Newswise — SAN DIEGO (April 15, 2019) — Anthony L. Asher, MD, FAANS, has been named treasurer of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). The association announced his appointment during the 87th AANS Annual Scientific Meeting, held in San Diego, April 13-17, 2019.
Dr. Asher is Director and Chief of Clinical Operations of Atrium Health’s Neuroscience Institute and is Neurological Surgery Residency Program Director at Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center. He is also Clinical Professor in Neurosurgery at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center, and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Dr. Asher attended Wayne State University School of Medicine, where he was awarded one of the original Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholarships. Dr Asher completed his neurosurgery residency training at the University of Michigan Hospitals and also served as a Staff Fellow in the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute, NIH.
Since the completion of his residency training and fellowship, Dr. Asher has been a member of the Charlotte, NC based Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, where his primary practice interests include neuro-oncology, minimally invasive spine surgery, stereotactic surgery, and trigeminal neuralgia. Dr. Asher founded and is Surgical Director of the multi-disciplinary Adult Brain Tumor Program at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute. He is co-founder of the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas. Dr. Asher has wide-ranging medical research experience, and has established cooperative cancer and spine investigative programs with clinical and laboratory scientists at community and academic institutions across the country. He has served as a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Principal Investigator. Dr. Asher has been recognized yearly as one of the Best Doctors in America since 2003. He has also been recognized as one of the nation’s Top Doctors for Cancer Care.
Dr. Asher holds or has held senior leadership roles and memberships in several key medical professional organizations. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS; President 2007–2008), the American Medical Association (AMA; Advisory Committee, National Quality Registry Network) and the Southern Neurosurgical Society. He is a past director and vice-chairman of the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS). He was a member of the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Executive Committee for over a decade and is a member of the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of Spine and Peripheral Nerves. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and a past chairman of the Brain Organ Site Group of the ACS Oncology Group. He has been elected to the American Academy of Neurological Surgery and the Society of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Asher has extensive leadership experience in neurosurgical education and quality improvement. He is vice chairman of the NeuroPoint Alliance (NPA) and co-founded as well as presently serves as director of the National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database (QOD). He is past co-chairman of the AANS/CNS National Quality Council. He is past chairman of the ABNS Data and Quality Improvement Committee and was principal developer of the ABNS Practice and Outcomes of Surgical Therapies (POST) project. He presently chairs the Privacy and Research Task Force of the AMA National Quality Registry Network Council and was a member of the National Quality Forum (NQF) Surgery Standing Committee, the Neurology Clinical Working Group of the CMS Episode Grouper Project and the American Board of Medical Specialties Improvement in Medical Practice Task Force. He has interacted with numerous federal agencies as a representative of organized neurosurgery on matters related to the intersection of human subjects research and quality improvement, including the HHS Offices of Human Research Protections, Civil Rights and the HHS Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections. He has led cooperative applied quality improvement programs with the NPA and the Institute for Quality Improvement (IHI). He co-developed several novel educational programs, including the Self-Assessment of Neurological Surgery On-Line (SANS), Integrated Medical Learning and the Neurosurgical Forum.
Dr. Asher is recognized nationally for his development of advanced care, clinical research and other academic efforts within the context of a large community practice. His current academic focus is the development of cooperative clinical outcomes databases and related programs to involve clinicians and scientists in quality improvement efforts across all practice settings.
“I am extremely honored by this appointment, and I feel fortunate to be able to contribute to one of the preeminent surgical societies in the world.” stated Dr. Asher. “In this role, I look forward to helping ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the AANS’ numerous and essential advocacy, education and research efforts.”
Media Representatives: The 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting website’s press section includes releases on highlighted scientific research, AANS officers and award winners and other relevant information about the 2019 program. Releases will be posted on the 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting website. If you have interest in a topic related to neurosurgery or would like to interview a neurosurgeon — either onsite or via telephone — during or after the event, please contact Alice Kelsey, AANS associate executive director, via email at [email protected].
About the 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting
Attended by neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents, medical students, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, physician assistants, allied health professionals and other medical professionals, the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the nation, with an emphasis on the field’s latest research and technological advances. The scientific presentations accepted for the 2019 event will represent cutting-edge examples of the incredible developments taking place within the field of neurosurgery. Find additional information about the 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting and the meeting program here.
About the AANS
Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 11,500 members worldwide. The AANS promotes the highest quality of patient care and advances the specialty of neurological surgery. Fellows of the AANS are board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, A.C. Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the spinal column, spinal cord, brain, nervous system and peripheral nerves.
For more information, visit www.AANS.org.
Meeting Link: 2019 American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting
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