Annual Reports
The Annual Report includes information on the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Brain Foundation programs and finances, and AAN Enterprises, Inc. (AEI). The AAN also provides financial disclosure and audit information on each of its subsidiaries.
From the 2008 Annual Report Introduction
In 2008, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the American Academy of Neurology. Such landmarks are good occasions to look back and see how far we've come as both an organization and as a profession. But just as A.B. Baker and others formed this association to better assist neurology professionals with their careers and service to their patients, our leadership spent much of 2008 reexamining our vision, mission, and core values. We want to ensure that the efforts of your fellow members who volunteer on committees and subcommittees and the work of our talented staff are properly aligned to the needs of the neurology professional of today—and that you are well prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow.
One of the results of this self-examination was to distill the AAN mission statement down to its essence, connecting it to a clearly articulated vision that should underlie every endeavor contemplated or carried out by Academy leadership and staff:
The Vision of the AAN is to be indispensable to our members.
The Mission of the AAN is to promote the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care and enhance member career satisfaction.
Quite simply, the AAN exists to serve the needs of our members: neurologists, including neurologists in training, neuroscientists, business managers, neuropsychologists, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, graduate students and medical students. We also are called upon by non-neurologist physicians, neurology patients and their caregivers, and the public. We are a national organization that is privileged to enjoy worldwide membership and universal respect.
To help provide us with a comprehensive understanding of the state of our profession and the forces that are exerted on it, the Board of Directors established the Board Planning Committee. This group conducted a scan of the neurology environment and outlined risks and opportunities, both short and long term. Our new goals and strategies are reflective of the data we have collected. Having a thorough understanding of our environment also improves our ability to be more agile and proactive in anticipating and responding to new data or situations. As the economies in the United States and around the world began to contract in the fall of 2008, we took steps to position ourselves financially to ride out this storm with minimal impact on our members and the services we provide to you. We examined our budgets and priorities and cut costs, avoiding any increase in member dues for 2009. We looked for further efficiencies in how we operate. Most of these steps will be invisible to members, and you will continue to enjoy the wonderful benefits the Academy offers through membership.
One example of cost savings is this 2008 Annual Report, our first to be published only online, thus saving considerable costs for printing and postage—as well as being friendlier to the environment. An advantage with this approach is that we have embedded links to information on AAN.com that you can access instantly. Please let us know if this online Annual Report appeals to you.
