Explore This Year's Keynotes
Opening Keynote
Dr. Walter Koroshetz
Neurologist and former director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
About Walter Koroshetz, MD
Walter Koroshetz, MD, is a neurologist, neurocritical care specialist and nationally recognized leader in neuroscience and stroke research. He served as Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) from 2014 to 2026, following seven years as the institute’s Deputy Director.
During his tenure, he helped advance major national research initiatives and clinical trial networks, including NeuroNEXT, StrokeNet, SIREN, the BRAIN Initiative and the Undiagnosed Diseases Network, while co-leading the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative.
Before joining NINDS, Dr. Koroshetz spent nearly two decades at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he served as Vice Chair of Neurology, directed neurointensive care and acute stroke services, and led neurology resident training. His clinical and research work helped advance imaging approaches to identify salvageable brain tissue in acute ischemic stroke and pioneered endovascular treatment for large-vessel occlusion. He also played a key role in establishing systems of acute stroke care in the United States and advancing the development of vascular neurology and neurocritical care as recognized subspecialties. Dr. Koroshetz received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his medical degree from the University of Chicago. He completed training in internal medicine and neurology and has dedicated his career to advancing neuroscience, improving patient care, and building the systems and collaborations that move the field forward.
Inclusion in Neurocritical Care (INCC) Keynote
Reaching New Heights: Disability, Innovation, and the Future of Neurocritical Care
Lisa Meeks, PhD
Professor and Founder and Executive Director of the Docs With Disabilities Initiative
About This Session
Disability is central to neurocritical care, yet it remains too often absent from how we think about the workforce, medical education, clinical practice, and innovation. This keynote will challenge traditional assumptions about disability and explore what becomes possible when disability is recognized as a lived experience, a source of expertise, and a catalyst for innovation. Reaching new heights requires us to think differently about who enters and remains in our profession, whose experiences inform our work, and how we define excellence in care. By integrating disability across education, clinical practice, research, and workforce development, we can build a future for neurocritical care that better reflects—and better serves—the patients and families at the center of our work.
About Lisa Meeks, PhD
Lisa Meeks, PhD, is a Clinical Professor of Medical Education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, and Founder and Executive Director of the Docs With Disabilities Initiative.
An internationally recognized leader in disability inclusion and health professions education, she works to advance equitable, accessible systems across medical education and clinical practice. Dr. Meeks has helped shape national policy, institutional practice, and research on disability inclusion through partnerships with medical schools, health professions programs, accrediting bodies, professional societies, and national organizations. She is the author and editor of leading texts, including Disability as Diversity, and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles in journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, JAMA, and Academic Medicine. She also served as lead author of the AAMC special report Accessibility, Inclusion, and Action in Medical Education: Lived Experiences of Learners and Physicians with Disabilities.
A passionate advocate, educator, and mentor, Dr. Meeks is dedicated to elevating the voices and lived experiences of disabled physicians and trainees and building learning and clinical environments where everyone can thrive. Her impact has been recognized through her inclusion in the inaugural Forbes Accessibility 100 in 2025 and the Forbes Accessibility 200 in 2026.
Closing Session
NCS Leadership Panel
Panelists: NCS Officers
About This Session
Join the NCS Officers for a panel discussion on the future of the Neurocritical Care Society. NCS leadership will share their vision, priorities, and plans for the Society’s continued growth and development. The session will also include an extended Q&A, providing attendees with an opportunity to engage directly with NCS leadership and ask questions about the future direction of NCS.