Perspectives on the History of Neuromodulation-Relevant Societies

Abstract This chapter turns to the history of the beginnings of the societies that are important to the founding of a medically relevant paradigm, in this instance, neuromodulation. The International Neuromodulation Society (INS) was founded as an offshoot of the World Society of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery (WSSFN), a society of neurosurgeons most interested in stereotactic surgery for cancer and functional neurosurgery, and Dr. Konstantin Slavin, past president of the American Society of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery and secretary-treasurer of the WSSFN, will discuss the founding and beginnings of this society, followed by perspectives on the founding and beginnings of the INS by two of its past presidents, Dr. Giancarlo Barolat of the United States and Mr. Brian Simpson of Wales in the United Kingdom. Finally, because of its importance to the INS (largest and first INS chapter), I have asked Dr. Michael Stanton-Hicks to reminisce on the beginnings North American Neuromodulation Society.