The Oklahoma Neurosurgical Society was envisioned by a group of Oklahoma neurosurgeons in the mid-1970s as an organization that would allow neurosurgeons throughout the state to address the changing socio-economic landscape in medical care. An organizational meeting was held at the University of Oklahoma Faculty House in October 1975. Fifteen neurosurgeons attended the meeting.

ONS Organizational Meeting Oct. 1975. From left to right: Front Row (seated) A. Stowell, H. Wilkins, R. Miller, R. Tenney Back row (standing) AC Lisle, BJ Rutledge, T. Billings, D.Fell, R. Imler, A. Rix, R. V. Smith, and G. Schoenhals. (Not pictured K. J. Carey, and L. Lamprich)

The society was officially created on February 3, 1976. The first officers included B.J. Rutledge (President), R.L. Imler (President-Elect), R.F. Tenney (Vice-President), and R.V. Smith (Secretary- Treasurer) The ONS often held meetings with Visiting Professors from the University of Oklahoma Department of Neurosurgery. Early meetings were typically held at the Faculty House on the Health Sciences Center campus. Shortly after its inception, the ONS collected and compiled data concerning the country's neurosureons opinons and attitudes towards board re-certification. The Society remained active for approximately 15 years after its creation. Over time interest and participation waned and the ONS became inactive.

The ONS was re-invigorated in 2015 by Dr. Jeremy Phelps, Dr. Mike Martin, and Todd Barnes, MBA. The first meeting of the re-established society was in 2016.

Past Presidents

2016-17 Mike Martin, MD

2017- 18 Jeremy Phelps, MD

2018-19 Ben White, MD

2019-20 Basheer Shakir, MD

2020-2021 Ian Dunn, MD

2021-2023* No President due to COVID-19

2023-2024 Caple Spence, MD

2024-2025 Ryan Rahhal, MD

2025-2026 Andrew Bauer, MD