Presidential Message

January 12-13, 2002 Cancun, Mexico

ASPN 2002 provided many colorful, different memories for the attendees. The program created by Dr. Rajiv Midha included courses and panels shared with AASH and ASRM, as well as a day and a half of ASPN papers, panels, and guest speakers. There were also two mornings of a variety of well-received Instructional Courses. The abstracts of the meeting follow. The panels included nerve entrapment controversies, perspectives on recent and novel nerve repair methods and technologies, and innovations in peripheral nerve surgery. The president's lecturers were Bob Acland and Russell Shatford, with their stimulating 3-D anatomic educational videos. We were also fortunate to have Freda Miller speaking on ``Identification and Transplantation of a Novel, Multipotent Neural Stem Cell from Mammalian Skin''; Bruce Gold speaking on ``FK506 and the Regulation of Nerve Regeneration by Steroid Receptor Chaperone Proteins''; and William M. Kuzon, Jr. explaining ``How Muscles Work and Why They Sometimes Don't.'' Miguel Angel Vergara Calleros spoke of the celestial and medical achievements of the ancient Mayans.

The Hilton Cancun Beach and Golf Resort provided a comfortable starting place for tennis, golf, SCUBA, explorations of other water activities, as well as the Mayan past, and the pursuit of unique eating experiences. The Fiesta Mexicana evening combined great food with local music, dancing, and rope twirling demonstrations. For those interested in peripheral nerves, this meeting truly offered a variety of motor activities and sensory experiences.