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The William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship

American Association of Neurological Surgeons

The William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship was established by the estate of Dr. Van Wagenen, one of the founders and the first President of the Harvey Cushing Society, now the AANS.

Following his neurosurgical residency with Harvey Cushing, Dr. Van Wagenen traveled and studied in Europe, broadening his knowledge of neurological surgery and the related basic sciences. This was done at the recommendation of Dr. Cushing, much as Cushing had done, following the example of Sir William Osler.

In considering what permanent contribution he might make to neurosurgery, Dr. Van Wagenen chose to support foreign travel for scientific enrichment. The Van Wagenen Fellowship was designed to give freedom in scientific development without the restrictive limitations usually imposed by many research grants and fellowships.
William P. Van Wagenen fellows are provided with:

Up to $120,000 stipend for living and travel expenses to a foreign country for a period of 12 months;
A family travel and living allowance of $6,000 if spouse and/or children are accompanying the fellow;
$15,000 of research support for the university, hospital or laboratory sponsoring the fellow; and
If needed, $5,000 for medical insurance.

How to Apply

The next application cycle for the William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship will commence in September 2026 for the 2028-2029 academic year. The fellowship is open to all senior neurosurgical residents (PGY5, PGY6 & PGY7) in approved neurosurgery residency programs in North America and whose intent is to pursue an academic career in neurological surgery. The host institution must be outside of North America. When the application become available, you may apply below.

Requirements

Application should be submitted with letters of reference, including one from the applicant’s Program Director. A letter from the proposed sponsor and documentation of intent to pursue an academic career, while not required, will strengthen the application.

The Van Wagenen Selection Committee will consider the originality and quality of the applicant’s proposal, the thoroughness with which the plan for a period abroad has been designed, personal attributes, and the quality of the research environment. Recommendations from the candidate’s previous sponsors and fellowship sponsors are important.

By January 30, 2027, the Chairman of the Van Wagenen Selection Committee will notify the winning applicant, who will be expected to begin their fellowship for the 2028-2029 academic year. A formal announcement of the award will be made at the 2027 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting.

For additional information, visit NREF Grants & Fellowships online or contact the NREF team at info@nref.org.

Van Wagenen Hockey Tournament

The 3rd Annual Van Wagenen Hockey Tournament hits the ice on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the University of Minnesota’s 3M Mariucci Arena! Open to medical students, residents and faculty who play hockey, this is your chance to showcase your skills and enjoy some friendly competition. All net proceeds benefit the William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship program.

DEADLINE AND REQUIREMENTS

• The completed application must be submitted by 11:59pm (Central Time) on Friday, November 1, 2026. The application must be submitted with letters of reference, including one from the applicant's Program Director and one from the proposed sponsor. Documentation of intent to pursue an academic career, while not required, will strengthen the application.

• Recommendations from the candidate’s previous sponsors and fellowship sponsors are important.

• The Van Wagenen Selection Committee will consider the originality and quality of the applicant's proposal, the thoroughness with which the plan for a period abroad has been designed, personal attributes, and the quality of the research environment.

AI based application success predictor

Whether applying for NREF grants, fellowships, or AANS/AANS-related awards, success typically depends on the following factors:

✔ Alignment With Neurosurgical or Neuroscience Goals

Projects must clearly advance knowledge or methods relevant to neurosurgery and neurological disease, including basic science mechanisms, clinical outcomes, surgical innovation, or translational neuroscience. nref.org

Tip: Explicitly frame your work in terms of neurological surgery relevance and potential impact on patient care or academic knowledge.

✔ Defined Research Plan & Feasibility

Competitive proposals articulate:

Clear specific aims

A coherent methodology

Realistic timelines and milestones

Feasible deliverables (e.g., manuscripts, abstracts, assay results)

Tip: Include a well-structured timeline and risk mitigation plan.

✔ Investigator Potential & Track Record

For junior faculty and residents, reviewers assess:

Prior research accomplishments (publications, conference abstracts)

Institutional support and protected research time

Potential for future independent work

Tip: Highlight training, mentorship, and relevant experience.

✔ Strong Mentorship & Institutional Support

Especially for trainee and student awards like MSSRF, a compelling mentor letter outlining resources, guidance plan, and supervision quality strengthens applications. nref.org

✔ Scientific Novelty and Clinical Significance

Reviewers weigh innovation, significance, and translational potential heavily — particularly in NREF Research Fellowship and Young Investigator awards.

Tip: Demonstrate how your work fills gaps in current neurosurgical knowledge or practice.

✔ Clarity & Quality of Submission

Well-written, logically structured proposals and abstracts are more likely to score highly with reviewers. Concise hypotheses, clear aims, and measurable outcomes help reviewers assess merit efficiently.

🧠 Award Evaluation Considerations

Across AANS/NREF opportunities, evaluators consider:

Significance: Impact on neurosurgery and neurological disease

Approach: Rigor and feasibility of methods

Investigator: Qualifications and future promise

Environment: Strength of mentorship and institutional resources

Innovation: Novelty and potential for advancing the field

(This aligns with typical scientific review criteria seen in professional society awards.)

📌 Practical Application Tips

✔ Start early and engage mentors when crafting proposals.
✔ Tailor narratives to AANS/NREF goals and neurosurgical relevance.
✔ Use clear language — avoid unnecessary jargon.
✔ Include measurable outcomes (e.g., publications, presentations).
✔ Attend the Annual Scientific Meeting and submit competitive abstracts.

🧠 Summary: AANS & Research Support

Opportunity	Target Audience	Purpose
NREF Research Fellowship Grants	Residents	Full-time research support
Young Clinician Investigator Awards	Junior faculty	Protected research time
Medical Student Summer Research Fellowships (MSSRF)	Medical students	Summer neurosurgical research
William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship	Senior residents	International study and enrichment
Donald O. Quest Awards	Residents/Students/Fellows	Best presentations at AANS meeting
Section & Joint Awards	Diverse	Subspecialty grants and scholarships

Specialties

Neurosurgery

Eligibility Requirements

The fellowship is open to all senior neurosurgical residents (PGY5, PGY6 & PGY7) in an ACGME-accredited neurosurgery residency program or the Canadian equivalent whose intent is to pursue an academic career in neurological surgery.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Association of Neurological Surgeons

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 5550 Meadowbrook Industrial Ct. Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008-3852

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