Committee, Subcommittees to Advance Academic Neurology Initiatives

Academic neurology departments face many challenges, including health care reform, research funding cuts, work force issues, graduate medical education funding cuts, reduced reimbursement for clinical services, increasing regulatory burden, and workforce burnout. In response, the AAN launched its Academic Initiative in 2017 under the leadership of Ralph L. sacco, MD, Ms, FAHA, FAAN, and immediately kicked off efforts by establishing a Neurology Department Chair Work Group and holding its first Neurology Department summit in 2018. since then, efforts have included sharing best practices on topics such as revenue generation and funding the education mission; bringing together women chairs of neurology departments and academic business administrators; developing resources for division chiefs and diversity officers, developing webinars for departments to share information on COVID response, financial repercussions, and reactivating departments after the initial surge; and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, including a webinar on Neurology Departments Addressing systemic Racism. In 2021, an Academic Neurology Committee and four subcommittees were created: Department Chair subcommittee, Diversity Officer Subcommittee, Division Chief subcommittee, and Advancing Women in Academics subcommittee.

“Neurology academic departments deliver clinical care to neurology patients, lead transformative cutting-edge research, and train the leaders of tomorrow in both neurology and neuroscience,” said sacco, chair of the Academic Neurology Committee. “Academic departments and neurologists are critical to the field of neurology and neuroscience and to patients and trainees, but they are also vital to the health of the Academy. As such, it was imperative to examine the needs of academic neurology department in a holistic manner and develop tangible resources and solutions in support of the future of academic neurology. This committee structure can support these aims, similar to the way the Medical Economics and Practice Committee focuses on the clinical and business aspects of the practice of neurology.” Looking forward, the committee and subcommittees are already deep in the planning and execution of the third Neurology Department Chair summit in 2022. Additionally, a new Academic Learner Engagement Center, known as the Academic Exchange, is offered at this week's Annual Meeting. The Academic Exchange provides innovative and interactive education sessions, mentoring, and networking opportunities throughout the week. Additionally, plans are in the works to continually add to the growing number of online programs and resources designed specifically for academic constituents.

“It is essential for the field of neurology and neuroscience—and the AAN as an organization—that the Academy meet the needs of academic neurologists. Towards this end, the AAN is investing in resources that ensure that academic neurologists may rely on the AAN to support them across their professional lifetime,” said AAN President Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN. “The AAN has long been the home for both the academic neurologists and practicing neurologists, and it will continue to be. However, in the past the AAN has primarily focused on medical students, residents, program directors, clerkship directors, and fellowship directors within neurology academic departments, rather than taking a comprehensive approach to identify and address the needs of all constituents, including the leadership within academic neurology departments. The AAN’s Academic Initiative, and the new committee and subcommittees, seek to do just that.” Visit AAN.com for continued updates on the AAN’s Academic Initiative. 