This committee develops and promotes organized neurosurgery’s positions on issues affecting the specialty. Through advocacy, policy development, and public relations, the committee and the Washington office work vigorously to defend and protect the ability of neurosurgeons to practice medicine freely, and to help ensure the continued advancement of neurological surgery.
This work is critical, as organized neurosurgery continues to be at the forefront of health policy debates, and constantly make it clear to policymakers in the nation’s capital that we are dedicated to advancing neurological surgery and promoting the highest quality of patient care.
Visit the Legislative Affairs section for information on the committee's current efforts.
Committee Members
| John Ratliff |
Chair |
| Maya Babu |
CNS Appointee |
| Alexander A. Khalessi |
CNS Appointee |
| Russell R. Lonser |
CNS Appointee |
Ex-Officio
| Brian L. Hoh |
CNS |
| Steven N. Kalkanis |
CNS |
| Christopher I. Shaffrey |
AANS |
| John A. Wilson |
AANS |
Liaisons
| Nitin Agarwal |
WC-AMA Alternate Fellow |
| Kenneth S. Blumenfeld |
American Medical Association |
| Mohamad Bydon |
Spine Section |
| Mary Cloninger |
NERVES |
| Abdullah Feroze |
WC-AMA Alternate Fellow |
| Robert E. Harbaugh |
Washington Committee-AMA Fellow |
| Carl B. Heilman |
American Board of Neurological Surgeons |
| Michael E. Ivan |
AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee |
| Brian V. Nahed |
Tumor Section |
| Jay K. Nathan |
WC-AMA Fellow |
| Joseph S. Neimat |
Stereotactic and Functional Section |
| John E. O'Toole |
Joint Guidelines Review Committee |
| J. Adair Prall |
Joint Guidelines Review Committee |
| Paul L. Penar |
Neurosurgery Quality Council |
| Mark R. Proctor |
Pediatric Section |
| Maryam Rahman |
Women in Neurosurgery Section |
| Patricia B. Raksin |
Joint Guidelines Review Committee; Trauma Section |
| Ralph F. Reeder |
Neurosurgery Quality Council |
| Joshua M. Rosenow |
American Medical Association |
| Clemens M. Schirmer |
Communications and Public Relations Committee |
| Jason M. Schwalb |
Pain Section |
| Mark A. Spatola |
NeurosurgeryPAC |
| Michael P. Steinmetz |
CSNS/Neurosurgery Quality Council |
| Jennifer A. Sweet |
Joint Guidelines Review Committee |
| Krystal L. Tomei |
American Medical Association |
| Luis M. Tumialán |
Coding and Reimbursement Committee |
| Alex B. Valadka |
American Board of Neurological Surgeons (alternate) |
| G. Edward Vates |
Coding and Reimbursement Committee |
| William C. Welch |
ACS; Drugs and Devices Committee |
| Henry H. Woo |
CV Section; Coding and Reimbursement Committee |
| Brett E. Youngerman |
Neurosurgery Quality Council |
Staff Liaison
| Katie O. Orrico |
Director, Washington Office |