FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN DIEGO (May 4, 2009) - The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) will hold its 77th Annual Meeting at the San Diego Convention Center. The AANS is expected to host more than 6,000 attendees, with an estimated 3,000 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/functional, trauma, and tumor, as well as participate in sessions focusing on the key socioeconomic issues affecting neurosurgeons and their patients.

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. They provide both surgical and nonsurgical treatment.

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. During the weekend, 37 practical clinics and four International Masters practical clinics will offer state-of-the art continuing medical education to medical attendees only. The Scientific Program, which opens officially on Monday, May 4, includes 17 general scientific sessions, three plenary sessions, an International Symposium, 73 breakfast seminars, 189 oral abstract presentations, several hundred electronic poster presentations, and more than 800 exhibit booths representing about 200 companies.

Special lectures include: The Richard C. Schneider Lecturer Edward R. Laws Jr., MD, Monday, May 4, 9:50 am; The Hunt-Wilson Lecturer Evan Snyder, MD, PhD, Monday, May 4, 10:55 am; The Cushing Orator Uwe E. Reinhardt, PhD, Monday, May 4, 12:25 pm; The Ronald L. Bittner Lecturer Robert L. Martuza, MD, Monday, May 4, 2:45 pm; The Van Wagenen Lecturer Anders Bjorklund, MD, Tuesday, May 5, 11:04 am; The Theodore Kurze Lecturer John C. Reed, MD, PhD, Tuesday, May 5, 11:34 am; The Rhoton Family Lecturer Admiral William Joseph Fallon, Wednesday, May 6, 11:15 a.m.; and The Louise Eisenhardt Lecturer Geraldine Brooks, Wednesday, May 6, 12:36 pm.

The 2009 AANS Annual Meeting press kit includes releases on highlighted scientific research, AANS officer and award winners, and Neurosurgery Awareness Week. This is located in the Media Center Section of the AANS public Web site at: http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/media/press.asp. The AANS Annual Meeting Preliminary Program is available online at: http://www.aans.org/annual/2009/pdfs/PrelimProgramFinal.pdf.

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

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