Neurocritical Care Society Podcast

PERSPECTIVES: Neurocritical Care Fellowship Training Today

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, host Nicholas Morris, MD, leads a roundtable discussion with neurocritical care fellowship directors Jenna Ford, MD; Rishi Malhotra, MD; Fiona Lynch, MD; and Matt Bevers, MD, on the current state of neurocritical care fellowship training. The panel discusses what distinguishes their programs, how fellowship leadership roles evolve and the ways Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation has shaped training programs. The conversation also examines key challenges in fellowship education, including recruitment, changing learner expectations, wellness, faculty development and collaboration with neurosurgery, APPs and other critical care teams. The group also shares practical advice for fellowship applicants, including what programs look for in strong candidates and the questions applicants should ask when evaluating potential programs. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

CURRENTS: The Business of Neurocritical Care: Understanding Physician Benefits

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Ryan Hakimi, DO, MS, a neurointensivist at Prisma Health and member of the Neurocritical Care Society Board of Directors, about his Currents article, "The Business of Neurocritical Care: Understanding Physician Benefits." Dr. Hakimi explores the often-overlooked financial side of physician compensation, focusing on how retirement benefits can meaningfully shape the overall value of an employment offer. He explains the differences between 401(a), 403(b), 401(k), and 457(b) plans, including employer contributions, tax advantages, vesting periods and expense ratios. He also discusses why a lower base salary may sometimes be offset by a stronger overall benefits package. The conversation highlights why physicians should request and review benefits information during contract negotiations rather than focusing only on salary, title and work expectations. This episode offers practical guidance for physicians seeking to better understand the long-term financial impact of their benefits package and make more informed career decisions. To read the full article that inspired this conversation, visit "The Business of Neurocritical Care: Understanding Physician Benefits [https://currents.neurocriticalcare.org/Leading-Insights/Article/the-business-of-neurocritical-care-understanding-physician-benefits]" on NCS Currents. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

CURRENTS: Honoring Through Action: The HEARD Center Story

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Tommy Thomas, MD, PhD, and Aimee Aysenne, MD, MPH, co-directors of the Henderson Equity and Research on Disparities (HEARD) Center, about the center's origins and its mission to advance equity in neurocritical care. Drs. Thomas and Aysenne reflect on the legacy of Galen Henderson, MD, whose mentorship, leadership and commitment to systems-level change inspired the establishment of the HEARD Center. They discuss how disparities in neurocritical care are shaped by factors such as access, geography, education, socioeconomic conditions, as well as the broader systems that influence whether patients receive high-level care. The conversation also highlights the center's three core pillars: mentorship, research and community outreach, including efforts to support early-career professionals, fund solutions-focused disparities research and partner with communities to identify needs from the ground up. The episode concludes with practical insights on how clinicians can begin addressing disparities in their daily practice, from listening more closely to patients' lived experiences to recognizing gaps in who reaches the ICU and strengthening partnerships with community and rural providers to improve access to neurocritical care. To read the full article that inspired this conversation, visit "Honoring Through Action: The HEARD Center Story [https://currents.neurocriticalcare.org/Leading-Insights/Article/honoring-through-action-the-heard-center-story]" on NCS Currents. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

HOT TOPICS: Minimally Invasive Surgery Versus Medical Management for Intracerebral Hemorrhage: The MIND Clinical Trial

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Eric Lawson, MD, is joined by Adam Arthur, MD, neurosurgeon at the University of Tennessee and Semmes Murphey Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee, to discuss the article "Minimally Invasive Surgery Versus Medical Management Alone for Intracerebral Hemorrhage: The MIND Clinical Trial [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2838201]," published in JAMA Neurology. Their conversation explores the MIND trial's evaluation of minimally invasive hematoma evacuation compared with best medical management for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Dr. Arthur reviews the trial's design, primary outcomes and early termination, and explains how findings from the ENRICH trial influenced enrollment and feasibility considerations. He also explores key considerations such as the importance of hematoma location, evacuation thresholds and timing, while reflecting on what the trial's negative primary outcome may still reveal about the future of surgical intervention and more individualized approaches for ICH patients. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

HOT TOPICS: Infratentorial Pressure Monitoring in Cerebellar Stroke — Feasibility and Prognostic Utility

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Richard Choi, DO, FNCS, is joined by Katharina Busl, MD, MS, to discuss the article "Infratentorial Pressure Monitoring in Cerebellar Stroke: Feasibility and Prognostic Utility [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12028-025-02391-1]," recently published in Neurocritical Care. Their conversation examines why pressure in the posterior fossa may differ from supratentorial measurements in patients with cerebellar stroke and why that distinction may matter clinically. They discuss the physiologic basis for compartmentalized intracranial pressure, the challenges of posterior fossa management and the potential implications for monitoring and treatment. Dr. Busl reviews the study's design and key findings, including evidence of a significant pressure gradient between infratentorial and supratentorial compartments and an early signal that higher infratentorial pressures may be associated with worse outcomes. She also discusses important limitations, including the study's small sample size, single-center nature and unanswered questions about surgical variables such as decompression size. The discussion further considers how this proof-of-concept work could inform future studies on monitoring, prognostication and treatment selection in cerebellar stroke. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.