SAN FRANCISCO - Robert H. Wilkins, MD, was recognized with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) 2000 Distinguished Service Award, at the AANS Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California, April 8-13, 2000. The Award recognized Dr. Wilkins for his many his many accomplishments and years of dedication to the field of neurosurgery.

After earning his bachelor's and medical degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Wilkins went on to serve his internship and residency in neurological surgery at Duke University. He became Board certified in 1970.

Dr. Wilkins began his academic career as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC). He later served as Chair of the Division of Neurosurgery at DUMC (1976-1996), and presently assumes the role of Professor of Neurosurgery.

An active volunteer in the AANS, Dr. Wilkins has served as Treasurer (1989-1992); Chair of Publications Committee (1988-1993); and Chair of the AANS Annual Meeting (1984). He also was a member AANS/CNS Section on Cerebrovascular Surgery Executive Committee (1989-1991). In addition, he has served as Chair of the American Board of Neurological Surgery (1996-1997); Vice President of the Society of Neurological Surgeons (1995-1996); President of the Southern Neurosurgical Society (1992-1993); and President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (1979-1980).

A prolific writer and investigator, Dr. Wilkins has authored and co-authored more than 300 books and scientific journal articles on a variety of neurosurgical topics, including intracranial arterial spasm, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and acoustic neuromas. He has served as Editor of Clinical Neurosurgery (1972-1975); Associate Editor of Surgical Neurology (1975-1976); and Founding Editor of Neurosurgery (1977-1982), where he still remains on the Editorial Board. In addition, he served as the principal author of the AANS' Neurosurgical Classics, was a member of the Journal of Neurosurgery's (JNS) Editorial Board (1987-1997), as well as Chairman of the JNS Editorial Board (1996-1997)

Dr. Wilkins has received numerous honors throughout his career, including the Congress of Neurological Surgeons' Distinguished Service Award. He has been the University of Rochester's Frank P. Smith Lecturer, Oregon Neurosurgical Society's John Raaf Lecturer, Ohio State University's William E. Hunt Lecturer, the Southern Neurosurgical Society's R. Eustace Semmes Lecturer, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Foundation Lecturer, and Northwestern University's Loyal Davis Lecturer.

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 Board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the spine, brain, nervous system and peripheral nerves.