Cross-sectional examination of current and future trends and attributes of the presidents of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons societies

Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the academic attributes of the presidents of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) over the past four decades to elucidate the trajectories of these societies' leaderships.

Methods: Forty-three AANS and 43 CNS presidents of the past four decades were identified. Demographic and research productivity data were collected from publicly available sources.

Results: Compared to AANS presidents, CNS presidents were younger (median = 48 years vs. 59.5 years; p < 0.001), had fewer years of practice prior to their election (15 years vs. 28 years; p < 0.001), had higher NIH funding rate (37.2% vs. 11.6%; p = 0.01), and higher rate of practicing at academic institutions (93% vs. 74.4%; p = 0.04). The CNS presidents had a comparable median number of publications at election (AANS: 72 vs. CNS: 94 publications, p = 0.78) but a higher median h-index scores (AANS: 28 vs. CNS: 59; p = 0.04). In the multiple linear regression analysis, vascular subspecialty (β = 0.21 [95% CI: 0.09-0.34]; p = 0.002) and practicing in a non-academic institution (β = 0.23 [95% CI: 0.08-0.39]; p = 0.007) were predictors for later election for AANS presidency.

Conclusions: We characterized the attributes of AANS and CNS presidents to serve as useful references for career trajectories for junior neurosurgeons and trainees. Research and academic presence seem to be associated with early election to both societies.