BSF Trustee and Medical Advisor Dr. Peter M. Black Honored Guest
at the 2006 Congress of Neurosurgical Surgeons Annual Meeting
Dr. Peter Black played an especially prominent role at an international gathering of thousands of neurosurgery specialists in Chicago, Illinois, which ran from October 7 -12. As this year’s honored guest of the Congress of Neurosurgical Surgeons Annual Meeting, Dr. Black kept with the meeting’s theme of Transcendent Leadership with two talks relevant to the Brain Science Foundation — a presentation on the science and surgery of meningiomas; and a talk on the emerging field of neurosurgical oncology. Other guests for this meeting included David McCullough, the noted historian; George Lucas, creator of Star Wars; David Johannsen, discoverer of Lucy; Ron McKay, noted stem cell biologist; and Judah Folkman, inventor of the field of angiogenesis.

In the first lecture, “Meningiomas; Science and Surgery,” Dr. Black outlined the origin of the concept of meningiomas, discussed the results of contemporary management of these tumors with surgery and radiosurgery, and presented what is known about their molecular biology and epidemiology. He discussed gene abnormalities, radiation, estrogen and progesterone hormone status, and cell phones and high-tension wires as possible elements in their formation. He also discussed how new minimally invasive image-guided surgery initiatives have improved the outcome of patients with these tumors.

In the second lecture on neurosurgical oncology, Dr. Black began with a discussion of Dr. Harvey Cushing, the first surgeon-in-chief of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and then discussed several areas of importance today: support for patient-centered neurosurgery, globalization, advances in science and technology, and collaboration among teams and institutions.

Drawing from an experience of more than 5,000 craniotomies for brain tumors, Dr. Black emphasized the use of novel technologies in optimizing patient outcomes and minimizing mishaps. Several of these initiatives have been funded in part by the Brain Science Foundation, including intraoperative MRI and preoperative brain mapping. Additionally, Dr. Black highlighted the collaboration between the Brain Science Foundation and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a powerful example of the dynamic impact this type of partnership model can have on disease awareness and research.

Dr. Black’s selection as this year’s honored guest speaker is a result of his significant contributions to clinical neurosurgery and deep commitment to neurosurgical clinical care, research and education. The themes of the meeting were transcendent leadership with patient advocacy, scientific inquiry, and surgical mentorship.

Dr. Peter Black is chairman of the Departments of Neurosurgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital; Neurosurgeon-in-chief at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Chief of Neurosurgical Oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute; and Franc D. Ingraham Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Black is consistently listed in Best Doctors in America and Top Doctors with special interest in surgery for meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, and low-grade gliomas; image-guided minimally invasive neurosurgery; skull base surgery; and brain mapping. He helped to develop the first intraoperative MRI and has used this device extensively to improve brain tumor treatment.  He is a member of the Board of the Brain Science Foundation and an important contributor to its work.

Dr. Black sits on many other review boards and is chairman of the Editorial Board of Neurosurgery and the senior representative of the CNS to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. His laboratory has had ongoing funding since 1980, including present RO1 funding.

The Congress of Neurological Surgeons promotes the advancement of neurosurgery through education, research, and scientific knowledge. Founded in 1951, the organization's membership exceeds 5,862 including 868 senior members. The honored guest is for many neurosurgeons the epitome of achievement in academic neurosurgery. We are immensely proud in the Brain Science Foundation to be able to help support such a talented and respected surgeon.