SAN DIEGO (April 28, 2003) -- Troy M. Tippett, MD, was recognized with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) 2003 Distinguished Service Award, at the AANS Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, April 26-May 1, 2003. The Award recognized Dr. Tippett for his many accomplishments and years of dedication to the field of neurosurgery.

Dr. Tippett has been in private practice and a member of the Neurosurgical Group in Pensacola, Florida since 1976. Dr. Tippett completed his undergraduate work at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and received his medical degree in 1969 from the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis, Tennessee. He completed internship at City of Memphis Hospitals and neurosurgery residency at the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis.

In addition to his involvement with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Dr. Tippett has served as President of the Neurosurgical Society of America; President of the Florida Neurosurgical Society; member Washington Committee for Neurological Surgery; member AMA CPT Editorial Panel E&M Workgroup; Chair, American Neurosurgical Political Action Committee, and President Escambia County Medical Society, Chief of Staff Baptist Hospital Pensacola, Florida.

He currently serves as Vice President of the Florida Medical Association; Florida Delegate to the American Medical Association; Florida Medical Foundation Board of Directors; Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Board of Directors; Florida Medical Political Action Committee Board of Directors; member AMA Ad Hoc Committee on E&M Guidelines; member AMA CPT/RUC/CMS clinical example taskforce, delegate to Florida Medical Association; Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Consultant. He is also a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Southern Neurosurgical Society and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

He has authored papers and articles for scientific journals on topics including carotid endarterectomy, disc herniation and cervical spine procedures.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 6,500 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.