SAN FRANCISCO - In recognition of his many years of dedication to neurosurgical science and the medical community, Merwyn Bagan, MD, MPH, has been named the recipient of the 2000 Humanitarian Award for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Dr. Bagan is being commended for his extensive volunteer work overseas, in providing neurosurgical care to patients and furthering the development of neurosurgical training in Nepal.

Dr. Bagan earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his medical degree from Boston University in 1962. He completed his neurosurgical training at the National Institutes of Health and The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Bagan was in private practice until 1993. He served as President and Chairman of Healthsource New Hampshire (1985-1993) and Chairman of Healthsource, Inc. (1985-1997). In 1995, he received a master's degree in public health from Boston University's School of Public Health.

Since 1995, Dr. Bagan has lived in Nepal, working as a volunteer at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. He was named visiting professor at the Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine's Department of Surgery in 1997. He has established a neurosurgical unit and trained two general surgeons to become neurosurgeons. Dr. Bagan also has been instrumental in obtaining more than $1 million in medical equipment for the hospital. In recognition of Dr. Bagan’s service, His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal presented Dr. Bagan with the Suprabala Gorkha Dakshin Bahu Award.

In addition to his contributions to neurosurgical practice, Dr. Bagan also has played an active leadership role in several professional medical associations, having served as President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the New Hampshire Medical Society. He served as Treasurer and Vice Chairman of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies and as a member of the American College of Surgeons Advisory Council for Neurological Surgery. He has received numerous awards for his work over the years, including the Congress of Neurological Surgeons' Distinguished Service Award, the Boston City Hospital Ether Prize, the Alumni Award from Boston University, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Boston University School of Medicine.

In recognition of his professional accomplishments and his outstanding service to the development of neurosurgery and care of needy patients in Nepal, the AANS is proud to honor Dr. Merwyn Bagan with the 2000 Humanitarian Award.

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.