We are grateful to the members, volunteers, and partners whose dedication made 2025 a year of meaningful progress.
The Congress of Neurological Surgeons proudly celebrates an extraordinary 2025! Thanks to your commitment to the field, it was a year defined by record-setting participation, groundbreaking educational programs, and continued dedication to advancing neurosurgical excellence. Through education, innovation, advocacy, and representation, CNS achieved remarkable milestones that strengthened the profession and the community we serve.
Last year marked new highs in engagement and achievement. The 2025 CNS Annual Meeting had a record number of meeting registrations, reflecting the importance of the meeting to the profession. More than 5,000 abstracts were submitted with 975 faculty contributing to the ground-breaking science and innovation shared at this year’s industry leading meeting.
CNS is your essential partner organization for creating exponential impact—and our support for the profession continues year-round. In 2025, CNS membership surpassed 12,000 neurosurgeons worldwide, reflecting continued growth and global participation.
The CNS Innovation Institute expanded its impact through the Neuro Innovate Course partnership, Annual Meeting General Scientific Session presentations featuring our Innovator of the Year finalists, and launched a new Innovation Podcast Series. This work helps you stay up-to-date on the latest technologies, techniques, and treatments for your patients.
New programs like the Leadership Institute’s Executive Leadership in Health Care Course and the Private Practice Resident Townhalls continued our commitment to empowering neurosurgeons at every career stage.
The CNS Leadership Institute celebrated 10 years in 2025 with more than 100 alumni now serving as members of standing committees, joint committees, and editorial boards critical to neurosurgery.
CNS expanded its commitment to neurosurgeon well-being through new Wellness Podcasts and Human Performance initiatives at the CNS Annual Meeting. Highlights included the new Lifestyles Area in the Exhibit Hall, member-favorite activities like the 5K, plus the new addition of CNS Pickleball—each designed to encourage balance and community connection. These initiatives reinforce CNS’s commitment to supporting members in achieving balance and sustained excellence in patient care.
CNS deepened its global partnerships and professional engagement across all subspecialties at the CNS Annual Meeting. Programming included the Meeting of the Pacific Rim and Meeting of the Americas Symposia, the inaugural Latinos in Neurosurgery Reception, and the WINS, ASBN, and LGBTQ+ Breakfast Seminars.
We also welcomed our partner societies—the Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery, the Japanese Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the Neurological Society of India and welcomed guests from the Korean Neurosurgical Society, fostering collaboration and representation across the neurosurgical community.
The organization advanced its leadership in neurosurgery standards with a record number of clinical guidelines in development. In 2025, CNS published three new guidelines—Functioning Pituitary Adenomas, Vestibular Schwannoma, and Brain Metastases –Emerging therapies, highlighting evidence and linking to recommendations for LITT.
The CNS updated the current practice recommendations in these key areas of treatment. These evidence-based guidelines improve the standard of neurosurgical care, protect patients’ access to essential procedures, and help with third party payer coverage.