The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Neurosurgery) of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, AC. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system, including the spinal column, spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerves.

The public Web site of the AANS -- www.NeurosurgeryToday.org, offers the public the most up-to-date information on 50 neurosurgical conditions and diseases, downloadable color fact sheets, a section devoted to patient safety/injury prevention and much more.