The head of pediatric neurosurgery at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Oregon Health & Science University, has been named president-elect of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the largest professional and educational organization for neurosurgeons in the world.
Nathan Selden, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.P.P., will serve as the 65th president of the CNS for one year beginning October 2014.
“Safety and quality are at the forefront of efforts today to make neurosurgery better. Educating the most thoughtful, up-to-date, and compassionate surgeons will improve the lives of our patients,” said Selden, Campagna Chair of Pediatric Neurosurgery, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital; and residency program director and vice chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery, OHSU.
The CNS, founded in 1951, has more than 8,500 members worldwide. It hosts the largest scientific meeting for neurosurgeons in the world each year, publishes the journal Neurosurgery, and provides an online self-assessment tool required for all U.S. neurosurgeons participating in maintenance of their board certification, the Self-Assessment in Neurological Surgery (SANS).
The CNS, along with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, represents the interests of neurosurgeons and their patients in federal policymaking via a joint Washington, D.C., office. With the Society of Neurological Surgeons, the CNS also administers national safety and professionalism ‘boot camp’ courses for all incoming neurosurgery interns in the United States each July.
Selden previously served the CNS as the editor of the Self-Assessment in Neurological Surgery; chair of its self-assessment, scientific program, annual meeting and education committees; and for three years as board secretary. He is the founder and national director of the innovative establishment of the Neurosurgery PGY1 Boot Camp training programs. He has also worked with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to improve outcome measurement for neurosurgical residency training. Based on this leadership in neurosurgical education, Selden was awarded the ACGME Parker Palmer Courage to Teach Award in March 2013.
Selden moved with his family to Oregon at age 6. He returned to OHSU after 23 years of education and training as far away as Cambridge University, England, where he held a Marshall Scholarship and earned a doctoral degree in neuroscience; and Harvard Medical School, where he earned his medical degree. He lives in Portland with his wife, Karen Selden, M.D., a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and their three children.