Leadership & Governance

AANS leadership is comprised of a dedicated volunteer group of neurosurgeons, chosen through nominations and elections by their peers within the AANS membership.

These esteemed individuals are unwavering in their commitment to the advancement of neurological surgery, with the ultimate goal of enhancing patient care to the highest standard.

Executive Committee


Ex-Officios


Directors-at-Large


Regional Directors


Advisory Council

(Includes the AANS Executive Committee, Ex-Officios, Directors-At-Large, and Regional Directors listed previously)

  • Stavropoula I. Tjoumakaris, MD, FAANS
    Chair, AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section
  • Marco Antonio Barajas Romeo, MD
    President, Mexican Society of Neurological Surgery
  • Marcelo Zenteno Grosz, MD
    President, Latin American Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (FLANC)
  • Katharine J. Drummond, MBBS, IFAANS, FRACS
    President, Asian Australian Society of Neurological Surgeons (AASNS)
  • Owoicho Adogwa, MD, MPH, FAANS
    President, American Society of Black Neurosurgeons (ASBN)
  • Najia El Abbadi, MD, PhD
    President, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS)
  • Steven M. Falowski, MD, FAANS
    Chair, AANS/CNS Section on Pain
  • Constantinos G. Hadjipanayis, MD, PhD, FAANS
    Chair, AANS/CNS Section on Tumors
  • Mark C. Preul, MD
    Chair, AANS Section on the History of Neurosurgery
  • Torstein R. Meling, MD, PhD, IFAANS
    President, European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS)
  • Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD, FAANS
    Chair, AANS/CNS Section on Stereotactic & Functional Surgery
  • Laura A. Snyder, MD, FAANS
    Chair, AANS/CNS Section on Women in Neurosurgery (WINS)
  • John K. Ratliff, MD, FAANS
    Chair, Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS)
  • Howard A. Riina, MD, FAANS
    Secretary, American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS)
  • Abdessamad El Ouahabi, MD
    President, Continental Association of African Neurological Societies (CAANS)
  • Paul M. Arnold, MD, FAANS, FACS
    Chair, AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma & Critical Care
  • Richard C. E. Anderson, MD, FAANS
    Chair, AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery
  • Erica Bisson, MD, FAANS
    Chair, AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine & Peripheral Nerves
  • John H. Wong, MD, FAANS
    Chair, Canadian Neurosurgical Society (CNSS)