American Association of Neurological Surgeons to Hold Annual Meeting

Newswise — The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) will hold its 72nd Annual Meeting from May 1 to May 6, 2004, at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The meeting will host more than 6,000 attendees, with approximately 2,800 medical professionals including neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, physician assistants and allied health professionals.

Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders affecting the nervous system, brain, spinal column and spinal cord and includes brain tumors, severe head injuries, stroke, aneurysms and pain management.

The AANS Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the world. The meeting focuses on the latest research and technological advances in the field. The Scientific Program, which includes 43 practical clinics, 19 general scientific sessions, 80 breakfast seminars, 137 oral abstract presentations, over 500 poster presentations and 600 technical and institutional exhibits (representing approximately 200 companies), begins on Monday, May 3.

Special lectures include: The Richard C. Schneider Lecturer Regis W. Haid, Jr. MD, on Monday, May 3, at 9:50 a.m.; the Ronald L. Bittner Lecturer James T. Rutka, MD, on Monday, May 3, at 2:45 p.m.; the Van Wagenen Lecturer Anders Bjorklund, MD, on Tuesday, May 4, at 9:45 a.m.; the Cushing Orator Ken Burns on Tuesday, May 4, at 12:10 p.m.; the Theodore Kurze Lecturer Robert F. Spetzler, MD, on Wednesday, May 5, at 10:55 a.m.; the Hunt Wilson Lecturer Pasko Rakic, MD, on Wednesday, May 5, at 12:30 p.m. and the Rhoton Family Lecturer Uwe E. Reinhardt, MD, on Thursday, May 6, at 11:00 a.m.

The 2004 AANS Annual Meeting press kit including press releases and fact sheets on several neurosurgical procedures, is located in the Media Center Section of the AANS public Web site at: http://www.NeurosurgeryToday.org/media. The entire AANS annual meeting program also is available online at: http://www.AANS.org/annual/2004.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with over 6,500 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members of the AANS are Board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, A.C.