Isabelle M. Germano, MD, MBA
AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Chair

Dear Section on Tumors Members and Colleagues,

The section’s journey over the past six months, along with the anticipated event at the upcoming 2024 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting, has been truly extraordinary. I extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your active participation, enthusiasm and dedication to advancing our shared goal of prioritizing the needs of our brain and spine tumor patients. Additionally, I express deep appreciation to our industry and philanthropy partners for their unwavering support.

We look forward to celebrating with you at the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors 40th Anniversary at the meeting. Since its establishment in the spring of 1984 led by Dr. Mark Rosenblum, 17 successive chairpersons have assumed leadership, supported by and in collaboration with an expanding team of executive committee members and advisors. Find additional details at: https://www.tumorsection.org/media/files/pages-page/87784cc2/tumor-brochure-individual-pages.pdf

Collaboratively with its members, the Section Chairpersons and their teams have brought the Section on Tumors to an unmatched level of prominence within its sphere, nationally and globally. Most importantly, they advanced the care of patients with brain and spine tumors. Please join us to celebrate this milestone during the Tumor Scientific Session on Sunday May 5, 2024, ending with the lecture “Advancing the Care of Brain and Spine Tumor Patients Over 40 Years” by our section’s historian, Ian Parney. In the evening, we will then gather to recognize the section’s hard and successful work and celebrate those who paved the way.

More details about the section’s history were recently summarized in the Journal of Neurosurgery, in the paper entitled: “The AANS/CNS Section on Tumors: A Summary of 40 Years of Advocacy to Advance the Care of Patients with Brain and Spine Tumors,” at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38277647/

Additionally, the 2024 AANS Annual Meeting’s Section on Tumors Scientific program, meticulously crafted by Kristin Huntoon, chair, Christine Lee and Ian Parney, co-chairs, alongside Analiz Rodriguez, AANS SPC Section on Tumors liaison, will also provide an engaging experience. Modular segments will delve into critical aspects of glioma, meningioma, craniopharyngioma and brain and spine metastasis surgery, inviting active audience participation. These sessions will be complemented by top-scoring scientific abstracts, with 14 distinguished individuals receiving Section on Tumors awards. We are thrilled to present the 2024 Bittner Endowed Lecture by Michael Lim, enhancing the program’s quality. Join us in congratulating the deserving awardees and expressing gratitude to Jennifer Moliterno and Frank Attenello for their leadership with the Award Subcommittee.

Two other exciting additions of the section’s special celebration at the 2024 AANS Annual Meeting include the inaugural AANS/CNS Section on Tumors-EANS combined tumor board and an interactive scientific program. The former features case presentations by early career neurosurgeons (ECNS) and discussion by brain tumor experts from both continents. Crafted in collaboration with the Global Subcommittee, cochaired by Kate Drummond and Ekk Kasper, and the ECNS Subcommittee, led by Stephanie Cheok and Christian Bowers, this promises to be a dynamic exchange of insights and expertise.

These exciting upcoming events follow a spectacular fall. What a splash! The 2023 Biennial Section on Tumor Symposium held in Washington, DC, on September 8-9, 2023, marked several significant milestones. These included a record-breaking number of submitted abstracts, the highest number of industry and philanthropic partners and the successful launch of the inaugural neurosurgical oncology advanced practice provider (APP) course. Congratulations and thank you to the 2023 meeting chair Gelareh Zadeh, co-chairs Chetan Bettegowda and Pablo Recinos and our esteemed key keynote speakers Evanthia Galanis and David Louis. The section acknowledges Clinical Neurosurgery for publishing the abstracts of the 37 accepted oral presentations and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) staff for their support and dedication.

The Section on Tumor’s Special Awards, bestowed during the symposium section’s chair Isabelle Germano, honored exemplary neurosurgery oncologists for their outstanding contributions. Please join me to congratulate Roberta Glick, for the Mark Rosenblum Distinguished Service Award, Linda Liau, for the Mark Rosenblum Distinguished Service Award, Nino Chiocca, for the Andrew T. Parsa Mentorship Award and Kate Drummond, for the inaugural Global Neurosurgery Oncology Award.

The path planned for the section during my tenure has continued along the planned trajectory to corroborate the goals we had set. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) finalized over the summer were unanimously approved by the Executive Committee at the CNS 2023 and are posted at: https://www.tumorsection.org/bylaws/. The SOPs delineate the mission and objectives of each of the section’s 20 Executive Committee Subcommittees, ensuring clarity and alignment in operational functions. Additional goals and corresponding deliverables include:

• To facilitate partnership within the executive committee, the neurosurgical oncology community and beyond.

Brian Nahed and Susan Pannullo with the Development and Partnership Subcommittee hosted a new series: “Future Leaders,” highlighting junior faculty and fellows and their clinical and scientific work and career plans in neurosurgical oncology. Randy Jansen and Isaac Yang (with the Membership and Membership Services Subcommittee) provide important deliverables to our members. Kimberly Hoang and Claire Karekezi with the Communication Subcommittee are facilitating agile communication across the globe. Garni Barkhoudarian and Kristin Huntoon assembled this great newsletter. Edjah Nduom and the Bylaws Subcommittee were instrumental for update of the section’s rules and regulations (“bylaws”).

• To provide continued collaborations with neurosurgery and other organizations focused on brain and spine tumors.

Our section’s collaborative efforts are led by individuals and subcommittee chairs as following: Steve Kalkanis with ABNS; Christopher Cifarelli with ASTRO; Linda Liau with CAST; Jason Sheehan with JNO; Linda Bi and Dan Prevedello with Skull-Base focused projects; Lissa Baird and Anthony Wang with Pediatrics; Christopher Newman with SANS; Tiffany Hodges with the Washington Committee; Andrew Sloan and Michael Vogelbaum with the Coding and Reimbursement Committee (CRC); Tracy Batchelor with the Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO); Paul Gardner with the CNS Foundation; Nicholas Szerlip and Nam D. Tran with Spine Oncology.

• To provide leadership for cutting-edge clinical trials and innovation.

Brad Elder and Gavin Dunn lead the Clinical Trial and Registries efforts focused on how to enhance our leadership role in clinical trial/registries development and enrollment by collaborating with our neuro-oncologist and radiation oncologist colleagues. Evanthia Galanis and Mark Gilbert partner with us to bring the latest expertise in medical oncology. Chris Cifarelli and Lola Chambless lead the Innovation and Technology efforts with a new emphasis on the various technological advances our field is pioneering.

I am filled with gratitude for the privilege of serving as your section chair over the past two years. It has been an honor to work alongside such dedicated colleagues and contribute to the advancement of our field. I want to express my deepest thanks to each of you for the trust and support you have placed in me during my tenure. Your collaboration and commitment have been instrumental in our collective success.

At the end of the 2024 AANS Annual Meeting, Costas Hadjipanayis, the section’s secretary/treasurer, will assume leadership as section chair. Joining him are our newly-elected officers: Brian Nahed as treasurer and Gabe Zada as secretary. I have full confidence in their leadership and vision for the section’s future. I would like to extend a special to Jason Sheenan for leading the 2023 election with its complexity.

Reflecting on the theme of this year’s AANS Annual Meeting, What Matters, I am reminded of the incredible support we have received from Anthony Asher, AANS president, and the entire AANS staff. Their dedication and partnership have been invaluable to our section’s success.

As we move forward, I encourage you to stay engaged with the section and explore opportunities for involvement. Visit our website at www.tumorsection.org for the latest updates on activities and membership information.

I look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

Sincerely,

Isabelle M. Germano, MD, MBA