Donald O. Quest, MD, FAANS, Named 2012 AANS Cushing Medalist

Donald O. Quest, MD, FAANS, was presented with the 2012 Cushing Medal, the highest honor granted by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), on April 17, 2012, during the association’s 80th Annual Scientific Meeting in Miami. He is being honored for his many years of outstanding leadership, dedication and contributions to the field of neurosurgery.

Dr. Quest joined the Department of Neurological Surgery at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1978, and rose to become professor of clinical neurosurgery in 1989. He served as Vice Chairman of the Department from 1991 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2008; he also served as Acting Chairman twice, 1993-1994 and 1996-1997. Dr. Quest has served as Assistant Dean of Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons since 2003.

Dr. Quest graduated from the University of Illinois with honors in mathematics in 1961, followed by active-duty service as a U.S Navy aviator aboard the U.S.S. Kittyhawk in the Vietnam conflict from 1961 to 1966. He was awarded his MD from Columbia in 1970. Following a surgical internship and residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital in 1970-1972, Dr. Quest was a resident in neurological surgery at the Neurological Institute of New York at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center from 1972 to 1975, and was chief resident from 1975 to 1976. He served as an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the Downstate Medical Center of the State University of New York from 1976 to 1978 before returning to Columbia.

Dr. Quest has served as president of the AANS (2007-2008), the CNS (1986-1987) and the American Academy of Neurological Surgery (2001-2002). He also was the AANS Scientific Program Committee chairman (1990-1991), Annual Meeting chairman (1991-1992) and vice president (1994-1995). In addition to belonging to the AANS, he is a member of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the Neurological Society of America and the Society of Neurological Surgeons.

The Harvey Cushing Medal, the most prestigious award the AANS can bestow on a member, was established at the recommendation of AANS past president Lester Mount, MD, in 1976. Given annually since 1977, the award recognizes an AANS member for distinguished service in the field of neurosurgery.

Cushing Medalists

2012 Donald O. Quest, MD, FAANS
2011 A. John Popp, MD, FAANS
2010 Roberto C. Heros, MD, FAANS
2009 Edward H. Oldfield, MD, FAANS
2008 Charles B. Wilson, MD, FAANS
2007 Robert G. Grossman, MD, FAANS
2006 David G. Kline, MD, FAANS
2005 Martin H. Weiss, MD, FAANS, FACS
2004 John A. Jane Sr., MD, PhD, FAANS
2003 Stewart B. Dunsker, MD, FAANS
2002 Edward R. Laws Jr., MD, FAANS
2001 Julian T. Hoff, MD
2000 Russell H. Patterson Jr., MD, FACS
1999 David L. Kelly Jr., MD, FAANS
1998 Albert L. Rhoton Jr., MD, FAANS
1997 Robert G. Ojemann, MD
1996 Shelley N. Chou, MD
1995 Richard De Saussure Jr., MD
1994 Byron C. Pevehouse, MD
1993 Sidney Goldring, MD
1992 W. Eugene Stern, MD, FAANS
1991 William F. Collins Jr., MD
1990 Robert B. King, MD
1989 Lester A. Mount, MD
1988 Charles G. Drake, MD
1987 William F. Meacham, MD
1986 Lyle French, MD
1985 Francis Murphey, MD
1984 Eben Alexander Jr., MD
1983 Guy L. Odom, MD
1982 W. James Gardner, MD
1981 Bronson S. Ray, MD
1980 Paul C. Bucy, MD
1979 Henry G. Schwartz, MD
1978 William H. Sweet, MD, DSc
1977 Frank H. Mayfield, MD

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 8,100 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to patients. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Neurosurgery) of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, AC. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system including the spinal column, spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerves. For more information, visit www.AANS.org.