Future Leaders Working Group Cohort

American Medical Women’s Association Annual Meeting

The Society for Neuro-Oncology participated in the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Medical Women’s Association, held March 27–29, 2026 in the San Francisco area, as part of an outreach initiative developed by the 2024 cohort of SNO Future Leaders. The initiative aims to expand education, awareness, and engagement in neuro-oncology among students and trainees.

Representing SNO, Dr. Maxine Umeh Garcia (PhD, MS) connected with a wide range of attendees—including medical students, pre-medical undergraduates, and high school students—sharing information about SNO’s mission, trainee-focused opportunities, and free trainee membership offerings. Many attendees were particularly interested in the diverse career pathways within neuro-oncology, including neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neuropathology, and basic science research.

The SNO exhibit also highlighted an upcoming virtual career panel in June, designed to showcase these varied training paths and connect trainees with leaders in the field. Attendees were able to access additional resources via a QR code linking directly to the SNO trainee webpage. SNO-branded brain stress relievers were a popular feature, helping to draw attendees and spark conversation.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to engage with fellowship directors and educators, who expressed enthusiasm about sharing SNO resources with trainees at their home institutions.

One particularly impactful interaction was with a third-year medical student and single mother who aspires to become a neurosurgeon after her family’s experience with brain tumor care. Her enthusiasm for SNO’s mentorship, training resources, and community underscored the importance of early outreach and support for future leaders in neuro-oncology.

Overall, the AMWA Annual Meeting served as a valuable platform for introducing trainees to the field of neuro-oncology and strengthening connections with the next generation of clinicians and scientists.

American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting

Rajiv and Lauryn put together an outstanding event. We had a panel of 9 neuro-oncologists and a current resident who is applying in neuro oncology and an audience of about 30 medical students and trainees. They were so engaged and asked awesome questions and stayed for the full two hours. 

Thank your organization and sponsorship. This was a terrific collaboration.