Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is my utmost pleasure and honor to start my mission as the President of the Middle Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (MSSFN), and the Continental Vice-President of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN).

First, I would like to express my deepest gratitude, respect, and appreciation to Prof. Ahmed Alkhani, the founder, former president, and Honorary President of the MSSFN. Prof. Alkhani was a pioneer in establishing MSSFN under the auspices of WSSFN to enhance and popularize the practice of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery (SFN) in our region, which still has a real need to develop and expand such an elegant subspecialty to serve more than 350 million people.

I would also like to sincerely thank my immediate predecessor, Prof. Walid Abdel Ghany, for his three years of dedicated and successful leadership. Through his efforts, MSSFN reached new heights, expanded its impact across the region, and significantly contributed to advancing stereotactic and functional neurosurgery in the Middle East. His achievements set a strong foundation upon which we will continue to build.

During his presidency, and in continuation of Prof. Alkhani’s legacy, the society grew steadily—through scientific meetings, keynote lectures, and workshops; by supporting membership in WSSFN; and by providing free access to educational webinars and to the Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery journal.

To carry forward this mission, and in line with our vision of popularizing SFN among young neurosurgeons and delivering standard SFN services to our patients in the region, I and the board of directors will work intensively with dedication and passion.

Our website, in its new interface, will include everything functional neurosurgeons need to know about educational courses, training programs, and scholarships, as well as the agenda of upcoming local, regional, and international meetings. Moreover, we will enhance the multidisciplinary approach by strengthening ties with colleagues in neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and psychiatry, who are interested and specialized in functional disorders.

We will continue to collaborate with medical industry partners, recognizing their essential role in introducing new technologies, advancing clinical practice, improving patient safety, and supporting the education and training of stereotactic and functional neurosurgeons both in our region and worldwide.

Establishing SFN practice in countries that previously had no access to this subspecialty remains our top priority and major mission. Our region, the Middle East, still deserves the support of the international community to ensure standard care for our patients. We must unite and work together.

Prof. Dr. Atilla Yılmaz
President of MSSFN
Professor of Neurosurgery & Functional Neurosurgery
Istanbul Health and Technology University – Türkiye