Summer 2020

Originally presented at the ASSFN Virtual Scientific Update on June 28, 2020. Thoughts on Technology, Times and The Future or our Species: Good, Bad or Other? Thank you for the introduction, Emad. And thank you Emad and Sameer and the organizing...

Chronic Pain and Spasticity Medtronic rolled out DTM™ (differential target multiplexed) stimulation for their Intellis system. DTM is a high-density stimulation program that depends on using multiple simultaneous stimulation frequencies to target n...

Key efforts by the ASSFN were critical to securing Medicare coverage for focused ultrasound thalamotomy for tremor (MRgFUS thalamotomy) for tremor across all 50 states. While MRgFUS thalamotomy is widely recognized by stereotactic and functional neurosurgeons...

Author? Inhibitory control is a critical element of human cognition, making it possible to suppress or prevent undesired behaviors. Inhibitory control deficits are a core feature of neurodegenerative (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease) and...

Membership Statistics, April 2020 Type 2020 Dues 2020 Members 2019 Members 2018 Members 2017 Members Active $285 277 276 277 265 Associate $160 41 41 48 24 Medical Student – 12 13 7...

The ASSFN 2020 Biennial Meeting was another casualty of the pandemic. To showcase the exciting developments in our field and feature the high-quality research submitted as abstracts, ASSFN hosted a Virtual Scientific Update on Sunday, June 28, 2020 via...

The Psychiatric Committee has been focusing on improving awareness of psychiatric neurosurgery options among psychiatrists by increasing content on this topic at their national meetings, including submitting proposals to ACNS, SOBP and other psychiatric...

There are currently 42 functional fellowships , 25 of which are CAST accredited . CAST has transitioned to ABNS and is in the process of re-accrediting programs; however, 17 advertised functional fellowships are not yet accredited. All have been...

Jonathan Miller, MD, FAANS; Julie Pilitsis, MD, PhD, FAANS; and I have been working with CNS Annual Meeting leaders to program the S&F content for the CNS 2020 Annual Meeting. Content from our field is well-represented at the meeting. The program...

The working group of the ASSFN Ethics Committee has drafted a position paper that will likely be submitted to the Medicolegal issue of Neurosurgical Focus that is planned for November. The deadline for that is July 1.

Updates A Twitter account was established for the society and is active (@ASSFNeurosurg ). The digital marketing team at the AANS have been engaged and are preparing a proposal to redesign the website and take over administration from our current...

  We are 75% through this year's mentorship program and have had three webinars. To gain buy-in to continue this program, we need to promote with the program directors/senior partners to urge residents and fellows to enroll. We will personally...

Updates Timely Access to Care The Washington Committee has supported the timely access to care by its sponsorship of the Safe Ste Act (HR 2279/S2546) and the Seniors Timely Access to Care Act (HR 3107). Fix the Medical Liability System The Washington...