| The International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery |
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A brief history of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (I.S.P.N.) (On behalf and thanks to the work of Prof. F. Rueda Franco) The International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery was founded in 1972 joining the most experienced Neurosurgeons interested in Pediatric Neurosurgery from all over the world. The founding members were:
Since its foundation an yearly meeting was estabilished with the proposal to alternatively choice the meeting place in one of the five continents. Places, years and Chairmen of the 32 meetings that have been concluded up to now are:
The President of the Society is elected yearly from an yearly elected Executive Committee. Most of the main distinguished pediatric neurosurgeons all over the world have covered this position. The 32 Presidents of the I.S.P.N. elected are:
Overall 14 meetings were done in Europe, 7 in North America, 4 in Asia, 4 in Latin America, and one each in Africa, Middle East and Australia. Eleven of the Presidents were from Europe, ten from North America, six from Asia, three from South America, and one each from Africa and Australia. The second most important role inside the Society is the one of the Secretary. Up to now ten distinguished pediatric neurosurgeons have covered this role:
Since its foundation it has been estabilished an official journal of the Society. From 1972 up to 1984 the official journal of the I.S.P.N. has been Child’s Brain edited by Karger; its Chief Editor has been Anthony J. Raimondi. Since 1985 the official journal of the Society is Child’s Nervous System, edited by Springer. The Chief Editor of Child’s Nervous System has been Anthony J. Raimondi from 1985 up to 2000 and is Concezio Di Rocco since 2000. Prof. Raimondi (1928-2000) died in June 2000. During the Gala Dinner in Istanbul (October 2000) there was the proposal for the creation of an award, dedicated to his memory. This award is given to the best paper presented by a young neurosurgeon during the annual meeting. The first A.J. Raimondi award was given in 2002; it includes free inscription to the meeting, hotel accomodation and transportation. One of the most historical traditions inside the Society is the one of “El Poncho”. Originally “El Poncho” was a gift from Raul Carrea to Anthony J. Raimondi. Raul Carrea died in 1978 when he was President elect of the I.S.P.N. During the Chicago Meeting in 1979, A.J. Raimondi gave the “Poncho” to the I.S.P.N. and created the tradition of the “Poncho Ceremony”. Kenneth Till (U.K.) recieved it for the first time. Luciano Basauri (Chile) began the tradition of engraving the name of the I.S.P.N. Presidents on the “Poncho”. Since then one of the tasks of I.S.P.N. Presidents is to engrave the name of his successor on it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||