Leadership in neurology: a social network analysis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Social Network Analysis
• Graph Theory

Background:

• The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and American Neurological Association (ANA) are prominent leadership organizations in American neurology.
• Understanding the network of leadership within these organizations can provide insights into professional ties and influence.
• Previous analyses have not extensively mapped the professional networks of AAN and ANA presidents using social network analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the professional ties of AAN and ANA presidents since 1948 using social network analysis.
• To investigate the relationship between institution ranking and the likelihood of becoming president of the AAN or ANA.
• To identify core groups of presidents, key employment institutions, and influential training programs within the AAN and ANA leadership networks.

Main Methods:

• Archival data was used to construct relational tables of presidents and their affiliations.
• Chi-square analysis was employed to test the association between institution ranking and organizational affiliation.
• Network data was analyzed using a 2-mode analysis, examining node, dyad, and network characteristics.

Main Results:

• Presidents of the American Neurological Association were more frequently employed at ranked institutions compared to American Academy of Neurology presidents.
• Ten individuals served as presidents for both organizations, exhibiting the highest centrality in the combined network.
• Presidents were trained in distinct core residency and fellowship programs: Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, and Mayo Clinic for AAN; Harvard, Columbia, Yale, and University College London for ANA. Employment institutions during their presidencies were more diffuse.

Conclusions:

• Residency and fellowship training programs function as critical hubs for leadership development in neurology.
• Targeting these training programs can foster future leadership and shape trends within the neurology leadership network.
• The findings highlight the enduring influence of specific academic institutions on the trajectory of neurological leadership.