Welcome to the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Web site. Greetings from the New President Dear Colleagues and Friends It is a great honor to be elected as President of the WSSFN. Looking back the long history of our Society, I feel we have inherited the valuable legacy of the great neurosurgeons and neuroscientists who devoted themselves to the field of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. We also have to remember that many techniques and devices used in general neurosurgical practice today came from the activities of our Society. Gamma knife, Cyber knife, navigation surgery, intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring and mapping, awake surgery, neuroendoscope, and even intraoperative MRI were born in our Society. During the past presidency of Professor Andres Lozano, our Society has progressed dramatically, and the Quadrennial Meeting in Toronto was very successful. We have seen that we are facing an innovation breakthrough and we are ready for that. Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery is progressing at a tremendous pace, and now it is one of the most important subspecialties in neurosurgery. Many young brilliant neurosurgeons are joining to this field, and it is the Society’s responsibility to guide and educate them to establish leadership of the next generation. We also have to remember that there are still many areas in the world where modern stereotactic and functional neurosurgery is not readily available. I have visited such areas many times for teaching and have realized that demands for stereotactic and functional neurosurgery are enormous even in such areas. Resection surgery for epilepsy, thalamotomy or pallidotomy for Parkinson’s disease, open cordotomy, DREZotomy or cingulotomy for pain, and neurotomy or dorsal rhizotomy for cerebral palsy children are much cheaper, more affordable, and more realistic for people there than chronic medical treatment. Therefore, we have to preserve our traditional knowledge and skill that are diminishing in developed countries in order to make best of it on a global scale. I hope our new outreach program organized by the tremendous effort of Dr Jason Schwalb is also helpful. I would like to encourage the members to hold a local meeting or a training course under the joint auspices of the WSSFN. The leaders of the WSSFN are ready to collaborate with you. The new officers (Takaomi Taira, Joachim Krauss, Michael Schulder, Jin Woo Chang) and the 15 members of the board of directors have already started new activities. Dr Osvaldo Vilela Filho chairs Psychiatric Surgery Committee in which they will discuss future direction of this old but new area. We have simplified the method of membership application through online to encourage more people to join our Society. Ms Melody Dian, a new administrator of our Society, is doing excellent job for us. Dr Michael Oh is preparing for newsletter issued twice a year, and Dr Joseph Neimat is editing and updating our website (www.wssfn.org). I owe these contributors much. The President and other leaders of our Society exist not for prestigious purpose but to serve actively for the members and to develop this exciting field of neurosurgery. If you have any suggestions or proposals, please do not hesitate to contact me via E-mail (ttaira@nij.twmu.ac.jp). I very much look forward to serving as your President and moving forward with you. Yours sincerely, President Takaomi Taira, M.D., Ph.D. WSSFN Membership Outreach Program The WSSFN is pleased to announce a pilot program of free first-year membership to the WSSFN to the first 50 neurosurgeons to apply from underprivileged countries, as determined by World Bank criteria. Karger is generously providing free on-line subscriptions to Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery for this period. Pilot members may obtain a print subscription for the cost of postage (US$53.70). To apply check the Membership Outreach Program box on the standard membership application. Reduced registration fees to the upcoming WSSFN meeting in Toronto May 24-27 are available to members. WSSFN and ESSFN create consensus definition of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Click here to learn more...

2009 Spiegel and Wycis Award Announced The WSSFN announces that Marc Sindou M.D., D.Sc. and Takashi Tsubukawa M.D., Ph.D. will be the recipients of the 2009 Spiegel and Wycis Award. The Spiegel-Wycis Award is presented at each quadrennial meeting of the WSSFN to one or two senior neurosurgeons who throughout their career have contributed to the advancement of the field of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. The WSSFN leadership is pleased to add these distinguished names to the roll of previous recipients. New reduced rates for special member categories! Click here for more info..." WSSFN Journal, click here