The other day, I had the rare opportunity to watch a 16 mm movie regarding the life and times of Harvey Cushing that was sponsored by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. There was footage within this movie of Cushing in the operating room performing his 3000th brain tumor operation.  In the days of Cushing, neurosurgery education was comprised of hands-on experience in the OR and on the wards and clinics, of didactic teaching sessions with one's mentor, and of learning within written texts of neurosurgery.  While we still value all of these methods of teaching, the computer age has ushered in a valuable new way for neurosurgeons and neurosurgical trainees to learn their craft.  I believe the First Annual Neurosurgery Conference on the Internet represents one of the outstanding opportunities for neurosurgeons and trainees to share their experiences and knowledge in the basic science of neurosurgery and in the clinical research realm.  I wish you all an excellent session, and hope there will be many more to come.

Dan Family Chair in Neurosurgery
Professor and Chairman, Division of Neurosurgery
The University of Toronto

Toronto, Canada