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CANS Awards

Byron Cone Pevehouse Distinguished Service Award

Byron Cone Pevehouse Distinguished Service Award

George Ablin Distinguished Public Service Award

George Ablin Distinguished Public Service Award

CANS Lifetime Exceptional Service Award

Byron Cone Pevehouse
Distinguished Service Award

The Byron Cone Pevehouse Distinguished Service Award is conferred upon a neurosurgeon in California who has served both the community of neurosurgery and medicine in general in an extraordinary, effective and distinguished manner.

Criteria for selection of the recipient shall include, but not necessarily be limited to one or more of the following:

  1. Accomplishments in scientific and clinical neurological surgery;
  2. Contributions to organized medicine, representing the interests of neurosurgery;
  3. An exceptional presence in societal, cultural or intellectual pursuits reflecting well upon both the individual recipient and neurosurgery in general;
  4. Selfless humanitarian efforts directed toward the poor and underserved in the United States of America and/or foreign countries.

The Award shall generally be conferred upon someone who has completed his or her professional careers but shall not necessarily be so limited.

Past recipients

2026 Linda Liau, MD, PhD

2025 James E. Boggan, MD

2024 Lawrence Shuer, MD

2023 Lawrence Marshall, MD

2022 Gary Steinberg, MD

2021 No award given

2020 William Caton III, MD*

2019 Lawrence Pitts, MD

2018 Steven Giannotta, MD

2017 Mitch Berger, MD

2016 Moustapha AbouSamra, MD

2015 John T. Bonner, MD*

2014 John Adler, MD

2013 J. Gordon McComb, MD

2012 No award given

2011 Gerald K. Silverberg, MD

2010 Donald Becker, M

1999 Robert E. Florin, MD

*deceased

2009 Ulrich Batzdorf, MD

2008 Martin. H Weiss, MD

2007 George H. Koenig, MD

2006 Randall W. Smith, MD*

2005 Donald J. Prolo, MD

2004 W. Eugene Stern, MD

2003 Mel Cheatham, MD

2002 No award given

2001 Sidney Tolchin, MD

2000 John A. Kusske, MD

1998 Charles B. Wilson, MD*

1997 Philipp M. Lippe, MD*

1996 George Ablin, MD*

1995 C. Hunter Shelden, MD & Robert H. Pudenz, MD

1991 Edwin Todd, MD

1990 Byron Cone Pevehouse, MD*

1989 Edwin B. Boldrey, MD

1988 Philip J. Vogel, MD* & Joseph Bogen, MD *

2023 Lawrence Marshall, MD
2022
2021 No Award Given
2020 William Caton III, M.D.
2019 Lawrence Pitts, M.D.
2018 Steven Giannotta, M.D.
2017 Mitch Berger, M.D.
2016 Moustapha Abou-Samra, M.D.
2015 John Bonner, M.D.
2014 John Adler, M.D.
2013 J. Gordon McComb, M.D.
2012 No Award Given
2011 Gerald K. Silverberg, M.D

2010 Donald Becker, M.D.
2009 Ulrich Batzdorf, M.D.
2008 Martin. H Weiss, M.D.
2007 George H. Koenig, M.D.
2006 Randall W. Smith, M.D.
2005 Donald J. Prolo, M.D.
2004 W. Eugene Stern, M.D
2003 Mel Cheatham, M.D.
2002 no award given
2001 Sidney Tolchin, M.D.

2000 John A. Kusske, M.D.
1999 Robert E. Florin, M.D.
1998 Charles B. Wilson, M.D.
1997 Philipp M. Lippe, M.D.
1996 George Ablin, M.D.
1995 C. Hunter Shelden, M.D. & Robert H. Pudenz, M.D.
1991 Edwin Todd, M.D.
1990 Byron Cone Pevehouse, M.D.
1989 Edwin B. Boldrey, M.D.
1988 Philip Vogel, M.D .and Joseph Bogen, M.D

George Ablin
Distinguished Public Service Award

This award was established in 2000 to honor a legislator or other public official who has given momentous efforts for medicine. The award not only recognizes the long and dedicated career of Dr. George Ablin as an excellent neurosurgeon, but also recognizes his efforts in public service on behalf of all neurosurgeons. It also has the benefit of enhancing CANS’ liaison and activities with members of the community.

Hear from 2026 George Ablin Distinguished Public Service Award recipient, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Past recipients

2026 Representative Nancy Pelosi

2025 Robert N. Klein II

2024 No award given

2023 Father Gregory Boyle

2022 Representative Raul Ruiz

2021 No award given

2020 Congressman Ami Bera

2019 Katie Orrico, JD

2018 Senator Dianne Feinstein

2016 Senator Richard Pan, MD

2015 Dustin Corcoran

2014 Governor Jerry Edmund Brown, Jr

1999 Representative Tom Campbell

*deceased

2020 Ami Bera
2019 Katie 0. Orrico
2018 Dianne Feinstein
2017 No Award Given
2016 Dr. Richard Pan
2015 Dustin Corcoran
2014 Gov. Jerry Brown

2001-2013 No awards given

2000 Representative Tom
Campbell

CANS Lifetime Exceptional Service Award

The CANS Lifetime Exceptional Service Award was first awarded in 2020 and is given to a neurosurgeon whose lifetime of service to CANS is exceptional. The recipient must have distinguished him or herself by serving CANS in various capacities and in a selfless and dedicated manner, over a lifetime.

Past recipients

2026 Austin Colohan, MD

2025 Patrick J. Wade, MD

2024 Moustapha AbouSamra, MD

2023 No award given

2022 Donald Prolo, MD

2021 Philipp Lippe, MD* (given posthumously)

2020 Randall W. Smith, MD*

*deceased