CLEVELAND – Sepideh Amin-Hanjani, MD, FAANS, has been named president-elect of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery. The appointment was announced at the organization's annual scientific meeting on Sept. 29, 2026.
Dr. Amin-Hanjani is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgery. She serves as Director of Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery and Vice Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at University Hospitals Neurological Institute .
The American Academy of Neurological Surgery ’s mission is to foster scientific discovery and innovative research seeking to better the lives of patients suffering from neurological and surgical disorders. The Academy serves as the leading neurosurgical organization in North America focused on promoting, sponsoring and mentoring laboratory, translational and clinical research in the neurological sciences.
“This appointment marks a notable achievement in Dr. Amin-Hanjani’s already distinguished career and underscores the trust her fellow academic neurosurgeons place in her leadership, vision, and enduring dedication to promoting excellence in research in our field,” said Nicholas C. Bambakidis, MD, director of the UH Neurological Institute and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery.
A devoted leader in organized neurosurgery, Dr. Amin-Hanjani also serves as president-elect of The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, AANS is the leading scientific and educational neurosurgical organization representing more than 12,000 neurosurgeons and allied professionals worldwide.
Dr. Amin-Hanjani has served on the AANS Board of Directors since 2019, including roles as treasurer and vice president. She has also held numerous national leadership positions, including chair of the AANS/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Joint Cerebrovascular Section, chair of the AANS/CNS Joint Guidelines Review Committee and immediate past chair of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council.
Dr. Amin-Hanjani earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed her neurosurgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and completed advanced fellowship training in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute.
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Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of more than 200 locations, including hospitals, outpatient facilities and physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system’s flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, NEOMED, Oxford University, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine. The main campus also includes UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the nation’s most distinguished clinical and translational research programs, with more than 3,500 active clinical research studies underway — the most of any health system in Ohio. Research funding has grown from $160 million in 2020 to $237 million in 2025, supporting discoveries that improve patient care and population health. UH’s academic, research, educational and clinical excellence has earned recognition among the world’s leading academic medical centers, ranking #15 globally and #7 in the United States by UK Brand Finance. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on LinkedIn , Facebook and Twitter . For more information, visit UHhospitals.org .