A History of Supporting Neurologists with Lifelong Learning Opportunities continued

Support for Academic Neurology

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 Chairs 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, from page 15 financial repercussions, and reactivating departments after the initial surge; and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including a webinar on Neurology Departments Addressing Systemic Racism. The summit was renamed the Ralph L. Sacco Neurology Chair Summit in 2022 in honor of the education leader who passed away in January 2023. In 2021, leadership created an Academic Neurology Committee and four subcommittees: 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, then 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.”

A linchpin of the AAN’s efforts to cultivate future neurology professionals since 1998, the Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) program introduces medical students to the specialty. There currently are 136 active SIGN chapters, with 30 of those on international campuses. These efforts align with the Academy’s goals to increase the pipeline by engaging with students so they choose neurology. We provide scholarships and programming to bring awareness, then continue to foster their career pathways by providing novel ways, resources, tools, for them to flourish as neurologists, researchers, and educators.

Since 1993, the bimonthly self-assessment publication Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology® has helped neurologists keep abreast of the latest clinical and scientific developments. Continuum was created by former AAN President Theodore Munsat, MD, FAAN, who was the founding program director, and Elliott Mancall, MD, FAAN, who served as the first editor from 1993 to 2002. During the term of Editor-in-Chief Aaron E. Miller, MD, FAAN, subscriptions grew from 2,000 to more than 9,000, and Continuum received ABPN approval for lifelong learning and self-assessment components of maintenance of certification. Steven L. Lewis, MD, FAAN, followed Miller in 2013. After Lewis’s term expired, Lyell K. Jones, Jr., MD, FAAN, took the reins in 2023.

Continuum® Audio was launched in 2012 to provide deeper insights into each printed issue via discussions with article authors. Initially separate subscriptions, Continuum and Continuum Audio were bundled together for subscribers beginning in 2017.

Innovation, Convenience, and Value

With the guidance of volunteer members who are leaders in neurology education, innovation, convenience, and value will continue to drive the creation of new resources for Academy members. The AAN has come a long way from A.B Baker’s first education program slides, but it has never wavered from the founder’s desire to provide top-notch education and training programs for neurologists across the globe—ensuring the best possible care for our patients now and into the future. 

Members in Training: Renew Your Membership for 2023–2024 Academic Year

Do you have an AAN Junior membership? If so, it’s time to renew your membership for the 2023–2024 academic year, which runs July 1 through June 30. Only by renewing now can you maintain uninterrupted access to the resources and connections you’ll need—when you need them—to enhance your training and professional development over the next year. Visit AAN.com/membership to see all the ways your membership with the world’s largest and most trusted community of neurology professionals provides valuable resources to help you bolster your patient care and professional success, and visit AAN.com/memberdues to renew today.* 

*If your training program typically pays for your AAN membership, please contact your program coordinator for assistance.

DATES & DEADLINES

JULY

July 12

Neurology Career Center Speed Networking Careers.aan.com

July 14

World Brain Day WFNeurology.org/world-brain-day-2023

July 28–29

AAN Summer Conference: Emergency and Hospital Neurology Minneapolis and Online AAN.com/Summer

July 31

Application Deadline:

UCNS Fellowship Training Program Accreditation UCNS.org/Accreditation

Submission Deadline:

UCNS Continuous Certification Reading List UCNS.org/ArticleSubmission

AUGUST

August 3

Registration Opens: AAN Fall Conference AAN.com/Fall

Where the Top Jobs and Top Talent Connect!

August 31

Early Registration Deadline: AAN Fall Conference

AAN.com/Fall

SEPTEMBER

September 14

Application Deadline: 2024 Research Program Grants AAN.com/ResearchProgram

September 28

Advance Registration and Hotel Deadline: AAN Fall Conference AAN.com/Fall