- Fellow
- Early Career
- Education
ASCEND Leadership Development Program – Invitation Only
Part of ASCEND Leadership Development Program - Invitation Only
Details
- Date
- Thursday, January 21, 2027
- Time
- 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Room
- Milano Ballroom V & VI
- Session type
- Pre-Conference Session
- Schedule
- See this day
About
The NANS ASCEND Leadership Development Program is an invitation-only experience for fellows, junior faculty, and early-career professionals in neuromodulation who are ready to expand their impact within NANS and the field. Combining leadership education, mentorship, networking, and direct engagement with experienced NANS leaders and peers, the program helps participants build the knowledge, confidence, relationships, and practical skills needed to contribute effectively to committee, board, and other professional leadership roles.
The program includes an immersive full-day experience at the NANS Annual Meeting, followed by virtual mentorship and networking opportunities that extend learning beyond the meeting. Through interactive sessions and practical application, participants explore how effective leaders set objectives, lead teams, and deliver engaging presentations and more. Participants gain insight into board responsibilities and expectations, partnership engagement, financial stewardship, and the role of advocacy in advancing neuromodulation and patient care. Participants apply course learning into a NANS-focused or specialty-focused collaborative project aligned with society's mission. Through hands-on group experience, they strengthen leadership skills in building consensus, assessing resources, strategic thinking, and communication skills they can use and practice in everyday work. This program emphasizes practical leadership strategies that physicians can apply in any healthcare settings, multidisciplinary collaborations, and professional organizations.
At the end of the experience, participants will leave with a broader professional network, stronger leadership awareness, and practical tools to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, advocate for the field, support high-performing teams, and pursue future leadership opportunities within NANS, their organizations, and the neuromodulation community.
Learning objectives
- Assess leadership approach and demonstrate strategies for communicating effectively, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, leading high-performing teams, and contributing to future of NANS, the neuromodulation community and patients.
- Identify and foster effective meeting leadership and presentation techniques to develop a purpose-driven agenda, facilitate discussion, build consensus, and deliver an engaging presentation that supports stated objectives.
- Apply principles of organizational governance, financial stewardship, managing conflicts of interest, and advocacy to support effective leadership within healthcare and professional organizations.
Faculty
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Magdalena Anitescu, MD, PhD
University of Chicago Medical Center · Chicago, Illinois
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Alaa A. Abd-Elsayed, MD, MBA, MPH
Medical Director
Department of Anesthesiology
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health · Madison, Wisconsin
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Neel D. Mehta, MD
Division Chief, Pain Management
Anesthesiology
Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital · Darien, Connecticut
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Joshua M Rosenow, MD
Director, Functional Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, Illinois
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Corey W. Hunter, MD
Assistant Professor
Multidisciplinary Pain Program
Montefiore Medical Center · Bronx, New York
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Michael D. Staudt, MD, MSc
Associate Professor
Neurological Surgery
UH Cleveland Medical Center · Cleveland, Ohio
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Alex Escobar, MD
Division Chief of Pain Medicine
Anesthesiology
University of Toledo, Ohio · TOLEDO, Ohio
Presentations
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Breakfast & Registration
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Welcome & Opening Remarks
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Life of a Board Member: Responsibilities & Expectations
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How to Lead a Meeting
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Importance of Advocacy and Engaging Policy Makers
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Morning Break
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Navigating Industry Relationships and Conflicts of Interest
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Understanding a Balance Sheet and Financial Literacy
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Team Building and Building Consensus
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Lunch
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Leadership and Managing a Diverse Team
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How to Give an Effective Lecture
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Impact Through Collaboration: Project Introduction & Group Discussion
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Afternoon Break
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Q&A Panel
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Closing Remarks