Impact Award

About this program

The CNS Foundation’s Impact Award recognizes an individual for outstanding, active work addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and healthcare disparities in U.S. neurosurgery. The award provides complimentary registration to the 2026 CNS Annual Meeting and $1,500 for travel-related expenses, with opportunities to share the intervention as a best-practice model.

Applicants must be CNS members in good standing and U.S.-based neurosurgical residents or practicing neurosurgeons; self-nominations and nominations by others are accepted. The intervention must be currently implemented in the United States, and applicants must provide a project summary, guiding documents, and stakeholder support letters, attend the subsequent CNS Annual Meeting if selected, and submit a 500–800-word career impact statement.