Neurosurgery starts here.

We are the Howard University College of Medicine student chapter of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, a community of learning and growth for students exploring neurosurgery.

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What we do

The chapter connects Howard medical students with the people, cases, and research that make a neurosurgery career real.

Journal Clubs

We run two journal clubs: a student led club where members present and drive the discussion, and a faculty led club. Some sessions meet in person and some on Zoom, with the room or link announced before each one. Read the paper, bring your questions, and work through whether it holds up.

Shadowing

Clinic and operating room shadowing opportunities with neurosurgery faculty, so members see the specialty firsthand.

Research

A research pipeline that helps members join projects, build toward publications, and present at national meetings.

Guest Lectures

Talks from practicing neurosurgeons and residents, announced through the chapter calendar as each speaker is confirmed.

Inside the field

A surgical team in gowns and masks prepares for brain surgery in an operating room. — A medical team prepares for brain surgery aboard USS Carl Vinson. U.S. Navy photo, public domain

A neurosurgery team gathered around a monitor reviewing brain imaging. — A neurosurgery team reviews brain imaging at Bethesda Naval Hospital. U.S. Department of Defense photo, public domain

Magnetic resonance image of a brain showing a tumor. — MRI of a brain tumor. Photo: Bobjgalindo, CC BY-SA 4.0

A patient with a stereotactic frame being prepared for deep brain stimulation surgery. — Preparation for deep brain stimulation surgery. Photo: Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0

Conferences this year

ACS Clinical Congress 2026 September 26 to 29, 2026 · Washington, DC
CNS Annual Meeting 2026 October 31 to November 4, 2026 · Washington, DC
AANS Annual Scientific Meeting 2027 April 9 to 12, 2027 · San Diego, CA
Full neurosurgery meetings calendar Congress of Neurological Surgeons

In the news this past year

Synchron targets a 2026 pivotal trial toward the first FDA approved brain computer interface Tech Times, June 2026
Penumbra's THUNDERBOLT cleared by the FDA, bringing computer assisted vacuum thrombectomy to stroke PR Newswire, June 2026
CorTec implants its second patient in an NIH funded, FDA approved BCI trial for stroke recovery Robotics and Automation News, March 2026
Focused ultrasound opens the blood brain barrier to deliver drugs into brain tumors Neuroscience News
New brain tumor clinical trials opened between July 2025 and June 2026 National Brain Tumor Society

Section backgrounds: cerebral angiogram by U2em, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Get involved

Membership is open to Howard University College of Medicine students at every stage. The fastest way to stay in the loop is the chapter GroupMe.

Join the GroupMe