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 collaborations with influential figures like Peter Safar and Alan Ropper and his research on cerebral blood flow and opioid neurotoxicity. Dr. Kofke also shares insights on the evolution of multimodal neuroprotection, the future of noninvasive cerebral monitoring and how curiosity and physiology have guided his decades-long career.

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.

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.

Wijdicks shares the story behind the FOUR Score Coma Scale and lessons from subarachnoid hemorrhage, hyponatremia and cerebral salt wasting, including how early fluid-restriction practices shaped outcomes. The conversation also explores building a new specialty, the role of neurologists in the ICU, the history of medicine and "neuro cinema," as well as compassion fatigue and the future of global neurocritical care.

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.

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, which will continue to feature high-impact articles from Neurocritical Care.

They discuss a new study, Postoperative Monitoring After Elective Intracranial Surgery in a Postanesthesia Care Unit is Safe, Efficient and Cost-Effective, by Arthur Wagner and colleagues in Munich, Germany. The conversation examines the 10-year experience with more than 5,500 patients, complication rates and how PACU-based pathways may ease ICU demand while supporting safe outcomes. Dr. Ziai and Dr. Choi also share perspectives on ICU capacity and the importance of collaboration across departments, showing how this research connects to real-world practice.

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.

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 progress. The discussion covers barriers faced in lower-resource settings, the steps involved in creating and implementing a protocol and the measurable improvements in treatment times and patient outcomes. They also reflect on how similar approaches could be adapted within U.S. hospitals to improve care for patients with seizures.

To read the full article, visit Currents: Seizure Code Strategy: Improving Treatment Times and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Urgent Epileptic Seizures

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.

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 can improve safety and accuracy, and how point-of-care training supports providers. Dr. Rajagopalan also describes why neurointensivists should consider increasing their use of ultrasound in daily practice outside of traditional critical care procedures.

To read the full article, visit Currents: The Role of Ultrasound Guided Lumbar Puncture in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit: A Review and Case Presentation

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.

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 leadership, the origins of the committee and her ongoing work to advance health equity, mentorship and community partnerships.

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.

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 highlights Dr. Maciel and Dr. Busl's work with sphenopalatine ganglion nerve blocks and the design of a phase 2 clinical trial investigating this novel technique.

The guests also discuss the limitations of traditional analgesic options, the complexities of headache mechanisms in neurocritical care and how targeted interventions may improve outcomes and quality of life for patients in the neuro ICU.

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.

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 shares his fragmented but remarkable memories from the event and his long road back to health. Together, they reflect on the emotional weight of medical decision making, the importance of support from health care teams and how connection, care and determination can shape recovery.

Read the accompanying article:

Part 1: Story of Hope – Life After Cardiac Arrest

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.

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 patient stories and the importance of clinician-investigators, mentorship, and teamwork.

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.

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 to balance positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), tidal volume and CO₂ levels to protect both lung and brain. The trio also dives into findings from the VENTIBRAIN study and practical strategies for tailoring care using multimodal monitoring.

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.

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 Bootstrap consensus and Uganda's MOTOR trial. The conversation highlights how global collaboration, data-driven strategies and shared passion are essential to improving outcomes and reducing inequities in neurocritical care.

Read the accompanying article:Traumatic Brain Injury in a Resource-Limited Setting: A Reflection on the Importance of Timely Interventions in Neurocritical Care

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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.