Neurocritical Care Society Podcast

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Ryan Hakimi, DO, MS, NVS, RPNI, CPB, FNCS, FCCM, FAAN, a neurointensivist at Prisma Health, about his Currents article on billing in neurocritical care. Their conversation explores why billing and documentation education is often absent from medical training, how staffing models and split/shared billing af...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Nilufer Yalcin, MD, a neurointensivist at Boston Medical Center, about her Currents article on the use of virtual reality in neurorehabilitation. Together, they explore the neuroscience behind virtual reality–based therapies, including multisensory engagement, cortical reorganization and the role of motiva...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, host Nicholas Morris, MD, speaks with Cherylee Chang, MD, division chief of neurocritical care and professor of neurology, neurosurgery and medicine at Duke University. Dr. Chang reflects on her journey from an early interest in cardiothoracic surgery to neurology, and ultimately, to the "intersectional" work that drew her to neurocritical ca...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Richard Choi, DO, FNCS, speaks with Katharina Busl, MD, MS, FNCS, division chief of neurocritical care at the University of Florida and assistant editor for Neurocritical Care journal, about transfusion strategies in patients with acute brain injury. They discuss recent randomized trials and a new systematic review examining restrictive ve...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Richard Choi, DO, FNCS, speaks with Katharina Busl, MD, MS, FNCS, division chief of neurocritical care at the University of Florida and assistant editor for Neurocritical Care journal. They explore new research on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearance after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. They also discuss the study Prospective Trial of...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Masterclass series, hosts Jon Rosenberg, MD, and Stephan Mayer, MD, speak with Jamie Podell, MD, assistant professor of neurocritical care and emergency medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Together, they explore paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity – how it develops after brain injury, why symptoms differ among patients and what current res...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, Nicholas Morris, MD, speaks with Werner Hacke, MD, PhD, DSc (hon. mult.), FAHA, FESC, senior professor of neurology at Heidelberg University and a major leader in vascular neurology and neurocritical care. Professor Hacke reflects on his path from psychiatry and psychology to helping establish Germany's early neurological intensive care units...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Masterclass series, host Jon Rosenberg, MD, is joined by Harald Sauthoff, MD, ICU Director at Westchester Medical Center and a leader in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). They explore how POCUS has transformed bedside evaluation and management in the ICU, from rapid shock assessment to informed fluid management. Dr. Sauthoff shares how ultrasound can quickly iden...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, Nicholas Morris, MD, speaks with Andrew Kofke, MD, emeritus professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kofke reflects on his remarkable path from a teenage ambulance volunteer to a pioneering leader in neuroanesthesia and neurocritical care. He discusses the origins of Penn's neuro ICU program, his co...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, Nicholas Morris, MD, is joined by Eelco Wijdicks, MD, PhD, professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic and chair of the Division of Critical Care Neurology. A pioneer of neurocritical care, Dr. Wijdicks reflects on training in Rotterdam, fellowship at Mass General under Allan H. Ropper, MD, and the creation of Mayo Clinic's neuro ICU in the 1990s....

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Dr. Nicholas Morris speaks with Dr. Wendy Ziai, professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins and senior editor for Neurocritical Care , and Dr. Richard Choi, neurointensivist at MedStar Franklin Square and social media editor for the journal. This episode also introduces Dr. Richard Choi as the new host of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, whi...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Camilo Espinosa-Jovel, MD, and Clio Rubinos, MD, MS, FACNS, about their recent Currents article on the Seizure Code strategy. They share how their collaboration began across continents, the origins of the seizure code and the importance of recognizing and treating urgent epileptic seizures before they prog...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Swarna Rajagopalan, MD, MS, associate professor of neurology Cooper University Health Care about her recent co-authored Currents article on the role of ultrasound guidance in performing lumbar punctures in the neuroscience ICU. They discuss the limitations of the landmark-based technique, when ultrasound c...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, Nicholas Morris, MD, is joined by Chere Chase-Gregory, MD, MHS, senior vice president and chief health equity officer at Novant Health and a practicing neurointensivist. Dr. Chase-Gregory, also an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina and founding member of the Women in Neurocritical Care Committee, shares her path into l...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Masterclass series, hosts Jon Rosenberg, MD, and Stephan A. Mayer, MD, FCCM, FNCS, are joined by Carolina B. Maciel, MD, MSCR, and Katharina Busl, MD, MS, professors of neurology at the University of Florida. They explore the evolution of opioid-sparing pain management strategies in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute brain injury. The conversation hi...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Tara Wall and her husband, Ron, whose journey through cardiac arrest and recovery offers a deeply personal look at the realities of critical illness, caregiving and hope. Tara, a former NICU nurse, recounts the terrifying moment her husband collapsed at home and the life-saving measures she took, while Ron...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspective series, Nicholas Morris, MD, is joined by Immediate Past-President of NCS, Paul Vespa, MD, a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at UCLA. Dr. Vespa shares his path into neurocritical care, as well as his views on the growth of neuro ICUs and advances in continuous EEG monitoring and microdialysis. He discusses the future of AI in EEG, the value of...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Masterclass series, Stephan Mayer, MD, FCCM, FNCS, and Jon Rosenberg, MD, welcome renowned neurointensivist Chiara Robba, MD, Ph. D., to discuss the concept of brain protective ventilation. Drawing from her experience across both pulmonary and neurocritical care, Dr. Robba explores the physiological nuance of ventilating patients with brain injury, including how...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Clio Rubinos, MD, MS, and Rommel Morel, MD, about the urgent need to improve pre-hospital neurocritical care in low- and middle-income countries. They explore disparities in emergency response, the reality of patients arriving via family or bystanders and community-driven solutions like Colombia's Bootstra...

In this episode of  Perspectives , Dr. Nicholas Morris is joined by neurocritical care fellows Dr. Diana Alsbrook, Dr. Sonja Darwish and Dr. Scott Sparks to discuss the future of the field. They share insights on choosing a fellowship, the challenges of training and what it takes to become a well-rounded neurointensivist. From clinical autonomy and mentorship to wellness and preparing for life aft...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, welcomes Ray and his wife, Kathleen, who authored a recent  Currents "Stories of Hope" feature. Ray shares his journey of recovery after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in an accident while traveling in Aruba. Kathleen offers her perspective on navigating medical care abroad, the challenges of intensive rehabilitation...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topic Series , host Dr. Nicholas Morris speaks with Dr. Fabio Taccone about the recently published TRAIN randomized clinical trial. The study compares restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategies in patients with acute brain injury, shedding new light on hemoglobin targets, neurological outcomes and transfusion-related risks. Dr. Taccone, a leading resea...

In this episode of Hot Topics , Dr. Nicholas Morris interviews Dr. David Greer, a leading expert in brain death determination, to discuss the Neurocritical Care Society's new in-person brain death determination course. Dr. Greer highlights the importance of standardized protocols and training, the global success of the online course and the advantages of hands-on learning with mannequins and exper...

In this episode of Perspectives, Dr. Nicholas Morris talks with Diane McLaughlin, FNCS, about her journey into neurocritical care and the vital role of postgraduate training for APPs. She highlights the importance of ultrasound, sharing how she developed her skills and discusses strategies for staff retention and career growth. She also reflects on advancements in stroke treatment and the benefits...

In this episode of Hot Topics , Dr. Nicholas Morris interviews Claire Dahyot-Fizelier, M.D, Ph. D. , a professor of anesthesia and intensive care at the University of Poitiers, to explore the groundbreaking PROPHY-VAP trial published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine . This landmark study investigates the impact of single-dose ceftriaxone prophylaxis on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in ac...