Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As 2023 draws to a close, I’d like to share with you some highlights of another eventful and productive year for the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF).

The foundation awarded nearly $2 million in grants and fellowships; we hosted a full schedule of in-person courses for residents and fellows; added Honor Your Mentor (HYM) Funds and held another successful Cushing Bowl in Los Angeles.

For the 2023-24 academic year, NREF awarded the following grants, fellowships and awards:

• 14 Medical Student Summer Research Fellowships
• 9 NREF Research Grants and Young Clinician Investigator Awards
• 24 Clinical Fellowship Grants
• 2 Cerebrovascular Section Traveling Fellowships

We’re enormously grateful to the industry partners and affiliated organizations that support the NREF mission. DePuy Synthes, Globus Medical, Medtronic and NuVasive have provided continued support for NREF Clinical Fellowship Grants. And the NREF extended its collaboration with the American Academy of Neurological Surgery and the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation and launched a new partnership with Gladiator Project to fund research grants.

The NREF sponsored five, in-person Resident Courses in 2023. These free courses are offered to neurosurgical residents and fellows to provide advanced educational training.

The NREF and the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves announced support from the Regis W. Haid, Sanford J. Larson, Stewart B. Dunsker and Volker K. H. Sonntag Honor Your Mentor Funds for a Cervical QOD study through the NeuroPoint Alliance.

HYM Funds continue to grow and celebrate luminaries in neurosurgery. Today, there are 79 HYM funds with pledges of $7,702,638 from 2,679 donors.

In 2023, funds were established in honor of: French-Long-Seljeskog-Maxwell, J. Garber Galbraith, Jacques J. Morcos, Kevin T. Foley, Lynda Yang, Margie Shreve/JNSPG, Michael G. Fehlings and Peter W. Carmel.

The Cushing Circle of Giving was established by the NREF as a lifetime giving society to recognize donors who support the foundation’s research and education efforts. Today, the Cushing Circle represents more than 200 individual and institutional donors for more than $10.1 million in cumulative donations.

The NREF extends its sincere gratitude to the philanthropists who’ve made a substantial commitment to the future of neurosurgery by joining the Cushing Circle. We welcomed the following new members in 2023: Daniel B. Ahlberg, MD, FAANS(L) (Platinum), Brown Neurosurgery (Bronze), James M. Markert, Jr., MD, FAANS (Bronze) and Drs. Shaun & Patricia O’Leary (Bronze).

We also recognize those that have elevated their membership through their continued support of NREF: Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas M. Barbaro (Silver), Charles L. Branch, Jr., MD, FAANS (Gold), J. Flagg Flanagan (Gold), Catherine Anne Mazzola, MD, FAANS (Gold) and Seth M. Weingarten, MD, FAANS(L) (Gold)

The team from Medical College of Georgia was crowned the winner of the second annual Cushing Bowl. This year’s Cushing Bowl raised more than $16,000 to further NREF’s mission of advancing neurosurgical research and education. The annual event, held during the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting, brings residency programs from around the country together to fundraise, build community and encourage friendly competition.

Looking ahead to 2024: Reviewers are hard at work evaluating applications for 2024-25 grants and fellowships; award announcements will be made in the spring. The Van Wagenen Fellowship Committee is hosting a hockey tournament in January and Columbia University will be hosting their annual Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament in June. You’ll have an opportunity to visit with the NREF team at the Spine Summit in February and the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in May.

Along with the Board of Directors, I am committed to expanding the breadth of NREF opportunities for neurosurgeons at all stages of their careers. Watch this space for some exciting announcements in the weeks and months to come.

During this season of giving, we understand that there are many worthy causes out there, and we are grateful for any support you can provide. Your donation will go directly towards funding cutting-edge research and educational initiatives that will have a real impact on the future of neurosurgery.

To make a tax-deductible donation, visit our secure online Donate page. Your gift will help to advance neurosurgery and improve neurosurgical care for our patients.

Thank you for your continued support of the NREF!