University Hospitals Neurological Institute Leaders Nominated for Prestigious Positions in National Neurosurgery Societies

CLEVELAND - Two University Hospitals Neurological Institute leaders have been nominated to prestigious positions for national neurosurgery societies.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons announced the election of Sepideh Amin-Hanjani, MD, FAANS,as its new President-elect during the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting in May.

Dr. Amin-Hanjani is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgery. She serves as Director of Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery and Vice Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at UH Cleveland Medical Center.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, is the leading scientific and educational neurosurgical organization representing more than 12,000 neurosurgeons and allied professionals worldwide. The organization's mission is to advance the specialty of neurological surgery through education, research, advocacy and the promotion of the highest standards of patient care. The AANS serves as a leading voice for neurosurgery and supports innovations that improve outcomes for patients with disorders of the brain, spine and nervous system.

Dr. Amin-Hanjani earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed her neurosurgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and pursued advanced fellowship training in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute. Her election represents a significant milestone in her distinguished career and reflects the confidence of her neurosurgical peers in her leadership, vision, and longstanding commitment to excellence in patient care, research, education and advocacy.

A dedicated leader in organized neurosurgery, Dr. Amin-Hanjani has served on the AANS Board of Directors since 2019, including roles as Treasurer and Vice President. She has also held numerous national leadership positions, including Chair of the AANS/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Joint Cerebrovascular Section, Chair of the AANS/CNS Joint Guidelines Review Committee and immediate past Chair of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council.

Nicholas C. Bambakidis, MD,director of the UH Neurological Institute and chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, has been named President-elect of the Society of Neurological Surgeons.

The nomination was formalized at the Society's annual meeting this year. He will be inducted as President of the Society at its annual meeting in May 2027 and serve a one-year term. Dr. Bambakidis is an internationally recognized cerebrovascular, endovascular and skull base neurosurgeon, as well as a distinguished educator and administrator. He has served in numerous national leadership roles throughout his career, including President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons in 2022, and has been a member of the Society of Neurological Surgeons since 2012.

The Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS) is the nation's oldest neurosurgical professional society in the world. Its creation by Harvey Cushing in 1920 represents a foundational moment for neurological surgery as an independent specialty of medicine. Today, the Society is composed of academic department chairs across the U.S., residency program directors, and other educational leaders; serves as the representative body for neurosurgery to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; and sponsors the Association of Residency Administrators in Neurological Surgery. Through educational programs, residency initiatives, and leadership development efforts, the SNS plays a central role in shaping the future of neurosurgical training and patient care.

Dr. Bambakidis earned his medical degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed his neurosurgical residency at UH Cleveland Medical Center. He subsequently completed fellowship training in spine surgery and cerebrovascular/skull base surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute before joining its faculty. In 2008, he returned to Cleveland to join UH, where he has held successive leadership roles and oversees one of the nation's premier neurological institutes.