Region’s Physicians Gather To Discuss Changing Face Of Stroke Treatment

Sponsored By NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery (NSPC) And Winthrop-University Hospital, “Tri-State Neurovascular Summit” Featured Internationally Known Faculty

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. – More than 100 physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners from throughout the New York region gathered recently at New York’s Harvard Club to participate in the Tri-State Neurovascular Summit:  The Changing Face of Stroke.  The day-long medical education program, which was sponsored by NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery (NSPC) (NSPC) and Winthrop-University Hospital, brought internationally known experts together with local clinicians to discuss the latest treatments for stroke, carotid stenosis (blockage of the carotid arteries), intracranial aneurysms, vascular malformations and other serious conditions affecting the brain’s blood vessels.

The course was co-directed by Jonathan L. Brisman, M.D., attending endovascular neurosurgeon with NSPC and Director, Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery, Winthrop-University Hospital.  Faculty represented such internationally known institutions as Harvard Medical School, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the Seattle Neuroscience Institute, as well as NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery (NSPC), the tri-state area’s premier neurosurgical private practice, and Winthrop-University Hospital, a leader in neuroscience in New York’s downstate region.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., killing 137,000 Americans every year and disabling many thousands more.  New treatments are now available which can save more lives in stroke and related conditions.

“Our goal was to give local physicians an in-depth understanding of the state-of-the-art modalities for assessing and treating both routine and complex neurovascular cases,” said Dr. Brisman.   “Our program covered not just common conditions like stroke, but less common yet nonetheless serious disorders including brain aneurysms and brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). We also wanted them to get a look at the future of neurovascular care.”

Among the many topics covered were the potential of ultrasound as a treatment modality for brain disorders, the use of new imaging technologies for acute stroke triage, and the evolution of neurovascular surgery as a specialty.  Dr. Brisman presented cases on brain aneurysms, AVMs and carotid stenosis.  National outcomes data and trends were also a major focus of the program.

Dr. Brisman was the first endovascular neurosurgeon on Long Island, dual fellowship-trained in both cerebrovascular neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology. One of  approximately 100 surgeons in the U.S. trained in both techniques, Dr. Brisman authored landmark papers in the New England Journal of Medicine and Lancet Neurology.