FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO (April 24, 2006) - The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) will hold its 74th Annual Meeting from April 24-27, at the Moscone South Convention Center in San Francisco. 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 neck and low back pain, brain tumors, brain and spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, stroke, brain aneurysms, Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, chronic pain, and a variety of other conditions.

The AANS Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the nation. The meeting focuses on the latest research and technological advances in the field. The Scientific Program, which includes 38 practical clinics, 19 general scientific sessions, 77 breakfast seminars, 135 oral abstract presentations, more than 500 poster presentations and 785 technical and institutional booths (representing more than 230 companies), opens officially on Monday, April 24.

Special lectures include: The Rhoton Family Lecturer Volker K.H. Sonntag, MD, on Monday, April 24 at 9:50 a.m.; The Cushing Orator George F. Will on Monday, April 24 at 12:15 p.m.; The Ronald L. Bittner Lecturer Mitchel S. Berger, MD, FACS, on Monday, April 24 at 2:45 p.m.; The Van Wagenen Lecturer Michael Merzenich, PhD, on Tuesday, April 25 at 9:50 a.m.; The Richard C. Schneider Lecturer Arthur L. Day, MD, FACS, on Wednesday, April 26 at 9:45 a.m.; The Theodore Kurze Lecturer Mark Bernstein, MD, FRCSC, on Wednesday, April 26 at 10:55 a.m.; and the Hunt-Wilson Lecturer Arnold R. Kriegstein, MD, PhD, on Wednesday, April 26 at 12:25 p.m.

The 2006 AANS Annual Meeting press kit includes releases on highlighted scientific research, officer and award winners, and Neurosurgery Awareness Week patient stories. This is located in the Media Center Section of the AANS public Web site at: www.NeurosurgeryToday.org/media. The entire AANS Annual Meeting Preliminary Program is available online at: www.aans.org/annual/2006/default.asp.

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 24 at (415) 978-3511.