American Association of Neurological Surgeons
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1931, serving more than 12,500 neurosurgeons, residents, medical students, and advanced practice providers worldwide through education, peer-reviewed publishing, clinical registries, and federal advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1931
- HeadquartersRolling Meadows, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What American Association of Neurological Surgeons does
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), founded in 1931 and headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois with a Washington, D.C. advocacy office, is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership organization representing more than 12,500 neurosurgeons, residents, medical students, and advanced practice providers worldwide. AANS operates as the principal trade and educational body for U.S. neurosurgery, providing continuing medical education, peer-reviewed scientific publishing, clinical quality improvement infrastructure, and federal advocacy on behalf of the specialty.
Its core product portfolio is anchored by NeuroU, the organization's online learning management and CME platform; the Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (The Journal of Neurosurgery, JNS: Spine, JNS: Pediatrics); the American Spine Registry (ASR), a joint AANS/AAOS clinical data registry that since April 2025 accepts EHR-integrated submissions via FHIR-based APIs through PatientIQ; and The Rhoton Collection® and The Neurosurgical Atlas, registered trademark and reference content assets for surgical technique education. Supporting products include the Annual Scientific Meeting (awarding up to 21.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits), AANS Neurosurgeon magazine, the Neurosurgery Podcast and Blog, the MyAANS member portal, the AANS Career Center, and CME Accreditation/Joint Providership services. Wholly-owned subsidiaries include NeuroPoint Alliance (quality improvement), NREF (research funding), and the publishing group.
AANS's revenue model is diversified across five streams: recurring membership dues by tier (FAANS, Candidate, Medical Student, International, APP, Allied, Lifetime); CME course and certification fees; Annual Scientific Meeting registration, exhibitor, and sponsorship revenue; publication subscriptions; and advertising/sponsorship across digital properties. The organization employs 51–100 staff, operates under member-elected governance, and pursues a community-led go-to-market rooted in educational value, peer-reviewed content, and federal policy influence rather than commercial sales motions.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Legal name
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Website
- https://aans.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1931
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1931, serving more than 12,500 neurosurgeons, residents, medical students, and advanced practice providers worldwide through education, peer-reviewed publishing, clinical registries, and federal advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where American Association of Neurological Surgeons is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rolling Meadows
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
American Association of Neurological Surgeons business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from neurosurgeons, residents, medical students, and allied professionals at various tier levels
- Continuing Medical Education: Revenue from CME courses, online education programs, and certification courses including coding and reimbursement training
- Annual Scientific Meeting: Registration fees, exhibitor fees, and sponsorship revenue from the annual neurosurgery conference
- Publications: Revenue from the Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group and AANS Neurosurgeon publication
- Advertising and Sponsorship: Advertising revenue on website and publications, sponsorship opportunities at events
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Fellows (FAANS) Membership - Full professional membership for board-certified neurosurgeons |
| Subscription | Annual | Medical Student Membership - Reduced rate for medical students |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | CME Courses - Individual course fees for continuing education |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
American Association of Neurological Surgeons product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AANS delivers a unified membership-plus-services platform for the neurosurgical specialty, combining tiered professional membership, accredited continuing medical education via the NeuroU learning management system, peer-reviewed journals through the Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group, the American Spine Registry for clinical quality improvement, an Annual Scientific Meeting, and federal advocacy through its Washington Office. Supporting offerings include The Rhoton Collection and The Neurosurgical Atlas reference libraries, coding and reimbursement courses, advanced practitioner onboarding packages, and career center services.
Product overview
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a professional medical association serving neurosurgeons, not a single software product. Its offerings span a unified platform-plus-services model centered on education, research, and advocacy. Core products include NeuroU (CME and learning management), the American Spine Registry (quality improvement registry), and the Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (peer-reviewed journals). Supporting products include reference collections (The Rhoton Collection, The Neurosurgical Atlas), publications (AANS Neurosurgeon magazine, Neurosurgery Podcast, Neurosurgery Blog), the Annual Scientific Meeting, and career services (Career Center, Member Portal). The organization also operates advocacy initiatives through NeurosurgeryPAC and research funding through NREF and NeuroPoint Alliance. AANS provides CME accreditation services for third parties and coding/reimbursement education courses. Most products are included with membership or available via individual purchase for non-members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NeuroU Online Learning Management System Online learning management system providing CME courses, recordings from annual meetings, certification programs, and CME credit tracking for neurosurgeons, residents, and advanced practice providers.
- American Spine Registry (ASR) Joint AANS/AAOS clinical quality improvement registry for spine surgery, now featuring EHR-integrated data submission through the PatientIQ partnership to automate outcomes data collection from healthcare organizations.
- Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group Portfolio of peer-reviewed journals publishing neurosurgical research, including The Journal of Neurosurgery, JNS: Spine, and JNS: Pediatrics, available by subscription.
- AANS Annual Scientific Meeting Annual premier educational gathering for neurosurgeons and allied health professionals worldwide, featuring scientific sessions, CME courses (up to 21.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits in 2026), and networking opportunities.
- The Rhoton Collection (Registered Trademark) Digital collection of anatomical resources and surgical techniques curated from Dr. Albert Rhoton's work, used for neurosurgical education and training; a registered trademark of AANS.
- The Neurosurgical Atlas Comprehensive surgical atlas and educational reference resource covering neurosurgical procedures and techniques for practicing neurosurgeons and trainees.
