BSF Trustee and Medical Advisor Dr. Peter Black Named President-Elect Of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies

Peter Black, MD, PhD, has been elected President-Elect of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), a professional and scientific nongovernmental organization composed of five continental associations, 89 national neurosurgical societies and six affiliate societies representing approximately 25,000 neurosurgeons worldwide. His term involves two years as President-Elect, four years as President, and two years as past President.

Dr. Black is the Franc D. Ingraham Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and Founding Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). He is consistently listed in Best Doctors in America with special interest in brain tumor surgery; image-guided minimally invasive neurosurgery; skull base surgery; and brain mapping. With Dr. Ferenc Jolesz, he helped to develop the world’s first intraoperative MRI at BWH and has used this device to improve brain tumor treatment. With the help of BSF founder, Steven Haley, he created the Meningioma Center of Excellence at BWH. The laboratory directed by Dr. Black at the Brigham and Woman’s hospital is also a strong contributor to brain tumor research.  

In the WFNS, Dr. Black has chaired the Constitution and Bylaws committee for many years and sits on its Education, Neuro-Oncology and Ethics committees. As President-Elect, he will help to lead the Federation’s efforts to advance neurological surgery and all of its aspects. The organization pursues these goals by educating and training neurosurgeons in developing countries and providing instruments and equipment for them. Additionally, it facilitates relationships among neurological surgeons and increases the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and discussions on neurosurgical issues through education courses worldwide and, every four years, a World Congress of Neurosurgery. Finally, the WFNS supports the dissemination of new technologies, encourages research in neurological surgery and allied sciences and strives to improve the standards of neurosurgical care worldwide.