NEW ORLEANS (April 18, 2005) John C. VanGilder, MD, was recognized with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) 2005 Distinguished Service Award, at 12:15 p.m. on Monday, April 18, at the AANS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, April 16-21. He was honored for his many years of outstanding leadership and dedication to the field of neurosurgery.

Dr. VanGilder received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School in 1961. He completed his neurological surgery residency training at Barnes Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. in 1970. He was on the faculty at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. from 1970 to 1976, and was appointed professor and chairman of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1976.

Dr. VanGilder has been active in a number of neurosurgical and medical organizations, holding officer positions on many boards. These include the AANS (Board of Directors 1986-1990); Congress of Neurological Surgeons; Neurosurgical Society of America (president 1998-1999, vice president 1985); Society of Neurological Surgeons (president 1997-1998, treasurer 1991-1996); American Academy of Neurological Surgery (vice president 1994-1995); American Board of Neurological Surgery (chairman 1997-1998, director 1992-1998); and Neurosurgical Residency Review Committee (chairman 1999-2001, vice chairman 1998-1999).

His primary surgical interests include surgical treatment of pituitary tumors, pathology of the craniocervical junction, epilepsy, and primary malignant brain tumors. He has been a visiting guest professor both nationally as well as internationally at various medical schools, and has published more than 100 manuscripts, books, chapters and surgical reviews. Dr. VanGilder maintains an active practice in neurological surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 6,800 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to patients. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Neurosurgery) of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, AC. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system including the spinal column, spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerves.