Commentary
Video
Closing Thoughts on 2024 AUPN Annual Meeting
Author(s):
The meeting with the American Neurologic Association fosters collaboration, networking, and joint sessions, enhancing knowledge sharing among academic neurologists.
The Association for University Professors of Neurology (AUPN) held its first official meeting on June 12, 1967, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, led by interim chairman Dr. Maynard Cohen. This meeting established the Constitution and Bylaws and elected the initial Board of Trustees, comprising Dr. Cohen, Dr. David Daly, Dr. Erland Nelson, Dr. David Clark, and Dr. Norman Geschwind. Following the formal adoption of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws in 1968, the organization's initial officers were elected, with Dr. Cohen serving as the first president.
The organization began its activities in June 1968, addressing various issues such as relationships with the Council of Academic Societies, evaluation of training programs, the impact of federal programs on neurologist training, and research funding. Major concerns for AUPN included legislative issues, representation of neurology, curriculum development, and maintaining communication with key medical organizations. Notable efforts included advocating for the reinstatement of the internship requirement for neurology certification and developing the Neurology Matching Program (NEMP) to streamline resident recruitment and appointments.
On September 14th, the organization will host its first-ever annual meeting, held at the Hilton Orlando Convention Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The AUPN Annual Meeting takes place in conjunction with the 149th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association (ANA). Prior to the meeting, NeurologyLive® hosted a panel discussion featuring John England, MD, current president of AUPN, and Lisa Merlin, MD, FAAN, FANA, one of the organizers of the meeting.
In this segment, England, who also serves as the Richard M. Patterson Professor and chair of neurology at the LSU Health Science Center School of Medicine, and Merlin, who is the Distinguished Professor and vice chair for education at Downstate Health Sciences University, gave closing thoughts on the value of the upcoming meeting and how it coincides with the ANA's conference.
For more information on attending the meeting, click here.
Transcript is edited below for clarity.
John England, MD: I think we should mention that this meeting is in conjunction with the American Neurologic Association (ANA). We have a great partnership with this organization, which has traditionally been geared toward more academic neurologists. In fact, as the ANA meeting continues after our meeting the following week, we are going to have several joint sessions between the AUPN and ANA. We are all the same people with the same goal of imparting knowledge, making this a wonderful collaboration. It gives attendees a chance to participate in two meetings at the same venue, location, and time.
Lisa Merlin, MD: Absolutely, I couldn't agree with you more. It's not just about the sessions offered by both the AUPN and the ANA; it's also about the collegiality and the opportunity to network with colleagues in similar positions facing similar challenges. We get a chance to brainstorm together. As a result, it’s not only a nice reunion for those of us who know each other but also an opportunity to meet new people, find new collaborators, and set up joint research endeavors. It’s a fantastic opportunity because these meetings are much smaller than other national neurology meetings, allowing for more networking opportunities, which I really appreciate.
