Welcome to August! As we prepare for a busy and energizing fall season, I hope you’re finding time to recharge and reconnect – with yourself, your loved ones and our vibrant neurocritical care community. 

We’re just weeks away from the NCS 23rd Annual Meeting, happening September 18-21 in beautiful Montréal. If you haven’t yet, register now and be sure to add on a pre-meeting workshop and purchase your ticket to the Rooftop Revelry, our signature social event! 

This year, we are proud to present an exceptional lineup of keynote speakers who will bring powerful insights and perspectives to the meeting. The event will begin with an Opening Keynote from Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist and stroke survivor whose personal journey will offer a deeply moving look into how our daily work as providers can lead to truly life-changing outcomes. It will then continue with an INCC Keynote from Dr. Altaf Saadi, a Harvard neurologist focused on the health and human rights of immigrants, displaced individuals and justice-involved populations, who will share insights from her work, highlighting barriers to care and the impact of trauma.  

While we would love to see everyone in person in Montréal, we understand that travel may not be possible. This year’s new Virtual Access Pass ensures you can still stay connected with the NCS community and access live and on-demand sessions, no matter where you are. Be sure to view the meeting program and filter by “Included in Virtual Access Pass” to explore included sessions.  

Continuing the cutting-edge learning theme, there are several upcoming educational opportunities, including three in-person Brain Death Determination courses in Baltimore, Gainesville, Florida and Dallas. Be sure to explore the Featured Events section of this newsletter to learn how you can continue growing your knowledge and skills alongside other providers from the NCS community. 

Speaking of community, if you know a colleague who is not a member of NCS, there’s a special opportunity for them to join now and receive extended membership through 2026; this offer is available only through September. Please encourage those you know to take advantage of everything NCS has to offer.  

While their work may not always be visible, the officers have been diligently focused on strengthening the organization’s internal operations. In collaboration with staff, they are leading a full overhaul of the policy and procedure manual, as well as identifying initiatives to enhance responsiveness, coordination and organizational alignment. 

Your input is valuable – if you have ideas or suggestions to support this work, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Finally, I’m thrilled to share that NCS is actively developing a strategic plan, official logo and branding for the Henderson Equity and Research on Disparities (HEARD) Center. Thanks to generous support from donors and sponsors, the new branding is set to be unveiled at this year’s Annual Meeting. Be sure to check out the Making Waves section of this newsletter for a behind-the-scenes look at how a single mentoring moment translated sparked a grassroot effort that brought this important initiative to life. 

As always, thank you for your commitment to NCS and to advancing neurocritical care. I look forward to seeing many of you in Montréal next month!