Southern Neurosurgical Society (SNS)
For some time prior to 1949, a group of neurosurgeons in the mid-South had exhibited interest in the prospect of meeting informally once or twice yearly to discuss mutual clinical and technical problems.
Under the stimulus of Dr. R. Eustace Semmes, therefore, in November of 1949, invitations were sent to some fifty neurosurgeons to meet in Memphis to discuss the formation of the group. On November 29,1949, twenty-three of the founding group met in Memphis for the first organizational scientific meeting.
At this meeting, the idea of a true sectional society was first considered, and the name, “Southern Neurosurgical Society” was officially adopted. Dr. Semmes was elected as the first president of the Society, and a committee was appointed to draft a constitution. At the second meeting, held in Atlanta in May of 1950, the constitution was formally accepted.