Recognizing Elad I. Levy and Russell R. Lonser for their exceptional contributions to neurosurgery, education, and the CNS community
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., September 28, 2026 — The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) is proud to recognize two neurosurgical leaders with prestigious honors at the 2026 CNS Annual Meeting, October 31–November 4 in Washington, D.C. The awards celebrate individuals whose service, leadership, and commitment to education have made a lasting impact on CNS and the profession.
CNS Past President Elad I. Levy will receive the 2026 CNS Distinguished Service Award, which honors the contributions and activities of outstanding individuals and members of the CNS. Levy continues to advance the field through his leadership in outpatient neurosurgical care, including the development of a dedicated ambulatory neurosurgery center and pioneering work demonstrating how select complex neurovascular procedures can be safely and efficiently performed outside the traditional hospital setting.
Russell R. Lonser, also a CNS Past President, will receive the 2026 Founder’s Laurel Award, one of the CNS’s highest honors recognizing exceptional service, lifelong dedication, and meritorious accomplishments in medical education. Lonser’s longstanding leadership and commitment to advancing neurosurgical education exemplify the spirit of this award.
The honorees will be recognized during the General Scientific Sessions at the Meeting. The CNS Annual Meeting brings together the global neurosurgical community for scientific exchange, innovative education, and collaboration.
About the Congress of Neurological Surgeons
The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) is the global leader in neurosurgical education, serving to promote health by advancing neurosurgery through innovation and excellence in education. The CNS provides leadership in neurosurgery by encouraging and facilitating scientific discoveries and its translation into clinical practice. The CNS maintains the vitality of the profession through the volunteer efforts of its members and the development of leadership in service to the public, to colleagues in other disciplines, and to neurosurgeons throughout the world in all stages of their professional lives. For more information, visit cns.org.