President's Update - February 2026
Published on: February 02, 2026
Dear NCS Community,
As we look ahead to February, I’m grateful for the energy, dedication and collaboration that continue to define our Society. Together, we are reaching new heights in neurocritical care — advancing knowledge, expanding access and strengthening our global community.
A Word on Recent National and International Events
It is difficult to find the right words to acknowledge the many horrific events that are unfolding today, not just in the US but worldwide. Some of these events directly affect our community, including acts of violence that strike at who we are and the work that we do. Other events impact us more indirectly, but are nonetheless dismaying, anxiety-producing and emotionally draining, sometimes severely so.
In times like these, NCS is reminded of the importance of community and shared purpose. With these values at the forefront, we can navigate this extraordinarily challenging time together. We are strongest when we work together as a collaborative, multi-disciplinary, international community; we are all connected in meaningful ways, and our patients depend on us. We must remain true to our mission of providing outstanding neurocritical care wherever it is practiced and not allow external factors to distract us from our calling in this world.
During these challenging times, we encourage members to care for themselves and for one another, seek support when needed, advocate for and protect our patients and their families and make use of available professional and community resources, knowing that NCS remains deeply committed to the well-being of its members and the patients entrusted in our care.
Strategic Plan Update
We continue to make progress on our strategic plan and its five pillars, with next steps focused on defining the tactics that will guide our work over the next three to five years. There’s a lot to do! We’ll be working closely with multiple committees to advance our goals, and indeed, one of our priorities is to strengthen Board engagement with committees while fostering greater collaboration across them. As a result, you can expect increased committee and member engagement as we execute this process, helping our Society to achieve our goals together!
World Coma Day
As we look ahead to World Coma Day on March 22, I invite you to join the global movement dedicated to transforming the future of coma care. This powerful and impactful day unites patients, families, clinicians, advocates and researchers in a shared commitment to advance coma science and expand access to high-quality neurocritical care worldwide. Whether by registering for the event, making a donation or setting a personal fundraising goal, your participation directly supports the Curing Coma® Campaign. Together, these efforts fuel discovery, strengthen collaboration and help ensure that patients everywhere have hope, access, outstanding care and a path toward recovery.
New Member Benefit: Monthly Webinars
We’re also continuing our work to enhance membership value. As you may already know, NCS has launched new monthly webinars — free to members — as a new member benefit, providing ongoing opportunities to learn, connect and exchange knowledge throughout the year. Registration is already open for four upcoming sessions part of our Neurocritical Care Knowledge Exchange: 2026 Webinar Series, and I encourage you to take advantage of these offerings.
Annual Meeting Call for Proposals Opens Soon
Planning is also underway for the NCS 24th Annual Meeting, taking place October 20-23 in Seattle, and we look forward to welcoming you later this year! Dr. Lori Shutter and the Annual Meeting Committee have already held their kickoff meeting, and planning will soon be in full swing! Please note that the Call for Concurrent Sessions and Workshops opens later this month — a wonderful opportunity to help shape the scientific program and contribute your expertise. Please send in your ideas early and often!
Become a Leader
Finally, your involvement is what makes NCS strong. In February, nominations will open for Board of Directors positions. I hope you’ll consider stepping forward or encouraging a colleague to do so. Leadership opportunities like these are vital to advancing our mission and ensuring diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives guide our future.
Thank you for all that you do to support NCS and the patients we serve. I look forward to the months ahead, hopefully with warmer weather, and to continuing this important work together!
With warm appreciation,
David M. Greer, MD, MA, FCCM, FAHA, FNCS, FAAN, FANA
President, Neurocritical Care Society