- AANS Career Center Job board and career resources connecting neurosurgeons with practice opportunities and employers across the specialty.
- CME Accreditation and Joint Providership Services Accreditation and joint providership services that allow third-party organizations to offer AMA PRA Category 1 Credits through AANS accreditation of their educational activities.
- NREF (Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation) AANS-affiliated foundation funding research grants, fellowships, and educational programs to advance neurosurgical science and training of future neurosurgeons.
- NeuroPoint Alliance AANS-affiliated organization supporting clinical data registries and quality improvement initiatives for neurosurgical outcomes and patient safety.
- Coding and Reimbursement Courses Specialized courses on neurosurgical coding, reimbursement practices, and practice management including cervical and lumbar coding plus the annual Coding and Reimbursement meeting.
Quantifiable outcome
- 82% increase in female membership over past 10 years demonstrating inclusive growth
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
American Association of Neurological Surgeons technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
American Association of Neurological Surgeons partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PatientIQcorePatientIQ partnered with AANS and AAOS to launch EHR-integrated data submission for the American Spine Registry. The solution uses FHIR-based APIs and embedded case report forms to automate clinical and patient-reported outcomes data collection, eliminating manual data entry for participating healthcare organizations.
- American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)coreJoint initiative on the American Spine Registry (ASR) - a collaborative effort to modernize spine registry participation through EHR integration and standardized clinical data collection across both neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery specialties.
- Graduate Medical Education (GME) Advocacy CoalitioncoreAANS participates in the GME Advocacy Coalition advocating for increased residency positions, GME funding, and medical education debt relief including support for the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act and Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act.
- Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA)coreAANS leads the HCLA coalition advocating for medical liability reform, supporting Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act, and working to reduce defensive medicine costs through comprehensive tort reform.
- Alliance of Specialty MedicinecoreAANS participates in the Alliance representing 100,000+ specialty physicians, advocating on network adequacy, Medicare quality programs, GME policy, and healthcare workforce issues.
- Physician-Led Hospitals CoalitioncoreAANS supports legislation to lift restrictions on physician-owned hospitals and advocates for the Physician-Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act.
- Regulatory Relief CoalitioncoreAANS leads efforts to reform prior authorization requirements, reduce regulatory burden, and streamline federal quality improvement programs including Physician Quality Reporting System.
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)coreAANS and CNS jointly advocate on behalf of neurosurgeons, sharing Washington Office resources and combining membership representation on health policy issues.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights7 records
American Association of Neurological Surgeons competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American College of Surgeons: Largest US surgical specialty society with comparable membership, CME, advocacy, and journal publishing model; serves as a benchmark for AANS's structure and revenue mix.
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons: Direct neurosurgery peer that jointly partners with AANS on the Washington Office and shares representation of the same specialist base; tightest functional comparison.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Co-developer of the American Spine Registry with AANS; operates a near-identical mix of CME, advocacy, journals, registries, and annual meeting for orthopaedic surgeons.
- American Academy of Neurology: Closely adjacent neurology specialty society with analogous CME, journals, advocacy, and member tiers; representative of the broader physician-specialty-association model.
- American College of Physicians: Major internal-medicine specialty society using the same combination of membership dues, CME/MOC, journals (Annals of Internal Medicine), advocacy, and annual meeting.
- American College of Cardiology: Specialty physician society that operates registries, CME, journals (JACC), advocacy, and an annual scientific meeting on a near-identical operating model to AANS.
- Society of Thoracic Surgeons: Surgical specialty society with parallel structure of member tiers, CME, a peer-reviewed journal, clinical registry activity, and federal advocacy on reimbursement.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: Surgical-specialty membership organization with comparable CME, self-assessment, annual meeting, and journal (Ophthalmology) economics to AANS.
- American Urological Association: Specialty physician society running CME, journals (JU), an annual meeting, advocacy, and member-only resources on a structure directly comparable to AANS.
Broad incumbents
- American Medical Association: Largest US physician-membership organization; broader incumbent offering overlapping advocacy, CME, and publications, but not neurosurgery-specific.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Association of Neurological Surgeons social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Association of Neurological Surgeons leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
American Association of Neurological Surgeons subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
American Association of Neurological Surgeons funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Association of Neurological Surgeons M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Association of Neurological Surgeons
What does American Association of Neurological Surgeons do?
AANS delivers a unified membership-plus-services platform for the neurosurgical specialty, combining tiered professional membership, accredited continuing medical education via the NeuroU learning management system, peer-reviewed journals through the Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group, the American Spine Registry for clinical quality improvement, an Annual Scientific Meeting, and federal advocacy through its Washington Office. Supporting offerings include The Rhoton Collection and The Neurosurgical Atlas reference libraries, coding and reimbursement courses, advanced practitioner onboarding packages, and career center services.
Is American Association of Neurological Surgeons a public or private company?
American Association of Neurological Surgeons is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Association of Neurological Surgeons founded?
American Association of Neurological Surgeons was founded in 1931. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is American Association of Neurological Surgeons based?
American Association of Neurological Surgeons is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Association of Neurological Surgeons make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are continuing Medical Education, annual Scientific Meeting, publications and advertising and Sponsorship.
Who are American Association of Neurological Surgeons's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American College of Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Neurology, American College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Urological Association. American Medical Association is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does American Association of Neurological Surgeons have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Association of Neurological Surgeons.