The Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness Committee was excited to once again sponsor the annual Neuro Science Symposium, which was held at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, on March 6, 2026.
Titled “NEURO REVOLUTION”, this year’s focus was acute neurological emergencies from bench to bedside.
This full-day event was offered exclusively for Neuro ICU nurses, therapists, and technicians from Maine Medical Center and featured an impressive panel of presenters sharing the latest research and diagnostic advancements. Three of our MBAAC committee members had the pleasure of engaging with attendees and observing the fascinating presentations throughout the day.
The symposium’s highlight was the presence of two renowned keynote speakers: Mary Kay Bader, RN, MSN, CCNS, FNCS, FAHA, from the Neuro Critical Care CNS Mission Hospital in California, and Dr. Ava Puccio, PhD, RN, an associate professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.
Mary Kay Bader provided excellent presentations on traumatic brain injury management and diagnosis’ as well as advanced neurological assessments.
Dr. Puccio introduced the foundations of microdialysis and provided detailed techniques and interpretations of how that data is gathered and used to investigate complex brain functions.
The day also featured presentations by Maine Med’s exceptional neuro teams, who outlined ongoing trials and innovative techniques being implemented at the facility.
As the day drew to a close, the attendees were updated on an exceptional program called NeuroCOPE. This program presents a rewarding opportunity for neuro ICU care team members to reconnect with the patients they had previously cared for. The heartfelt descriptions of the significance of these conferences by nurses and therapists were truly moving and a much-needed addition to the support provided to the nursing staff at Maine Med. The staff often grapples with fatigue and mental stress, and this program offers them a much-needed respite and a chance to reconnect with their patients. MBAAC was a major financial sponsor of this program.
We would like to thank the Maine Medical Center’s Neuro ICU/Critical Care team and Linda Gardiner, PN BSN, for this incredible opportunity and exposure again this year. Maine is truly fortunate to have such exceptional teams working tirelessly to deliver excellent care to patients experiencing neurological emergencies.
