Kalkanis, Steven N.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Leadership Institute developed the first structured leadership program designed specifically for neurosurgeons. Led by the experts in neurosurgery, health care administration, and business, the program provides formal leadership training and mentorship aimed at advancing neurosurgeons' professional development at local, regional, national, and international levels. METHODS: The CNS Leadership Institute offers 2 curricula tailored for junior and senior faculty. Training begins with assigned readings, webinars, and online lectures that establish essential leadership principles. Core learning occurs during 2 in-person courses featuring interactive lectures, feedback sessions, and a longitudinal leadership project guided by national mentors. Program outcomes were assessed through a 40-question survey of alumni evaluating training effectiveness, skill application, and career advancement. RESULTS: Since 2016, 195 neurosurgeons have completed the CNS Leadership Institute. Among the 77 survey respondents, 70.1% reported significant professional advancement (new leadership role or job transition), and 64.8% directly attributed their advancement in skills and insights acquired through the program. Overall program effectiveness was rated 4.4 of 5, and the mean likelihood-to-recommend was 8.95 (95% CI: 8.70-9.20), yielding a Net Promoter Score of +63 (95% CI: +49 to +77). Alumni have assumed prominent roles including 16 Residency Program Directors, 3 Department Chairs, 1 Vice Dean, 4 Service Line Leaders, 13 CNS Executive Committee members, and over 100 committee or editorial board appointments critical to the specialty. CONCLUSION: The CNS Leadership Institute equips neurosurgeons with structured leadership training, mentorship, and practical tools to enhance their effectiveness as leaders. Survey results confirm that the program has a measurable impact on participants' career trajectories and professional growth. This initiative provides a reproducible model for cultivating the next generation of neurosurgical leaders and advancing the specialty's capacity for strategic, transformational leadership.

The AANS/CNS Section on Tumors was founded 40 years ago in 1984 to assist in the education of neurosurgeons interested in neuro-oncology, and serves as a resource for other national organizations regarding the clinical treatment of nervous system tumors. The Section on Tumors was the first national physicians’ professional organization dedicated to the study and treatment of patients with brain and spine tumors. Over the past 40 years, the Section on Tumors has built solid foundations, including establishing the tumor section satellite meetings, founding the Journal of Neuro-Oncology (the first medical journal dedicated to brain and spine surgical oncology), advancing surgical neuro-oncology education and research, promoting neurosurgical involvement in neuro-oncology clinical trials, and advocating for patients with brain and spine tumors. This review provides a synopsis of the Section on Tumors’ history, its challenges, and its opportunities, drawing on the section’s archives and input from the 17 section chairs who led it during its first 40 years.

The American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) was incorporated in 1940 in recognition of the need for detailed training in and special qualifications for the practice of neurological surgery and for self-regulation of quality and safety in the field. The ABNS believes it is the duty of neurosurgeons to place a patient’s welfare and rights above all other considerations and to provide care with compassion, respect for human dignity, honesty, and integrity. At its inception, the ABNS was the 13th member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which itself was founded in 1933. Today, the ABNS is one of the 24 member boards of the ABMS. To better serve public health and safety in a rapidly changing healthcare environment, the ABNS continues to evolve in order to elevate standards for the practice of neurological surgery. In connection with its activities, including initial certification, recognition of focused practice, and continuous certification, the ABNS actively seeks and incorporates input from the public and the physicians it serves. The ABNS board certification processes are designed to evaluate both real-life subspecialty neurosurgical practice and overall neurosurgical knowledge, since most neurosurgeons provide call coverage for hospitals and thus must be competent to care for the full spectrum of neurosurgery. The purpose of this report is to describe the history, current state, and anticipated future direction of ABNS certification in the US.