SNS History
The Society of Neurological Surgeons is the oldest neurosurgical professional society in the world. Its creation by Harvey Cushing in 1920 represents the foundational moment for neurological surgery as an independent specialty of medicine. Today, the “Senior Society” comprises U.S. academic department chairs, residency program directors, and other educational leaders; serves as the representative body for neurosurgery to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; and sponsors the Association of Residency Administrators in Neurological Surgery. The Society’s Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST) is responsible for the accreditation of subspecialty neurosurgery fellowships. Learn more about the Society’s history.
The continuing development of the field of neurological surgery including graduate and post-graduate education.
Karin Muraszko, MD has been elected to the American College of Surgeons Board of Governors as the Surgical Specialty Governor from the SNS. This appointment was made official by the Fellows at the Annual Business Meeting of Members on October 7, 2020 for an initial three-year term ending at the conclusion of the 2023 Clinical Congress.
Stacey Q. Wolfe, MD is a recipient of the prestigious national 2021 ACGME Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award for Neurological Surgery. This award recognizes program directors who have fostered innovation and improvement in their residency/fellowship programs and served as exemplary role models for residents and fellows.
Authors: Daniel L. Barrow, MD & Bernard R. Bendok, MD
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the brain, spine, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Although it is fundamentally a surgical discipline, neurosurgery requires knowledge of neurology, critical care, trauma care, and radiology. Neuroanatomy and disorders of the human nervous system may be intimidating to students and non-neurological physicians. All practitioners, however, should be familiar with some aspects of the discipline of neurosurgery. This supplement provides a basic fund of knowledge all physicians should have, regardless of their chosen specialty.
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The purpose of this international award is to encourage research in the neurosciences and to recognize outstanding, continuous commitment to research in the neurosciences by a neurological surgeon.
The Society of Neurological Surgeons has established a committee composed of neurosurgeons and neuroscientists to evaluate candidates and select an annual awardee. We invite you and your colleagues to submit nominations. In order to encourage a broad solicitation, the Society would appreciate dispersing this announcement to your colleagues and faculty.
Learn more about the award
See past recipients
Educational and regulatory demands on Program Directors have become increasingly complex and time consuming particularly with respect to the ACGME Competencies, Milestones and Next Accreditation System. The Society of Neurological Surgeons Website Committee has created the Program Director (PD) Toolkit to provide you with some practical tools for teaching and evaluating residents, as well as educating medical students.
View the Program Director Toolkit