Christopher C. Getch
2011, Washington, DC
Christopher Caldwell Getch is honored to serve as the President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Getch joined Dr. H. Hunt Batjer on the Northwestern University faculty in 1996 in the Department of Neurosurgery. He holds the academic rank of Professor of Neurological Surgery in the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. Prior to arriving in Chicago, Dr. Getch completed fellowships in Microsurgery with Dr. Jannetta and Stereotactic Radiosurgery with Dr. Lunsford and Dr. Kondziolka at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Getch received his BA degree from Princeton University in 1984, his MD degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1989, and graduated from neurosurgical residency at Thomas Jefferson University under the chairmanship of Dr. William Buchheit former CNS Vice President. Since joining the faculty at Northwestern, Dr. Getch has been active in organized neurosurgery, serving the Congress of Neurological Surgeons since 1997 and as a member of the Executive Committee for the past 10 years. He began his service to the CNS as Chair of the Host Committee for the 1997Annual Meeting in New Orleans and has held numerous positions both on the Scientific Program and Executive Committee since that time. He served as the Scientific Program Chair for the 2005 Annual Meeting in Boston and Chairman of the 2006 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Currently he is President of the Illinois State Neurosurgical Society having joined the Society in 1996 upon moving to Chicago and has been actively involved in the society’s efforts on liability reform. He has served on the board of ThinkFirst, the executive counsel of the AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section and has had the honor of being a guest examiner for the ABNS. He also is active on the Executive Committee of the Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS). Dr. Getch has been active in resident education as well as clinical research in subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebrovascular imaging, and the genetics of intracranial aneurysms. He has authored numerous manuscripts and book chapters pertaining to cerebrovascular disease. Dr. Getch is married to Gale and they live in Hinsdale, IL. Gale is a general surgeon subspecializing in the surgical treatment of breast disease. They enjoy traveling and running, having completed two marathons together. They are most active looking after their three boys, Christopher, Jr. (17) Oliver (15), and Charlie (2) who have reintroduced them to numerous activities including model railroading, baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse, canoeing, camping, and skiing. Shortly after the time of this original posting, Dr. Christopher Getch passed away on January 9, 2012.