CHICAGO (April 8, 2002) -- John Jane, MD, was recognized with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) 2002 Distinguished Service Award, at the AANS Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, April 6-11, 2002. The Award recognized Dr. Jane for his many accomplishments and years of dedication to the field of neurosurgery.

John A. Jane, PhD, FRCS, attended the University of Chicago School of Medicine and graduated with a medical degree in 1956. Dr. Jane completed his internship at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal and began his neurosurgical residency at the University of Chicago. Dr. Jane was a fellow in neurophysiology at the Montreal Neurological Institute in 1958 and a senior fellow and demonstrator in neuropathology in 1959 and 1960 at McGill University in Montreal.

In 1961, Dr. Jane went to London to serve as a research assistant to Sir Wylie McKissock, FRCS, at St. George’s Hospital. He also worked at the National Hospital at Queen Square where he conducted his seminal research on the natural history of intracranial aneurysms. Subsequently, he returned to Duke University to study with Dr. Irving Diamond, and in 1967 was awarded his PhD degree from the University of Chicago, Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Biopsychology.

Dr. Jane served his neurosurgical residency from 1963 to 1964 at the University of Illinois Neuropsychiatric Institute. After four years at Case Western Reserve University, he assumed his current position as the Alumni Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. He became the David D. Weaver Professor in 1987.

Dr. Jane has served as Director of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and as Vice President and President of The Society of Neurological Surgeons. He has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Neurosurgery since 1984 and was elected Editor in 1992. In 1985 he received the Grass Award and was the Olivecrona Lecturer. He also received the Alumni Award for distinguished service from the University of Chicago. His clinical interests and research have been dedicated to the treatment of head injury, disorders of the spine and pediatrics.

In addition, he was one of the originators of modern techniques for the treatment of craniofacial disorders.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with nearly 5,500 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. 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.