I hope this letter finds you well and hopefully warm, as we approach the end of the year. You may be warmed by a fireplace in the northern hemisphere or by the summer sun in the southern hemisphere. Regardless of the source, I hope you are rounding out the year happy and healthy. Though 2022 is winding down, NCS is already gearing up for 2023.
I want to begin with an update on our work to address concerns regarding the ACGME Fellowship Program Requirements. Your NCS officers are working diligently to connect with key stakeholders both within NCS and with other major organizations to address specific requirements that limit the program’s abilities to achieve accreditation and therefore impact the training of foreign medical graduates. We are concerned that the requirements as written will negatively impact our global workforce and penalizes those who are working so hard to train in the US. Our advocacy efforts are ongoing and fluid, and we will report back with an outcome once we’ve reached a resolution. In the meantime, our officers are meeting with the chairs of the Fellowship Directors Section to provide short-term guidance. Please rest assured that while we do not know the outcome, this is a top priority of NCS leadership who are actively working to address the concerns.
As many of you know, NCS has moved to a calendar-year membership model. Membership will run from January 1 through December 31 of the current fiscal year. If you hadn’t previously renewed through December 2023, now is the time to renew so your membership begins January 1, 2023. You can always check the status of your membership by logging into the NCS website and clicking on your profile, then “My Account,” click on “Invoices,” and finally, navigate to the “Membership” tab. Or, watch this screen recording for a walk-through.
NCS membership enriched my career over the years by offering me opportunities to learn from the best in the field through multiple educational platforms, network with people from across the globe, and contribute to multiple projects on behalf of the society. The benefits of an NCS membership go beyond what is listed on the website. I encourage you to reflect on your NCS membership and how to get the most out of your experience. The future of our society is in your hands, and as members, you are the collective driving force behind our successes and impact in the field of neurocritical care. Now is our opportunity to share about NCS and recruit our colleagues to join our society.
Speaking of the future being in your hands, NCS is now accepting submissions for the 2023 Annual Meeting. Much of the content presented at the 2022 meeting was driven by member submissions, and we received fantastic feedback on the content this year. If there is a topic you always wanted to hear or a speaker you want to hear more, please submit the session through the submissions portal. And if you are ready to take the podium to share your point of view, please don’t hesitate to submit!
With the season of giving upon us, please learn more about the Neurocritical Care Foundation and ways you can support research and education that improves the survival and recovery of patients treated for neurological disease in the intensive care unit. The Foundation is still very much in its early growth stages; your support will go a long way in its continued development as a philanthropic organization.
As the end of the year approaches, I can’t help but reflect on how grateful I am for this society and for all of you, our members. While 2022 brought its fair share of challenges, our community continues to flourish. The end of year offers opportunity for us to pause and take account of what is truly most important in our lives. My hope for you this season is that you are able to find moments, even small, to relax, recharge and reflect on this past year.
Warm wishes,
Sarah L. Livesay, DNP, APRN, FNCS, FAAN
Associate Dean, Professor
Rush University College of Nursing
Neurocritical Care APP, University of Washington
President, Neurocritical Care Society
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