Seventh Annual Neurocritical Care Conference

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The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) endorses this educational activity as part of its mission improving care for patients with life-threatening brain injuries. NCS has not participated in the planning or content development of this activity.

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Submit a poster abstract

Deadline to submit: Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025

The purpose of this activity is to provide the participants with current, evidenced-based information to assist them in meeting the complex needs of the neurocritical care patient.

This activity is designed for physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, pharmacists and other health care providers who care for neurocritical care patients.

• 7 a.m. | Check In, Exhibits, Posters
• 7:55 a.m. | Welcome
  Jacquelyn Ryer, DNP, AG-ACNP, CCRN
• 8 a.m. | Caring for the Caregiver: Supporting Clinicians after Serious Adverse Patient Outcomes (SAPE)
  Mark Dias, MD, FAANS

  Objectives

  • Identify the complex emotional and psychological reactions that clinicians can suffer in response to SAPE.
  • Explain the stages of healing as put forth by AHRQ’s Candor module.
  • Identify local and national resources to help navigate psychological responses to SAPE.
• 8:30 a.m. | Current Surgical Management of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
  Enyinna Nwachuku, MD, FCNS

  Objectives

  • Discuss epidemiology and diagnosis of spinal cord injury.
  • Explain surgical management of spinal cord injury.
  • Review current advancements in the research pertaining to surgical management of spinal cord injury.
• 9 a.m. | Spinal Cord Injury Management in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit
  Michael Kryger, MD

  Objectives

  • Discuss the principles of the ASIA exam and SCI grading.
  • List factors that impact prognosis following SCI.
  • Describe some principles of comorbidity management after SCI.
• 9:30 a.m. | Break/Visit Exhibitors/Posters
• 10 a.m. | Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis: A Complex Adult Case
  Jordan Yaukey, MD

  Objectives

  • Review a complex and rare case of ADEM in an adult following bacterial encephalitis complicated by autoimmune encephalitis.
  • Review and understand the need for continued workup for encephalitis.
• 10:15 a.m. | Neuromuscular Critical Care: MG, AIDP, and Critical Complications of Neuromuscular Disease
  James Grogan, MD, MS

  Objectives

  • Recognize signs and symptoms of neuromuscular causes of acute paralysis to guide evidence-based interventions.
  • Incorporate risk-benefit decision-making with understanding of potential adverse effects of therapies and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Discuss risks and treatment strategies for exacerbations and decompensations of chronic neuromuscular disorders.
• 10:45 a.m. | Energy Expenditure in Neurocritical Care Patients: Description, Prediction, Significance
  David Frankenfield, MS, RD

  Objectives

  • Contrast energy expenditure in neurocritical care patients vs. healthy adults.
  • Explain the uses and limits of measurement and prediction of energy expenditure.
• 11:15 a.m. | Lunch
• 12:15 p.m. | Targeted Temperature Management Medications
  Morgan Gerber, PharmD

  Objectives

  • Review literature supporting the efficacy of medications that are commonly utilized for targeted temperature management.
  • Develop a patient specific targeted temperature management treatment plan.
• 12:45 p.m. | Neurological Critical Care Unit (NCCU) Survival Panel Discussion
  Moderator: Mary Jane Bijelic, MSN, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, SCRN

  Objectives

  • Explore the lived experiences of neurocritical care survivors to enhance understanding of the long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional impacts of critical neurologic illness.
  • Identify opportunities for improving communication, empathy, and continuity of care by integrating patient and family perspectives into neurocritical care practices.
• 2:15 p.m. | Break/Visit Exhibitors/Posters
• 2:30 p.m. | Neuroscience Nurses on the Move: Tackling Turnover and Building Retention
  Cody Moore, MEd, RN, MEDSURG-BC, NE-BC

  Objectives

  • Identify current trends in recruiting nurses to neuroscience and critical care.
  • Identify strategies to retain neuroscience nurses.
• 3 p.m. | Balancing Brainwaves: The Alpha-Delta Ratio in the Neurocritical Care Unit
  Jacob Esper, DO

  Objectives

  • Discuss the physiological basis and clinical significance of different frequencies of brainwaves on EEG.
  • Describe the concept and calculation of the alpha-delta ratio on EEG.
  • Analyze common clinical scenarios where alpha-delta ratios may provide diagnostic value in the neurocritical care unit.
• 3:30 p.m. | Alcohol Withdrawal and Treatment in the Neurological ICU
  Justin Davanzo, MD

  Objectives

  • Explain the diagnostic methods used in identifying alcohol withdrawal.
  • Discuss different management strategies for alcohol withdrawal treatment.
• 4 p.m. | To Sleep but Not Too Deep: Sedation in Neurocritical Care
  Brady Wisniewski, PharmD

  Objectives

  • Describe the pharmacologic properties of key sedation agents used in the neurocritical care setting.
  • Apply sedation strategies to clinical scenarios, incorporating patient specific factors.
• 4:30 p.m. | Adjournment

Mary Jane Bijelic, MSN, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, SCRN
Neuro Critical Care Nurse Practitioner
Department of Neurosurgery
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Justin Davanzo, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Director, Neurocritical Care
Department of Neurosurgery
Drexel College of Medicine
Allegheny Health Network

