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2025 President Message
Dr. Aaron Ruter, D.P.M., A.B.F.A.S., F.A.EN.S.

It is with great honor that I have been elected as president of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons. We thank Dr. Julie Abboud for her past 2 years of service as President and Convention Chairman, and especially for adding additional annual surgical training courses and taking the Symposium to Key West! 

I look forward to supporting and enhancing the passion and knowledge within this group. The specialty area of peripheral nerve surgery is still not widely practiced or researched. The AENS, its members, leadership and sponsors, have been instrumental the past 14 years, in efforts to train and expand awareness. Thank you to all of our dedicated faculty and past leadership for carrying the flag to improve nerve outcomes, with emphasis on the lower extremity. 

On a personal note, the training and education that this group has provided has been the bedrock of my own practice. I owe a great debt of gratitude to those before me, and I was honored to be in the first fellowship that included nerve training in the country. Specifically,  in that Fellowship the guidance and direction of Dr. Andrew Rader has been instrumental to my practice, future and leadership development. I am ready to give back and carry the torch to advance nerve into the future. 

During my tenure, one of my main objectives is to expand awareness to the next generation of foot and ankle surgeons to peripheral nerve surgery. I truly believe that this can greatly impact our patient care options and overall outcomes. Currently I am an attending in a residency program and training future surgeons. The amount of interest in peripheral nerve surgery amongst the residents and students rotating has grown, and is quite bright for our future.  

I will look to each of you to help in these areas this year: 

1) Create AENS Student Chapters & refer contacts at the schools. We are proud to have the 1st student chapter announced at the Key West Symposium - which is sponsored by the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley Podiatric Medical School. Thank you Students Nicholas Obias & James Hughes, for your efforts & enthusiasm in setting up our 1st Student Chapter! 
2) Asking for volunteers to refer colleagues, as well as refer residency program contacts and residents to become AENS Partners, and attend trainings, write papers & support research. 
3) Our Research Foundation is looking for more doctors to participate in the DURA Study (Decompression for Ulcer Recurrence) - Contact Dr. Nickerson or AENS office if you see diabetic patient and are willing to participate in the 24 month study.
4) Lastly, we need input from every member on completing publications, as well as needing Conference workshops & lecture topics. Send topics, share your publications, invite a colleague. We hope to see every one at a surgical course, OR the July Wine Meeting OR at the Annual Symposium November. Cadaver courses can be audited and agendas have been updated in 2024. 

This is YOUR society - and it can only grow and motivate if you give input and let us know what you need to "Have Nerve." 

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Join Us! Advanced Cadaveric Course: Wine & Nerve Meeting (July 10-14) Napa, CA

2 meetings in 1! With wine!

Click here to register

2 day Advanced Cadaveric Lab - Denervation, Soleal Sling, RPNI & Review. Open Dissection Time.  

Wine & Nerve Meeting Agenda:

• July 12th: Wine Dinner
• July 13th: Lectures & Wine Tour
• July 14th: Morning Lecture & Optional Wine Brunch

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Congratulations to the New 2025 Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees!

Officers

• Dr. Aaron Ruter, Indiana - President
• Dr. Julie Abboud, Wisconsin - Immediate Past President 
• Dr. Craig Thomajan , Texas - Vice President
• Dr. Nathan Larson, Washington - Secretary 
• Dr. Mark Woolley, Oregon - Treasurer 

Board of Director Members-at-Large (Two-Year Terms)

• Erin Nelson, DPM , FAENS
• Sequioa DuCasse, DPM, FAENS
• Shari Moore, DPM, FAENS
• Matthew Oseto, MD, FAENS

Board of Trustees (Three-Year Terms)

• Stephen Barrett, DPM, FAENS - Chair
• James Wilton, DPM, FAENS - Vice Chair
• Andrew Rader, DPM, FAENS
• Damien Dauphine, DPM, FAENS
• James Anderson, DPM, FAENS

Please email any projects, topics or referrals for membership & conference committee to: info@aens.us

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Congratulations to our New Fellows!

  

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Be A Part of History! DURA Study

Support the Level 1 Diabetic Ulcer Research Study (DURA Study). Advancing Nerve for the Future. Donate ONLINE or download the DONATION FORM. Dr. Scott Nickerson updates us on opportunities to advance nerve research in his appeal for donations to the Extremity Nerve Research Foundation (ENRF). Please see his appeal HERE.

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Nerve Independent Fellowships Available

Atlanta, Georgia: Contact Dr. Ducasse - sducasse.dpm@gmail.com
Ft. Collins, Colorado: Contact Dr. Anderson - jafootdoc@email.com
Davis, California: Contact Dr. Basso - dr.tbasso@calfac.com

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Welcome New Student Chapter - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - SOPM!

Contact Nicholas Obias to join - nicholas.b.obias@gmail.com

AENS Clinical Practice Guidelines

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AENS Sample Informed Consent Presentation

Click here to download the English version

Click here to download the Spanish version

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NEW - AENS Dissection Training Videos

2024 training videos are available to associate and fellow members to review online. Proceeds benefit nerve research and education. 

How to purchase: 

1) Hover over "Member Resources" tab at the top
2) Click on "Dissection Videos" page under tab
3) Log into the member-only portal
4) Follow instructions outlined on video page

Already purchased? Access the portal here
Disclaimer: Dissection video packages are only for AENS members who have completed the Fundamental or Advanced Nerve Training Courses. All non-member orders will be canceled. 

Thank you to AENS fellows and surgical faculty for their time in producing this education:

-Dr. James Wilton
-Dr. Peyman Elison
-Dr. Damien Dauphinee
-Dr. Mark Woolley
-Dr. Andrew Rader - special sponsorship