FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN DIEGO (May 4, 2009) - In recognition of his unwavering dedication to neurosurgical science and the medical community, Armando J. Basso, MD, PhD, has been named the recipient of the 2009 Humanitarian Award of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). The award will be presented at 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 at the AANS Annual Meeting in San Diego, May 4-6, 2009. Dr. Basso has been an International member of the AANS since 1994. He has been awarded honorary membership in numerous neurosurgical organizations, including the AANS, in 2005.

Dr. Basso has been a visionary leader in organized neurosurgery, both regionally and internationally. He is past president of the Argentine Neurosurgical Association, the Latin American Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), and the World Federation of Skull Base Societies. He is currently president of the WFNS Foundation, and historian and honorary president of the WFNS.

Over the years, Dr. Basso has been an instrumental force in furthering the core educational mission of the WFNS. He has demonstrated unwavering dedication, creating and teaching neurosurgical courses in developing countries around the world. In addition, on behalf of the WFNS, Dr. Basso has worked collaboratively with the World Health Organization to publish worldwide trauma data.

Fluent in Portuguese, Dr. Basso has been an official guest of national congresses and regional meetings in Brazil for many years. His contribution to the teaching and development of the specialty in Brazil has been outstanding and unparalleled.

Dr. Basso was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and began his medical studies at the School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires in 1952. Prior to graduating from medical school in 1958, he traveled to the United States to Elizabeth, N.J. with a fellowship in neuropharmacology.

In 1960, Dr. Basso initiated his neurosurgical training at the Institute of Neurosurgery, University of Buenos Aires, under the guidance of German Dickman, a disciple of Walter Dandy. During those years, he devoted time to the pathology of hypophyseal tumors and began work on his doctoral thesis on electron microscopy of hypophyseal adenomas, under the supervision of Eduardo DeRobertis.

Pursuing his interest in transsphenoidal surgery, he traveled to Paris in 1965, and under the guidance of Gerard Guiot, actively participated as foreign resident and later as associated investigator in the development of his master's research on hypophyseal and skull base surgery, as well as surgical treatment of dyskinesias. In Paris he worked with Albe Fessard, who was instrumental in nurturing his academic interest and devotion to basic sciences. In 1969 he met Gazi Yasargil, learning the intricacies of microneurosurgery, which he introduced to Argentina and South America in 1973.

Dr. Basso was appointed professor of neurosurgery at the University of Buenos Aires in 1986, and is currently director of the Applied Neurosciences Institute and professor at that institution. His more than 160 peer-reviewed publications focus primarily on skull base pathology and surgery.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 7,400 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.

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