Mark Dias, MD, FAANS
Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics
Vice-Chair for Neurosurgical Education
Penn State College of Medicine
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Jacob Esper, DO
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Penn State College of Medicine
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

David Frankenfield, MS, RD
Manager Clinical Nutrition
Nutrition Support Dietitian
Clinical Nutrition Services
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Morgan Gerber, PharmD
Pharmacy Resident, Department of Pharmacy
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

James Grogan, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Neurology
Division of Neuromuscular Medicine
Penn State Neuroscience Institute
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State College of Medicine

Michael Kryger, MD
Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Medical Director and Spinal Cord Injury Program Director
Penn State College of Medicine
Penn State Health
Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Cody Moore, MEd, RN, MEDSURG-BC, NE-BC
Nursing Professional Development Specialist
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Enyinna Nwachuku, MD, FCNS
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Penn State College of Medicine
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Brady Wisniewski, PharmD
Pharmacy Resident, Department of Pharmacy
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Jordan Yaukey, MD
Neurology Resident, Department of Neurology
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Kayla Bardzel, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Neuroscience ICU
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Mary Jane Bijelic, MSN, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, SCRN
Neuro Critical Care Nurse Practitioner
Department of Neurosurgery
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Lori Cox, MSN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM
Program Director, Critical Care Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Kristen Fulton, MSN, ACNP-BC, SCRN
Nurse Practitioner, Neuro Critical Care Unit
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Maura Navarro, BSN
Clinical Staff Leader
Neuroscience Critical Care Unit
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Katherine Pavlos, MPAS, PA-C
Critical Care Physician Assistant
Department of Neurosurgery
Neurocritical Care
APP Critical Care Fellowship – Advisory Board
Instructor of Neurosurgery
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Mallory Peterson, MD
Neurosurgery Resident
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Jackie Ryer, DNP, AGACNP
AGACNP Program Coordinator, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Neuro Critical Care Unit
Penn State University
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

AMA

Penn State College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Penn State College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PSNA

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

In order to earn the 6.75 contact hours associated with this activity, you need to participate in the entire activity and complete the activity evaluation form located in eeds.

This educational activity has no commercial support or joint providership.

Stroke

This activity qualifies for 5.25 stroke credit hours.

Patient Safety

This activity includes 6.75 hours of patient safety/risk management education as required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine.

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

This knowledge-based activity has been assigned the Universal Activity Number of 0322-0000-25-018-L01-P. It has been approved for 6.75 contact hours (0.675 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. The attendee list will be uploaded into CPE Monitor approximately two weeks after completion of the program. Statements of credit indicated in contact hours and CEUs will be available through CPE Monitor. Successful completion includes signing in at registration with personal NABP number and date of birth, attending the entire conference (no partial credit will be awarded), and completing the activity evaluation. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center complies with the Accreditation Standards for Continuing Education.

Fees include the cost of instruction, online handout materials and all listed meals.

$150 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers
$100 Nurses and Others
$75 Student Fee (email verification of student status to ContinuingEd@pennstatehealth.psu.edu)

Payment is required at the time of registration. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at ContinuingEd@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Registrations received after Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 will incur a $25 late fee.

Cancellations received after Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, will be assessed a $25 processing fee.

No refunds will be made for cancellations received after Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.

Join us in Hershey

Hershey is conveniently located in central Pennsylvania, just 90 minutes from Baltimore and Philadelphia, two hours from Washington, D.C., and three hours from New York City.

• Harrisburg-Area Attractions
• Hershey Attractions
• Tanger Outlets in Hershey
• Historic Gettysburg
• Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish Country

Accommodations are the responsibility of the participant. A list of Hershey area lodging is available upon request or online.

A completed evaluation is required in order to receive a certificate for attending this activity. Please complete and submit the evaluation within the specified time frame.

The University reserves the right to cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, the University will refund any program registration fees paid but cannot be held responsible for any related costs, charges or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines or travel agencies.

Program registrants who are experiencing illness or have been exposed to anyone who is ill should contact the Continuing Education office before attending any in-person activities.

Content and speakers for all programs are subject to change. Registrants will be notified of any significant updates.

On-campus educational activities provided by Penn State College of Medicine Continuing Education are required to follow healthcare facility guidelines. Off-campus events provided by Penn State College of Medicine Continuing Education follow the COVID-19 requirements of that venue. We ask that all participants respect that some attendees may still choose to wear masks for activities. Check the venue website for the latest requirements and recommendations. Please do not attend this activity if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. By attending the activity, you attest that you do not have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, which may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste, loss of smell or any other sign of illness.

Penn State encourages people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Participants who anticipate needing any type of special accommodation or who have questions about the physical access provided should contact the Continuing Education office at least one week in advance of participation or visit.

It is Penn State policy to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all educational activities. Penn State has a process in place to mitigate any relevant financial relationships with commercial companies disclosed by faculty, course directors and planning committee members. Complete disclosure information will be provided to participants at the beginning of the activity.

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