Welcome to June – a month that holds special significance for all of us in the field of neurocritical care. As we celebrate Brain Awareness Month, we’re reminded of the importance of our shared mission: advancing the care of patients with life-threatening neurological conditions through multidisciplinary collaboration, education and research.

This month also presents an urgent opportunity to speak up for the future of our field. Cuts to federal research funding threaten the progress we've made—and the lives of the patients we serve. If you've been personally impacted by these funding reductions, we want to hear from you. Your stories can help advocate for the support our field urgently needs. Details on why this matters and how you can share your story are further below in this newsletter.

Additionally, June is a pivotal time for our community, and I’d like to highlight a few important updates and opportunities:

Recast Your Vote for the NCS Board of Directors

Due to a technical issue, we have relaunched voting for the Advanced Practice Provider/Nurse (APP/RN) and At-Large member seats on the NCS Board of Directors. As a result, any ballots submitted during the previous voting window are no longer valid. Please take a moment to cast your vote by Tuesday, June 10, to ensure your voice is counted. Your participation is vital in helping shape the future leadership of NCS, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Strategic Planning

Every three years, the Board of Directors meets to brainstorm anticipated member needs and envision future directions for the organization. In preparation of our June strategic planning meeting, we’ve reviewed committee requests and will incorporate common themes to ensure your priorities help shape our direction. The Board will also review findings from our nursing focus groups, responses from member feedback initiatives outlined below and the current clinical and scientific environment to ensure our mission and your needs are incorporated into this planning. 

Member Engagement Initiatives

In preparation for our strategic planning and in an effort to enhance our understanding of member needs, we’ve executed a three-pronged outreach initiative:

• We’re conducting a Member Perception Study to inform future value enhancements – please complete the survey by June 4 if you haven’t already.
• We’ve added listen-in sessions between Board members and Officers as another way to stay connected with your evolving needs.
• We’ve launched a survey to lapsed members to learn why they chose not to renew and how we can improve.

Fiscal Update

Thanks to strong fiscal stewardship, NCS has experienced a modest surplus. To ensure these funds are reinvested in meaningful ways, a dedicated task force was formed to evaluate a range of initiatives – including previously unfunded committee requests, scientific proposals and HEARD Center submissions.

We are proud to now support several of those items, including support for Outstanding Volunteer of the Year awards, increasing funding for HEARD initiatives and advancing scientific efforts – a direct investment in your success.

Register for the NCS 23^rd Annual Meeting

Early-bird registration for the 23^rd Annual Meeting, taking place September 18-21, in beautiful Montreal, expires on June 9. Secure your spot now to save.

Given the current political environment and funding cuts, we acknowledge that travel may be challenging for some of our members. We remain committed to ensuring our community has access to the latest education, science, and research shared at the Annual Meeting. That’s why we’re excited to offer a Virtual Access Pass this year, which will provide a livestream of select sessions for those unable to attend in person. Please note this pass does not include networking or full meeting access – it’s intended to ensure continued educational reach, not to replace the value of in-person engagement.

Apply for Annual Meeting Travel Grants by June 30

To help make attending the Annual Meeting more accessible, 25 travel grants of $1,000 each are available to NCS members; please submit your application by June 30 for consideration.

June Masterclasses

This month, NCS is hosting three virtual Masterclasses designed to support your ongoing education and clinical excellence. Details and registration information are included further below in this newsletter.

Celebrating Our Volunteers

We’re grateful for the passion and expertise that NCS volunteers bring to our community. Inspired by the Pharmacy Section’s leadership, NCS will be introducing Outstanding Volunteer Awards, recognizing excellence within each of our committees and sections.

As always, thank you for being a part of the Neurocritical Care Society. Your work, engagement and insights are what make our community thrive.
 

Susan Yeager, DNP, RN, CCRN, ACNP-BC, FNCS
President, Neurocritical Care Society