President’s Letter: Striving for Curiosity, Humility, and Unwavering Commitment to Patients and the Functional Neurosurgery Community

Dear ASSFN Members,
It is with immense pride and a deep sense of gratitude that I write to you today—not just as President of our Society, but as a lifelong student of the remarkable journey that is functional neurosurgery. Ours is a field born of bold ideas, refined through meticulous science, and sustained by a profound camaraderie among those dedicated to advancing it.

Functional neurosurgery emerged from a simple but profound question: Can we alter the brain’s circuits to relieve suffering when all else fails? The answer, shaped over decades, is a resounding yes. From the earliest lesioning techniques used to treat movement disorders and psychiatric illness, to the precision-guided procedures of today, we have made extraordinary strides.

We stand on the shoulders of giants. The foundational work of pioneers like Dr. Lars Leksell, who gave us the stereotactic frame and the Gamma Knife, forever changed the way we think about targeting within the brain. Dr. Irving Cooper’s work with cryothalamotomy and Dr. Alim-Louis Benabid’s revolutionary introduction of deep brain stimulation (DBS) redefined what was possible for patients once considered beyond help. These luminaries didn’t just shape our discipline—they built it.

Yet what makes functional neurosurgery truly unique is not just its innovation, but its collaborative spirit. We have always been a small, tightly-knit community—neurosurgeons, neurologists, engineers, and scientists—united by a common mission to understand and restore the brain’s intricate balance. That spirit of openness and shared purpose remains a defining trait of our Society today.

As for the “latest and greatest,” we are currently witnessing a thrilling new chapter. Advances in connectomics are giving us a wiring diagram of the brain with unprecedented resolution, enabling us to personalize therapy in ways that would have seemed like science fiction a decade ago. Adaptive systems, capable of sensing neural activity and adjusting stimulation in real time, are transforming the management of neurological disorders. Novel targets for systemic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis are being explored with growing success, offering hope where little existed before.

The frontier of our field continues to expand—not only through technology, but through our commitment to understanding the human condition in all its complexity. Functional neurosurgery is not just about treating symptoms; it’s about restoring dignity, autonomy, and quality of life.

As we look ahead, I urge us all to continue in the spirit of those who came before: with curiosity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to our patients and to each other. This Society is not just a professional home—it is a family. And together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

With deep respect and warm regards,

Julie G. Pilitsis MD, PhD, MBA

President

American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery