Neurocritical Care Society Podcast

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 care. She discusses her early training in the field, efforts to establish certification and fellowship accreditation pathways and the challenges of defining the essential components of what constitutes neurocritical care. Dr. Chang also shares insights from Duke's advanced practice provider model, her work to broaden multidisciplinary inclusion within NCS and her current focus on leadership development, workforce shortages and strategies to better attract the next generation to the field. Dr. Chang recommends the following books for those interested in developing their leadership potential:Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila HeenExtreme Ownership by Jocko Williams Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger InstituteThe Fearless Organization by Amy EdmonsonThe Leader's Guide to Mastering Feedback by Joan HibdonThe Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins 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 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 versus liberal red blood cell transfusion thresholds across traumatic brain injury, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Their conversation highlights the physiologic rationale behind transfusion, challenges in interpreting trial and meta-analysis data, and how overlapping hemoglobin ranges complicate bedside decision-making. Dr. Busl also shares how this evolving evidence is influencing clinical practice and the importance of individualized transfusion decisions. 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 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 Cerebrospinal Fluid Filtration After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Lumbar Catheter Extension (PILLAR XT) Trial, which evaluates a dual-lumen intrathecal catheter designed to filter CSF and accelerate removal of red blood cells and inflammatory byproducts. Their conversation highlights the rationale behind CSF drainage, how prior work like the Early Drain trial shaped the field, and what this early-phase device trial reveals about feasibility, safety, and reductions in CSF RBC and protein levels. Dr. Bussel and Dr. Choi also touch on implementation challenges and the need for larger trials before this approach can move into broader clinical use. 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 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 research suggests about its underlying neural networks. Dr. Podell offers practical guidance on recognizing patterns, avoiding anchoring bias and distinguishing PSH from other causes of instability. The conversation also covers common treatment approaches, scoring tools used at the bedside and areas of ongoing study. 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, 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 and advancing modern acute stroke care. He discusses his contributions to thrombolytics, intra-arterial therapy and the DESTINY trials in decompressive surgery. Professor Hacke also shares perspectives on the evolution of neurocritical care training in Europe, ethical challenges in randomized trials and the importance of collaboration among neurology, neurosurgery and neuroradiology. He touches on individualized decision making, standard-of-care gaps and the ongoing need for progress in hemorrhagic stroke research. 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, 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 identify shock etiology, assess fluid responsiveness and tolerance and detect pulmonary congestion. He also discusses using Doppler and the VExUS score to refine hemodynamic understanding and tailor treatment to individual patients. The conversation closes with insights on building sustainable ultrasound training programs, from boot camps and image portfolios to pathways toward critical care echocardiography certification. 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, 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.

Dr. Wendy Ziai, a neurology professor at Johns Hopkins, and Dr. Richard Choi, a neurointensivist, delve into groundbreaking research on postoperative monitoring after elective intracranial surgery. They discuss the safety and efficiency of using Postanesthesia Care Units (PACUs) to reduce ICU demand while maintaining patient outcomes. With insights from a decade-long study involving over 5,500 patients, they highlight collaboration across departments, the importance of managing external ventricular drains, and strategies for prioritizing ICU resources during capacity challenges.

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.