NEW ORLEANS (April 16, 2005) The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) will hold its 73rd Annual Meeting from April 16-21, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. The meeting will host more than 6,000 attendees, with approximately 2,800 medical professionals including neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, physician assistants and allied health professionals. Attending medical professionals will have the chance to further their continuing medical education in specialty areas such as cerebrovascular, pain, pediatrics, spine and peripheral nerves, stereotactic, trauma, and tumor.

Neurosurgeons treat patients for brain tumors, brain and spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, stroke, brain aneurysms, Parkinson's disease, pinched nerves in the neck, low back pain, chronic pain, and a variety of other conditions.

The AANS Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the world. The meeting focuses on the latest research and technological advances in the field. The Scientific Program, which includes 40 practical clinics, 20 general scientific sessions, 80 breakfast seminars, 135 oral abstract presentations, over 500 poster presentations and 770 technical and institutional exhibits (representing more than 220 companies), begins on Monday, April 18.

Special lectures include: The Richard C. Schneider Lecturer Julian Hoff, MD, on Monday, April 18 at 9:50 a.m.; The Ronald L. Bittner Lecturer Darrell Bigner, MD, PhD on Monday, April 18 at 2:45 p.m.; The Van Wagenen Lecturer Charles Warlow, MD, PhD on Tuesday, April 19 at 9:48 a.m.; The Cushing Orator Edmund Morris on Tuesday, April 19 at 12:10 p.m.; The Rhoton Family Lecturer Robert G. Grossman, MD, on Wednesday, April 20 at 9:45 a.m.; The Theodore Kurze Lecturer Martin H. Weiss, MD, on Wednesday, April 20 at 10:58 a.m.; and The Hunt Wilson Lecturer H. J. Peter Ralston, MD, on Wednesday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m.

The 2005 AANS Annual Meeting press kit including press releases and fact sheets on several neurosurgical topics is located in the Media Center Section of the AANS public Web site at: www.NeurosurgeryToday.org/media. The entire AANS annual meeting program also is available online at: www.AANS.org/annual/2005.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with over 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 the public. All active members of the AANS are Board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, A.C.

Media Representatives: If you would like to cover the meeting or interview a neurosurgeon either on-site or via telephone please contact the AANS Communications Department at (847) 378-0517 or call the Annual Meeting Press Room beginning Monday, April 18 at (504) 670-6213.