May 2026 Edition

Welcome to the May 2026 ASBN Newsletter!

This month, we highlight the energy and impact of AANS 2026, recent educational and mentorship programming, member achievements, ASBN Brain Trust updates, and upcoming opportunities to engage with our community.

We also sincerely thank Medtronic and Stryker for supporting our AANS 2026 educational and networking programming.



Enjoy!

ASBN Member Spotlight: Dr. Theresa Williamson Featured on ABC’s The Champion’s Edge

Congratulations to ASBN member Dr. Theresa Williamson on her recent feature on ABC's The Champion's Edge. In the segment, she discusses how athletics continues to shape her approach to neurosurgery, leadership, and lifelong learning.

Check your local listings for airtime or follow Dr. Williamson on social media for the full feature.

As we enter Year 2 of the ASBN Brain Trust Mentorship Program, we’re continuing to build meaningful connections that support, inspire, and empower the next generation of Black neurosurgeons. We are looking for ASBN-attending neurosurgeon members to join the cause. Mentors host a flexible 2-hour virtual office hour session (four 30-minute Zoom sessions), providing one-on-one guidance to U.S.-based ASBN student members pursuing careers in neurosurgery. ASBN handles all scheduling and logistics.

Sign up to become a mentor today!

AANS 2026 was an incredible week for ASBN, highlighted by Ignite the Brain initiative, the NMM Mentor-Mentee Mixer, our scientific seminar, The Translational Future of AI in Neurosurgery, and the ASBN Dinner Reception. We also celebrate Dr. Cargill Alleyne for delivering the prestigious Raymond M. Donaghy Lecture during the Cerebrovascular Section programming.

Thank you to our members, trainees, sponsors, and supporters who helped make this year's programming a success

Huge thank you to our 2026 AANS Student Ambassadors! Your energy, professionalism, leadership, and willingness to serve helped make this year’s conference such a meaningful and successful experience.

The future of neurosurgery is bright because of passionate leaders like you. Thank you for your dedication to advancing the mission of ASBN and for continuing to show up, lead boldly, and create impact within the neurosurgical community.

We are incredibly proud of each of you and excited to watch your journeys continue to unfold. 

ASBN is proud to share that Dr. Nnenna Mbabuike will serve as Neurology & Neurosurgery Section Lead at the 2026 NMA Annual Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Under the theme Innovation & Collaboration, the section will feature interdisciplinary programming, tandem talks, and the Don H. Wood, MD Trainee Research Forum.

See the flyers below for the agenda and how to participate!

Dr. Sarah Mutomb is more than a trailblazer — she is transforming the future of neurosurgery across Africa. As the first female neurosurgeon in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Mutomb’s journey was fueled by a deeply personal experience after watching her grandmother travel across borders to Zimbabwe for life-saving spinal surgery. That moment became a mission.

“Access to emergency care should not depend on whether someone can cross a border fast enough.”

From becoming the only woman in her neurosurgery residency program in Dakar, Senegal, to now leading and educating the next generation of neurosurgeons, Dr. Mutomb continues to redefine what is possible in medicine and global healthcare equity.

Specializing in endoscopic neurosurgery, skull base surgery, neuro-oncology, and neurotrauma, she remains deeply committed to providing comprehensive care in resource-limited settings while also serving as a powerful voice for leadership and advancement throughout Central Africa.

Dr. Mutomb’s story is one of resilience, representation, innovation, and purpose — reminding us that changing the future of healthcare often begins with one person bold enough to imagine something different.

Read more