Prof. Atilla YILMAZ, MD holds leadership positions in the principal international societies of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is President of the Middle-Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (MSSFN), a continental chapter of the WSSFN, and President of the Turkish Chapter of the International Neuromodulation Society. He also serves on the executive boards of the WSSFN, the SEESSFN and the INS, on the executive committee of the ESSFN, and on the WFNS Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Committee.
At a glance
- President
- Middle-Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (MSSFN), 2025–
- President
- Turkish Chapter of the International Neuromodulation Society, 2024–
- Board member
- World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN), 2024–
- Board member
- International Neuromodulation Society (INS), 2025–
- Executive committee member
- European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ESSFN), 2025–
- International board
- Southeast European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (SEESSFN), 2025–
- Committee member
- WFNS Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Committee, 2024–
- Webmaster
- WSSFN official website, 2026–
Current positions
| Role | Organisation | Since |
|---|---|---|
| President | Middle-Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (MSSFN) — continental chapter of WSSFN | 2025 |
| President | Neuromodulation Research and Education Society — Turkish Chapter of the International Neuromodulation Society | 2024 |
| Executive board member | World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) | 2024 |
| Executive board member | International Neuromodulation Society (INS) | 2025 |
| Executive committee member | European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ESSFN) | 2025 |
| International board member | Southeast European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (SEESSFN) | 2025 |
| Vice-President | Neuromodulation Technologies Research, Development and Patient Education Society | 2024 |
| Board member | Deep Brain Stimulation and Movement Disorder Surgery Society | 2024 |
| Vice-Chair | Turkish Neurosurgical Society, Stereotactic, Functional, Pain and Epilepsy Surgery Group | 2026 |
| Committee chair | Turkish Neurosurgical Society, International Relations Council | 2023 |
| Committee member | World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Committee | 2024 |
| Webmaster | World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) website | 2026 |
Why these roles matter clinically
Society positions are not decorations. In functional neurosurgery they determine who writes consensus guidance, who sets training standards for the next generation of DBS surgeons, and which centres are asked to host live-surgery and cadaver courses. A surgeon holding a continental presidency is, in practice, being asked by peers to define how the procedure should be taught in that region.
Meetings founded and directed
Prof. YILMAZ founded İstanbul's cadaver course series in deep brain stimulation and neuromodulation in 2022 and has directed every edition since:
| Edition | Course | Date and venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Deep Brain Stimulation and Spinal Cord Stimulation Cadaver and Programming Course | 27–28 May 2022 · Marmara University, Başıbüyük Campus, İstanbul |
| 2nd | Brain Stimulation and Pain Interventions Cadaver and Programming Course | 26–27 May 2023 · Marmara University, Başıbüyük Campus, İstanbul |
| 3rd | DBS & Neuromodulation Interventions Cadaver Course — held alongside the 4th Joint Congress of the INS European Chapters | 25–28 May 2025 · Acıbadem University, İstanbul |
| 4th | International DBS & Neuromodulation Interventions Cadaver Course | 26–29 August 2027 · İstanbul (in preparation) |
Other meetings organised, chaired or directed
- 4th Congress of the Middle-Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, İstanbul.
- 4th Joint Congress of the INS European Chapters, 22–25 May 2025, İstanbul Congress Center — local organising committee.
- International Neuromodulation Society Interim Meeting, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2–4 October 2025 — organising committee; director of the DBS target planning training workshop.
- Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery hands-on workshop, 19th World Congress of Neurosurgery (WFNS 2025), Dubai, 1–5 December 2025 — workshop director.
- Multidisciplinary Pain Management Course, Ankara University, 5–7 December 2025.
- Turkish Neurosurgical Society Stereotactic, Functional, Pain and Epilepsy Surgery Group spring symposium, 12–15 March 2026, Antalya.
- 4th Deep Brain Stimulation Course and Movement Disorders Days, Ankara University, 2024.
- Medtronic Neuromodulation Cadaver Course (DBS, SCS and TDD), 23–24 April 2024, Acıbadem University cadaver laboratory, İstanbul.
- LivaNova vagus nerve stimulation cadaver training, 7 July 2023, Marmara University, İstanbul.
- MSSFN live DBS surgery course series and the MSSFN diploma webinar programme.
Frequently asked questions
What is MSSFN?
The Middle-Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery — the continental chapter of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) covering the Middle East. Prof. Atilla YILMAZ, MD has been its President since 2025.
Is Prof. Atilla YILMAZ involved in international DBS training?
Yes. He directs cadaver and live-surgery courses in İstanbul, serves on the WFNS Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Committee, and has helped establish neuromodulation programmes in several countries where DBS was not previously available.