in Washington, D.C. This is a time have worked diligently throughout the year to honor the past achievements of neuro- to create a unique meeting. Among them surgery as well as an opportunity to look are Annual Meeting Chair Mitchel Berger, Donald O. Quest, forward to the future. MD, and Social Program Co-chairs Lisa MD, is the 2006–2007 The educational program is outstand- AANS president. and Kevin McGrail, MD. Scientific Pro- ing with a multitude of practical courses, gram Chair Timothy Mapstone, MD, has breakfast seminars, superb oral and poster led his committee in planning a program of presentations, and plenary and subspecialty which the AANS founders would be proud, section sessions. There are exceptional in- if not astonished, at the breadth and depth vited speakers. Award-winning journalist include the newly opened National Por- of issues and information that confront and Middle-East expert Thomas Friedman trait Gallery, the Freer and Sackler galleries neurosurgeons today. will deliver the Cushing oration, while Jo- featuring Asian Art, the National Museum That the 75th anniversary of the AANS hannes Schramm, MD, will provide the Van of African Art, the American Art Museum, is celebrated at the 75th AANS Annual Wagenen lecture and Nick Hopkins, MD, the National Gallery of Art, the Corco- meeting is symbolic of the organization’s the Schneider lecture.