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  • CNS Foundation Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    From leaders of large medical institutions to the youngest early career practitioners, one of the most pressing responsibilities in the medical field is to increase inclusivity by improving the collective practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Prioritizing DEI will make neurosurgeons better leaders and investigators. Perhaps most importantly, this new priority will make us better practitioners for our patients and their families, help us diversify the neurosurgery workforce and overcome health care disparities. 

  • DEI Abstracts

    Adjudicated through the 2024 CNS Annual Meeting Abstract Center.

    2023 Winners: Rohaid Ali, Jean-Luc Kabangu, Momodou Bah

    Recognizing outstanding research on diversity, equity, and inclusion impacting neurosurgery workforce or patient care (up to three per year, during CNS Annual Meeting).  
    Generously supported by Medtronic.

    Annual DEI Impact Award

    • November 15, 2023 Applications Open
    • February 1, 2024: Applications Close
    • March 2024: Announcement of Winners

    Generously supported by Medtronic and Stryker

    Description: The DEI Impact Award will recognize work done by a neurosurgeon for their outstanding DEI and community engagement work to share best practices in addressing disparity in equity and inclusion. Limited to four awards per year.

    • The award is intended to recognize and promote a successful intervention in place within the United States.
    • The intervention must still be actively in practice.
    • The financial award is intended to provide honorarium support for preparation of materials for public education and attending the CNS Annual meeting.
    • The associated recognition is intended to inform other organizations wishing to learn from this program’s best practices as a model.

      Award Details:

      • Prize: Up to $5,000
      • Number of Awards: Up to four, annually
      • Eligibility: Applicants must be neurosurgical residents or practicing neurosurgeons based within the United States.

      Goals for the program

      • This is intended to recognize dedication of time and effort to promote DEI in neurosurgery in the United States and promote a successful intervention in place within the United States.
      • The intervention must still be actively in practice.
      • The financial award is intended to provide honorarium support and reward an individual for their work done and disseminate their intervention throughout the neurosurgery community.
      • The award recognition is intended to inform other organizations about this program’s successful model so that it may be replicated elsewhere.

      Requirements and Expectations of Applicants

      • Project must be implemented within the United States.
      • Completion and submission via online application. Below is a list of requirements for application:
        • Nomination letter from internal program leadership, external advisor, or program beneficiary.
        • Summary of thesis and explanation of need within neurosurgical domain.
        • Summary of goals, objectives.
        • Summary of target audience for program.
        • Explanation of programming sustainability.
        • Letter(s) from stakeholders who have been positively impacted by the program of work.
        • Useful guiding documents that may serve as templates for organizations wishing to model.
        • Agreement from 1-3 beneficiaries of the program to participate in interviews for written and video publication and distribution.
        • Winner will attend subsequent CNS Annual Meeting for award and to present overview of winning proposal and its impact.
        • Serve as mentor for CNS Foundation initiatives.
        • Consider becoming a CNS Foundation donor to support future awardees doing similar good work.

      DEI Scholar Project on Disparities in Health Care Services    

      • November 15, 2023 Applications Open
      • February 1, 2024: Applications Close
      • March 2024: Announcement of Winners

      Description: The DEI Scholar Project is an award to an individual to examine and understand the presence or causes of health care disparities in neurosurgery. 

      • Prize: Up to $14,000
      • Eligibility: Applicants must be neurosurgical residents or faculty based within the United and able conduct a one-year project during the upcoming academic year. 

      Goals for the program

      • Contribute scholarly data that guides improvements in health care equity and inclusion for patients.
      • Expand the cadre of informed experts who can provide leadership in DEI efforts.

      Requirements and Expectations

      • Summary of thesis and explanation of need.
      • Proposed project must take place within the United States.
      • Proposed examination must apply to disparities in neurosurgical care within the United States. Also accepted are examinations of training, faculty distribution, practice ownership.
      • Completion and submission via online application.
      • Upload up to three examples of case studies, articles or research that demonstrate the need for the study.
      • Letter of Recommendation from Chair of Department or Director of Programs
      • Prioritize attending the CNS Annual Meeting to present findings.
      • Prioritize CNS for all submissions resulting from award during year of award.
      • Consider becoming a CNS Foundation donor to support future awardees doing similar good work.

      Generously supported by Medtronic and Stryker.

      DEI Innovation Pilot Project   

      • November 15, 2023 Applications Open
      • February 1, 2024: Applications Close
      • March 2024: Announcement of Winners

      Description: This is intended to be an active study to implement, test and report results of an intervention hypothesized to correct a known health care disparity/ies and/or improve diversity in the neurosurgery workforce. 

      • Prize Up to $17,000
      • Total Annual Awardees: Up to two
      • Eligibility: Applicants must be neurosurgical residents or practicing neurosurgeons based within the United and able conduct a one-year project during the upcoming academic year. 

      Goals for the program

      • To establish protocol for testing hypotheses and reporting findings to public.
      • To test DEI intervention efforts designed to deliver improvements in healthcare within the neurosurgical domain. This includes studies of healthcare workforce and/or patient care.
      • To identify and report impact, strengths, and opportunities of the intervention effort.

      Requirements and Expectations

      • Completion and submission via online application
      • Letter of Recommendation from Chair of Department or Program Director
      • Project must be implemented within the United States.
      • Statement of thesis for change that applies to the neurosurgical domain.
      • Upload up to three examples of case studies, articles or research that provide evidence for the need for the pilot project.
      • Proposed budget for the pilot project, including testing protocol, staff, tools, technology.
      • Prioritize attending the CNS Annual Meeting to present findings.
      • Prioritize CNS for all submissions resulting from award during year of award. (Including annual meeting abstracts and Neurosurgery publications).
      • Consider becoming a CNS Foundation donor to support future awardees doing similar good work.

      Generously supported by Medtronic and Stryker.

      Future Women Leaders in Neurosurgery Scholarship

      • November 15, 2023 Applications Open
      • February 1, 2024: Applications Close
      • March 2024: Announcement of Winners
      The CNS Foundation is pleased to announce an open call for applications for the annual Future Women Leaders in Neurosurgery Scholarship, annual awards to support leadership development of female neurosurgeons early in their career. The awards are made possible by many generous donors to the CNS Foundation.
      Requirement: CNS Foundation Future Women Leaders in Neurosurgery Scholarships are available only to applicants who have completed their training and have a faculty and/or attending physician position. Please do not apply until you are of this level of training.
      • DOMESTIC AWARD: The winning domestic applicant will be invited to participate in the CNS Leadership Institute, a year-long program, beginning with a 2-day course May 10-11 in Chicago, IL and commencing with a report-out session during the 2024 CNS Annual Meeting. The winning applicant will receive a complimentary access to the CNS Leadership Institute as well as a $1,500 award to support travel to conferences and meetings.
      • INTERNATIONAL AWARD: The winning international applicant will receive a stipend to attend the leadership course of their choice and the CNS Annual Meeting, the year of their award. The winning applicant will receive a financial award up to $10,000 to support coursework, technical materials, and travel for research meetings and conferences.

      Initiated by an anonymous donor inspired by female neurosurgeons, this scholarship program will catalyze opportunities for young female neurosurgeons to pursue educational and enrichment opportunities to expand their leadership skills. Please support the scholarship today.

       Congratulations to our 2023 winners:

        • Tracy Flanders
        • Maya Bhattachan
      Yes, I wish to donate in support of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Future Women Leaders in Neurosurgery Scholarships.
       
      Go to Application Portal.

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