AAN Sections: Focus Your Interests in Neurology

AAN Sections are groups within the Academy that provide members who have similar subspecialty or special interests and wish to promote the growth and excellence of that area of neurology.

Select a Section

Section Policy Change

The Executive Council on Sections and Subspecialties (“ECOSS”) and Academy Board of Directors have amended the Policy Concerning Sections, effective April 1, 2013. The Board, ECOSS, and staff believe the amended Policy provides Sections with simple, universal governing policy and empowers Sections for continued success.

Background

In January and February 2013, ECOSS reviewed the Policies Concerning Sections from a perspective of practical application, opportunity for simplification, and best practice. ECOSS and key staff determined Sections are better served having a simple governance policy that provides necessary guidance and structure, which allows Section members and staff liaisons to focus time on the Section’s purpose and projects, rather than the technicalities of formal governing rules.

Material Changes

1. Sections will no longer have bylaws; existing bylaws and the bylaws template are no longer effective. The amended Policy incorporates several key provisions of the bylaws template. Best practices suggest organizations should determine whether their level of complexity requires bylaws to assist in defining the organization and its governance structure or if this is better accomplished via policy. To unify and better define governance structure, Sections are better suited for one, overarching policy; rather than individual bylaws.


2. Sections will no longer have an Executive Committee and Councilors. The Chair and Vice Chair of a Section may request assistance from individual Section members when needed and the Section may establish informal work groups as needed to complete designated projects for the Section. Not having a formally established Executive Committee and Councilors is consistent with Academy Committees.


3. All elections of Section Chairs will be handled online via email vote prior to the Section’s annual business meeting. Nominations may be submitted by email. The affirmative vote of a majority of the responding Section members is required to elect the Chair. Most Section elections are currently held online, this establishes a unified process.


4. The Vice Chair will be appointed by the Chair, rather than elected by the Section. This is consistent with Academy Committees and meets the goal of simplifying the governance process (there will be only one elected position, the Chair).


5. The Chair and Vice Chair will serve one two-year term, and may be re–elected/re–appointed for additional two–year terms, but at no time may they serve more than two terms consecutively (i.e., after two consecutive terms the Chair may not be re–elected for at least two years). This allows for periodic changes in leadership, while preserving the ability of former leaders to reassume leadership roles in future years. 


6. All amendments to the Policy are effective April 1, 2013, except as stated in the Notes, Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Councilors elected prior to April 1, 2013 (which includes those elected at the 2013 Annual Meeting), will serve the remainder of their current term.

Sections provide a forum for:

• Networking with colleagues
• Discussing selected areas of clinical neurology and the basic neurological sciences
• Organizing special interest groups, such as women's issues in neurology and government services

Sections enhance education, research, and patient care by acting as a resource to the AAN and its members by:

• Organizing discussion forums
• Proposing educational programming
• Encouraging research presentation
• Reviewing practice guidelines

Challenge Your Section

The Sports Neurology has successfully hosted two section challenges in conjunction with the Run/Walk for Brain Research and will again be hosting the challenge during the Run/Walk for Brain Research from 6:30–8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19th during the AAN's 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego. Thank you to all who donated to this worthy cause and participated in this important event in the past! Recognition will be given to the sections with the most participants as well as to the section member with the fastest time. Current registration for the challenge stands as follows: