Course Review

The first "Innovations in Spinal Fixation: An Advanced Course," held in July 2002 at the MERI facility was attended by a sold-out crowd of twenty-five neurosurgeons from across the country and one international neurosurgeon from Pakistan. Course Directors Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD, Regis W. Haid, Jr., MD, and J. Patrick Johnson, MD, in conjunction with AANS developed an exciting educational event that presented the viewpoints and techniques of world-renowned neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons who constituted the program faculty.

Drs. Shaffrey and Haid's involvement were critical to the success of the program, especially in the recruitment of the hybrid faculty. As Dr. Haid stated, "We were extremely gratified to see the international leaders in orthopaedic deformity surgery teaching at an AANS hands-on cadaveric course. Only by neurosurgical and orthopaedic cooperation can these disciplines continue to advance the field of spine care. The AANS has continued to assume a leadership role in promoting joint educational ventures with our colleagues."

The program was a day-and-a-half in length and combined didactic with hands-on teaching methodologies. Each of the three sessions (Thoracic Instrumentation, Lumbar/Sacral/Pelvic Instrumentation and Occipitocervical Instrumentation) began with lectures on the program content and ended with time in the lab to implement what had been learned in the didactic session. Eight stations were set-up, consisting of three to four attendees and one to two faculty members. The purpose of this structure was to allow for a high faculty to participant ratio, which ensured the provision of individualized instruction.

Dr. Shaffrey commented, "The course was a success because it was set up as a mentoring experience rather than a traditional meeting. The number of participants was limited to preserve a high faculty to participant ratio. The world-renowned faculty was selected for their ability to work effectively on a one-on-one basis with each of the participants. Time and flexibility was built into the course to address surgical techniques needed to overcome specific problems in each participant's practice. These techniques where discussed didactically, demonstrated on the cadavers by the faculty then performed by the participant under direct supervision. I feel every participant learned at least several "pearls" that can be used immediately to improve their patient care."

Additionally, as AANS analyzed the organization's re-entry into the clinical education market, it was identified that keeping the program registration fees for the membership low and affordable was of the utmost importance to conducting a successful offering. To make this a reality, AANS partnered with Medtronic Sofamor Danek and DePuy Acromed who provided equal educational grants in support of the program and exhibited on-site. Without this support, a program such as this becomes cost-prohibitive for the attendee and the organization.