AANS Corporate/Leadership Council

The relationship between the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and its corporate partners reached a pivotal point in July 2007, when the first annual AANS Corporate/Leadership Council (CLC) Meeting took place in Chicago.

The AANS CLC consists of members of the AANS Board of Directors, the Development Committee chair, and various other members of the association’s volunteer leadership, as well as top leadership from all of the participating companies of the AANS Pinnacle Partners in Neurosurgery corporate giving program. This summer, the AANS CLC met with the goal of creating a collaborative environment that responds to the needs of neurosurgeons and the corporate community through discussion of neurosurgical education, research, advocacy and patient care. The agenda for the day gave participants an overview of the corporate relations program, while also covering current and future developments in medicine and neurosurgery, key success and growth opportunities in the area of education, and current and future directions of neuroresearch.

The AANS Pinnacle Partners in Neurosurgery program began in 2004 as a way for corporate partners to further develop the future of neurosurgical research and education, beyond their traditional support of the AANS. In 2006, the AANS’ vision of offering resident education courses became a reality, thanks to the investment of Pinnacle Partners in supporting these much needed, highly desired educational offerings for neurosurgeons-in-training.

The mission of the AANS CLC is to provide a forum for discussion and collaboration between the AANS and its corporate partners on issues related to neurosurgical education, research, advocacy and patient care. "The AANS CLC is vital to the success of our corporate relations program, and it will play a key role in the future of AANS’ (resident) educational and research-related initiatives," stated William T. Couldwell, MD, PhD, chair of the AANS Development Committee. "The first meeting of this group provided the foundation for future meetings, which will offer open dialogue, group discussions and one-on-one interactions."

The companies represented at the meeting included:

• Boston Scientific Neurovascular
• Carl Zeiss Meditec
• Codman, a Johnson & Johnson company
• DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson company
• Globus Medical
• Integra Foundation
• Kyphon Inc.
• Medtronic
• Micrus Endovascular Corporation
• Stryker

Representatives from the remaining two Pinnacle Partners in Neurosurgery participants, Cordis Neurovascular Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company and Synthes Spine, were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts, but like the other 10 participants, they too are committed to the AANS and this program.

The AANS is committed to working closely with its corporate partners to advance the field of neurosurgery through education, research and improvements in patient care. Working together, we will make a difference.

To learn more about the Pinnacle Partners in Neurosurgery program or the AANS CLC, contact the AANS Director of Development at 847/378-0540 or msg@aans.org.