Neurology Interest Group
“The brain is a monstrous, beautiful mess. Its billions of nerve cells-called neurons-lie in a tangled web that displays cognitive powers far exceeding any of the silicon machines we have built to mimic it.” - William F. Allman
The goal of the Neurology Interest Group is to provide a forum where anyone interested in the fascinating field of neurology can learn about the many amazing things involving our three pound gem. The intent is to unite and educate students and those interested in the field of neurology through the utilization of research, publications, interviews, etc. As the founding father of neurosurgery Dr. Harvey Cushing stated, “A physician is obligated to consider more than a diseased organ, more even than the whole man - he must view the man in his world.” The aim is to establish a united community under the common goal of educating one’s self not just in the fundamental field of neurology, but the essential effects it has on the patients we as students will inevitably be treating.
Vignettes of Neurological Patients
- If you are a practitioner of medicine in the field of neuroscience (medical student, resident, attending) and have a story you'd like to tell about your patients or your career, please get in contact with us as we build our “Day in the Life” of a Neurologist/Neurosurgeon page. Your stories will contribute to the building interest in your field.
Authors
- We will provide links for our web visitors to buy published versions of your works used on the site. Just provide us with the ISBN and a preferred vendor (e.g. Amazon) and we will make sure visitors have no problem finding your works.
Research and News
Articles and Other Publications
- History of Neuroscience
AMSA medical member, Faisal Butt, has complied a detailed record of important events in Neuroscience. The record dates all the way back to circa 4000 B.C. when the euphoria effect of the poppy plant was reported in Sumerian records.
- "The Deepest Cut: How Can Someone Live with Half a Brain?" by Christine Kenneally
Pre-Med member, Milica, suggests this 7/3/2006 New Yorker article about a hemispherectomy.
- Phantoms in the Brain by V.S. Ramachandran, MD, PhD and Sandra Blakeslee
Jeffery suggest this book as a fascinating book, simply stating, "Great book."
Organizations
- Neural Networks Inc.- Bringing healthcare back to it's roots
AMSA member, Anjali Simh, has founded this organization with a mission to improve the accessibility to neurological healthcare in developing countries. Focusing in India, this program will be carried out in two phases; phase I having an educational focus and phase II having a more therapeutic goal. To learn more about Neural Networks Inc, contact Anjali at nninc@hotmail.com
- ThinkFirst – National Injury Prevention Foundation
The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation, formally known as the National Head and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program, was first implemented nationally in 1986. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) directed two neurosurgeons, E. Fletcher Eyster, MD, of Pensacola, Florida and Clark Watts, MD, of Columbia, Missouri to develop a national injury prevention program based on their previous prevention efforts in their respective communities.
Each year, an estimated 500,000 persons in the United States sustain a brain or spinal cord injury. In fact, injury is the leading cause of death among children and teens. The most frequent causes of these injuries are motor vehicle crashes, violence, falls, sports and recreation. The good news is that most injuries are preventable! The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation's award-winning, evidence-based programs are aimed at helping people learn to reduce their risk for injury.
Today, the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation offers research-validated multi-level educational programs that have reached millions of young people nationally and internationally, has had major influences on public policy initiatives, and continues to expand to reach those most vulnerable to traumatic injuries. By virtue of their work in treating patients who have sustained traumatic injuries, physicians and allied health professional are natural spokespersons for prevention. Recently, ThinkFirst has expanded its efforts to encourage all health professionals to get involved. ThinkFirst provides health professionals with the training, tools, and support to assist chapters in spreading the prevention message in their communities, in turn, lowering the incidence, cost and devastation of traumatic injury. For more information on ThinkFirst programs or how to get involved and further promote neurological injuries within your community, go to www.thinkfirst.org.
- Article: Using Your Mind to Protect Your Body.
- Article: Brain Injury Prevention.
- Article: Spinal Cord Injury Prevention.