From the Chair

AANS/CNS Section on Tumors
Spring 2023 Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

Within the neurosurgical oncology subspecialty, besides performing technically challenging surgeries, we regularly help our patients to make difficult health decisions including therapy selection while maintaining quality of life. We, neuro-oncology surgeons, lead the way as advocates for our patients. We partner with the health care industry to ensure that our patients’ needs are represented, and action is pursued. In my current role as AANS/CNS Section on Tumors chair, I am proud to lead the organized efforts that strengthen our role as patient advocates.

One important role of advocating for our patients is facilitating a forum to discuss state-of-the art and patient-specific care for those living with brain and spine tumors. Along these lines, Maryam Rahman and the AANS 2023 Scientific Program team established a three-day tumor program that focuses on advocacy and guides practicing tumor neurosurgeons to address important aspects of surgery. Gelareh Zadeh and the 2023 Section Symposium Scientific Tumor team prepared an outstanding two-day program that focuses on the role of the neurosurgeon at the time of tumor recurrence. Join us in Washington D.C. on September 8-9, 2023, for the 16th Biennial Section on Tumors Symposium, occurring just before the CNS 2023. Bring your APP/PA/NP/RN with you! Recognizing the increasing role of advanced practice providers in our specialty, we created a segment on each of the two days called “The Roles and Dynamics of APPs in Neurosurgical Oncology.”

This 2023 Spring Newsletter highlights our organization’s activities on serving as advocates for our patients within different arenas. We thank all our members for partnering with us in these efforts and Randy Jensen and team for their great efforts to enhance our membership.

  • Advocating for our patients to enhance quality of care

Brad Elder leads section efforts to identify ways to strengthen neurosurgeon involvement within clinical trial national committees and to enhance our participation with registries. Jeff Olson leads the efforts to orchestrate the update and creation of guidelines for brain and spine tumor pathologies, including further defining the impact of such guidelines on the quality of care for our patients. Chris Cifarelli and team polled data on currently used and emerging innovation and technology used in neurosurgical oncology. Lissa Baird and Anthony Wang in pediatrics, Linda Bi in skull base and Nicholas Szerlip in spine lead our efforts in developing strategies to enhance quality of care in each of these neurosurgery oncology sub-specialties.

  • Advocating for our patients to advance the knowledge in neurosurgical oncology

Maryam Rahman and the research subcommittee continue our section collaboration with Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation and provide new opportunities for career development focused at promoting research. Gelareh Zadeh and the education team work toward enhancing our infrastructure.

  • Advocating for our patients by increasing the workforce diversity

Edjah Nduom leads the efforts to revise the Section Rules and Regulations (“Bylaws”) to expand leadership roles, which in turn will facilitate the enormous talent within the organization to have a more multi-faceted voice. Jennifer Moliterno chairs the efforts to recognize the best scientific contributions at AANS and CNS with an award portfolio second to none, including acknowledging the distance traveled with the AANS/CNS Section on Tumor Award given to the best scientific work from a raising neurosurgical oncology program.

  • Advocating for our patients with other neurosurgeons

The Washington Committee is the only organization with the entire world of neurosurgery at the table, providing the opportunity of a unified voice when communicating with lawmakers. Tiffany Hodges represents our organization in these efforts.

  • Advocating for our patients by improving communication

Brian Nahed and Susan Pannullo within the Development and Partnership Sub-Committee lead our community to identify and interact with the future leaders in neurosurgical oncology. Live stream on YouTube on Monday April 3, 2023, and Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 6pm ET at: https://www.youtube.com/c/AANSCNSJointSectiononTumors. Randy D’Amico and Raj Mukherjee lead the efforts to bring us together in-person at the 2023 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting  on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at 6:00 pm PT to meet with the Early Career Neurosurgeons where Melanie Hayden Gephart will provide a mentorship opportunity. Our Section’s efforts are amplified by the excellence of our Communication team lead by Kimberly Hoang and our newsletter editors Garni Barkhoudarian and Kristin Huntoon.

  • Advocating for our patients by advancing global care

Kate Drummond and Ekkehard Kasper led our section’s efforts in facilitating interaction across the continents to streamline collaborations to advance the care of brain and spine tumor patients globally.

A special thank you goes to Jason Sheehan for his leadership as Journal of Neuro-Oncology editor, to Costas Hadjipanayis, the section’s secretary-treasurer and Ian Parney, the section’s historian.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming 2023 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in Los Angeles! I thank each of you reached out with comments and suggestions. For the latest details on Tumor Section activities and for information on becoming a member, please visit our website at www.tumorsection.org

Sincerely,

 

 

Isabelle M. Germano, MD, MBA, FAANS, FACS

AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Chair (May 2022-May 2024)