By Wade Smith, MD, PhD, FNCS
The Value of Volunteer Leadership
Dear NCS Members,
A foundation of NCS is its volunteers. As a member, if you have not yet volunteered for a role in NCS, please consider doing so. Serving as your NCS President in a year when we are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging but an honor. It is so gratifying to witness the members of our society working on the frontlines of healthcare at all times, especially over the past 16 months. I have served as an NCS volunteer leader for several years, and my term as president has been the most rewarding yet. I am thankful to each one of you for sharing your stories, experiences, bright spots and difficult times with the society and with me. NCS thrives because of your dedication, passion and expertise.
If you are seeking a way to flex your leadership skills, give back to the neurocritical care field and support our society, I invite you to “Get Involved!” as a volunteer leader with NCS. Beyond the rewarding aspects of serving as an NCS leader, volunteer leadership is an incredible opportunity to grow your network, inspire your neurocritical care practice and become an even stronger physician, nurse, pharmacist, educator and/or researcher.
There are many opportunities to get involved, from positions on the board of directors to serving on committees, sections or NCS projects. NCS offers many outlets for you to combine your passions and interests with your career in neurocritical care, all while giving back to a society that gives so much to us.
Each year, NCS members have the opportunity to indicate their interest in a committee through the annual “Get Involved!” campaign. On this survey, which will be available mid-June, you will see a list of opportunities, and we ask that you provide your specific interests on serving in the role. New this year, we ask for a diversity statement where you can elaborate on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), as DEI issues are important when balancing committee membership. You also can reach out to info@neurocriticalcare.org to get in touch with a committee chair. I know they would be more than happy to share with you their own journey to volunteer leadership.
As a neurocritical care practitioner, you understand the value of giving your time to serve others — patients, family, friends, colleagues. Consider sharing your time with NCS as a volunteer leader.
I invite you to reach out to me — or any member of the NCS Board of Directors — for more information about this extraordinary commitment to our society.
Sincerely,
Wade Smith, MD, PhD, FNCS
President, NCS Board of Directors
Professor of Neurology, UCSF
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