A member uses his iPod touch to cast his vote during one of the periodic audience feedback activities during the plenary and scientific sessions.

With 77 years of annual scientific meetings at their backs and a century of rapid progress in the profession of neurosurgery to draw upon, planners for the 78th AANS Annual Meeting could have relied on long experience with success and produced a traditional meeting that delivered solid science in an educational and enjoyable atmosphere.

But when 2009–2010 AANS President Troy Tippett declared the Philadelphia meeting theme of "Neurosurgery on Fire," he challenged planners to produce the meeting at the level of excellence attendees had come to expect while delivering it in innovative ways.

In addition to Dr. Tippett and AANS staff, planners for the Philadelphia event included: Vincent C. Traynelis, MD, Annual Meeting Committee chair; Matthew A. Howard III, MD, scientific program chair; Nicholas M. Barbaro, MD; Dean Barone, PA-C; Carla Carvalho, MD; E. Sander Connolly Jr., MD; Jonathan A. Friedman, MD; Carl B. Heilman, MD; Twyila Lay, NP; Christopher M. Loftus, MD; Paul C. McCormick, MD; Anil Nanda, MD; Michael Y. Oh, MD; John K. Ratliff, MD; Jon H. Robertson, MD; James T. Rutka, MD; Lawrence M. Shuer, MD; Krystal L. Tomei, MD; Stacey C. Quintero Wolfe, MD; and Edie E. Zusman, MD.

Dr. Tippett's challenge kindled their can-do spirit, resulting in this AANS meeting becoming the first in North America to deliver meeting content on an iPod touch. "Content" included all of the information from the traditional program book, plus poster presentations, special podcasts and videos. The program updates that were sent directly to the devices in the convention center proved to be an additional helpful feature.

As useful as the iPod touch turned out to be for delivery of content, its capacity for interactivity was instrumental in targeting the meeting experience to the individual. For example, a closed wireless network in the convention center allowed medical attendees, whose names were listed on the devices, to connect easily with one another through the special e-mail network. Individuals also could participate in periodic audience feedback activities during the sessions.

For the successful incorporation of the iPod touch into its annual meeting, the AANS was honored with a Trade Show Executive's 2010 Innovations Award. More rewarding by far, however, was the overwhelmingly positive reception by the 3,383 medical attendees during and after debut of the technology at the meeting.

The individual's influence on contemporary events characterized the meeting and was echoed throughout the event, particularly in the special lectures.

In his Presidential Address, "Health Care Reform 2009–2010: A Neurosurgeon's Perspective," Dr. Tippett recounted the progress of healthcare reform legislation and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March. He identified several aspects of the legislation that concerned him, including the fact that many who will become insured will be covered by an expanded Medicaid program. "This is just appalling," he said. "Medicaid is a failed system" which he said pays doctors 55 percent of Medicare fees in his home state of Florida. Invoking Winston Churchill, he called upon neurosurgeons to steel themselves for the "battle just beginning" by being prepared, never giving in, and sticking with neurosurgery's principles, one of which is the enactment of medical liability reform: "We must have medical liability reform," he stressed. After acknowledging neurosurgery's leadership and advocacy in Washington, he concluded with a nod to Thomas Paine: "We must not be summer soldiers or sunshine patriots in this healthcare war."

Cushing orator Newt Gingrich, PhD, offered an overview of the U.S. healthcare system and ideas for improving it, one of which was to "accelerate the rate of adoption of new innovation."

In "Diversity and the Next 25 Years: Are We Moving Fast Enough?" Louise Eisenhardt lecturer Mary Sue Coleman, PhD, argued that diversity, whether in a university's student body or the physician workforce, is essential for problem solving and is one of America's greatest strengths.

And Richard C. Schneider lecturer Alex B. Valadka, MD, discussed "Disruptive Innovation in Neurosurgery: Trauma as a Paradigm." "I never thought I'd see the day when I would give a talk to a medical audience that had more business terms that medical terms," he said, going on to explain that disruptive innovation is a Harvard business term for socially transformative entities like the telephone, personal computer and the Internet. Applying the concept to several neurotrauma scenarios, he demonstrated how neurotrauma care might be revolutionized, improving outcomes.

From "revolution" in Philadelphia, the AANS looks ahead to exploration of "new frontiers" in Denver. The AANS meeting will be earlier next year, April 9–13, and the AANS invites you to save the dates and join your colleagues for the 79th annual event.

2011 AANS Annual Meeting: Important Dates
Discovering Neurosurgery: New Frontiers
April 9–13, 2011, Denver, Colo.

• Nov. 1 – Registration for members opens.
• Nov. 15 – Registration for nonmembers opens.
• Jan. 17 – Members can register for practical clinics, breakfast seminars and other ticketed events.
• Jan. 31 – Everyone can register for all events.
• March 11 – Advance registration deadline.

For Further Information
Annual Meeting information
Annual Meeting sessions: online access or DVD format
2010 Presidential Address