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October 21, 2025

The success of a neurology practice, department, or institution, and the care of neurology patients, is a team effort. The AAN recognizes the valuable contributions of those engaged in the business and operational aspects of management so that neurologists and care team members can focus on patient care, teaching, and/or research. These roles include, but are not limited to, practice managers and administrators, clinic managers, office administrators, office managers, CEOs, directors, executive directors, and others.

These various critical roles also face unique challenges—both today and in the future. That’s why the AAN offers a special Business Administrator membership category with its own set of unparalleled resources to help these professionals make advantageous connections, advance their careers, enhance patient care, and gain access to the most trusted, up-to-date education and resources to help them run a smooth, efficient, and successful practice.

Addressing key topics, challenges, and emerging trends

Business administrators face a number of unique challenges, not least of which include “declining reimbursement, insurance company challenges, regulatory compliance, cost of advancing technology, and workforce and operational pressures,” said Wendy Van Fossen, CPA, who is the chief executive officer at The Neurology Center in Silver Spring, MD, and chair of the AAN’s Business Administrator Work Group as well as its Business Administration Section. 

“Adapting to changes in health care funding, with an increased focus on productivity and efficiency, and how neurology specialties can keep up with the demand for services are other unique challenges,” added Jane Czech, MS, MBA, who is the associate chair for finance and administration at the University of California, San Francisco, and former chair of the AAN’s Academic Business Administrator Work Group. 

BA Cohorts

One way the AAN is helping business administrators navigate these challenges is through its bimonthly BA Cohorts, an exclusive outlet for business administrators to connect, share insights, and build lasting relationships with peers facing similar challenges and opportunities.

“The AAN’s BA Cohorts offer an invaluable opportunity to learn from colleagues,” said Van Fossen. “These conversations are essential to successful practice management, yet only available if you join a BA Cohort.”

Some recent conversations have focused on hot topics like the emergence of AI and how to keep up with—and survive—the constantly changing reimbursement, regulatory, and federal funding landscapes. “I’ve really benefited from listening to my peers about how they address challenges with the use of AI in their practices,” said Czech. “It’s been helpful to know that we all face similar issues, and it’s been great having the focus be neurology.”

Added Van Fossen, “The AAN’s Medical Economics and Practice Committee and subcommittees are also working to address these issues through the publication of Top 5s, toolkits, and educational resources.”

Other frequent, more evergreen conversations include challenges with patient education, staffing turnover, and recruitment of both physicians and care team members, compensation plans, relationships between academic departments and their health systems, and wellness.

“The connections made [through the BA Cohorts] with other business administrators and, in my case, the private practice ones, have been invaluable,” said Van Fossen.  “During each call I learn about something new another group is trying and unique solutions to common problems.”

Business Administrator Day

Another example of how the AAN is focusing efforts on business administrator success is through its popular annual Business Administrator Day at the Annual Meeting. The day offers actionable content and networking to all business administrator attendees, where participants can explore the latest trends in health care management, strategies for working with new physician leaders and the next generation of administrators, and the importance of maintaining a work-life balance in a demanding industry.

“The connections made during the cohort calls carry over to Business Administrator Day at the Annual Meeting and help to make it a better experience for all,” said Van Fossen. 

Additional resources  

AAN Business Administrator members can also rely on the AAN for year-round exclusive access to a wealth of additional free or discounted resources like: 

• New professional profile-boosting DAAN designation for non-physicians who demonstrate exemplary engagement in the AAN and ongoing commitment to leadership in the field of neurology
• 350+ online learning courses, videos, and exams
• Discounts of 30%+ on registration to the AAN Annual Meeting and AAN Fall Conference, where they’ll find a wealth of valuable practice management programming
• Billing, coding, EHR resources, and more
• Connection and collaboration with other business administrators through 60+ Synapse^SM Member Communities
• The latest news, trends, and education in health care management and patient-centered practices, including AAN publications Neurology^® Clinical Practice and Neurology Today^®

“The AAN has purposefully focused on the development of resources relevant to business administrators and is an invaluable platform where we can easily connect with each other, share information and ideas, and address topics of interest,” said Czech.

Added Van Fossen, “It’s wonderful to have a group of like-minded colleagues I can reach out to with day-to-day questions to get real-world solutions.”

Learn more about AAN Business Administrator membership and resources.