Schedule of Events

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Opening Session
Harnessing Healthcare Transparency: Tools, Trends, and Opportunities for Physician Practices
• Cameron Cox, MHA, FACMPE, e3ce Consulting
• Adam Garner, After Transparency
Recent healthcare transparency acts have ushered in a new era of data accessibility, empowering stakeholders across the healthcare industry to make more informed strategic decisions. This presentation explores the evolution of transparency tools and their application by insurers, hospitals, and policymakers to enhance cost efficiency, understand competitive landscape and overall financial positioning within a market. Attendees will gain actionable insights on how physician practices can leverage these tools to benchmark performance, optimize contracts, and improve financial relationships. Discover how transparency-driven strategies can position your practice for success in an increasingly data-centric healthcare environment.

Roundtable Discussions

• Academic Practice Meeting Room A
• Hospital Based Practices Meeting Room B
• Private - Small (1-5 Surgeons) Meeting Room D
• Private - Medium & Large (6+ Surgeons) Meeting Room C
  
  

NERVES Welcome Reception
San Juan Ballroom

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Breakfast with Exhibitors
San Juan Ballroom

Welcome & Opening Remarks
San Juan Ballroom

Tim Roberts Annual Keynote Address
EQ + Music | Soundtrack for Success
• Rich Braken
San Juan Ballroom
Emotional intelligence is one of the strongest predictors of success in leadership, communication, and relationships—often more impactful than IQ or technical skills. It influences how we manage stress, make decisions, and connect with others, yet many professionals are unaware of how their emotions affect performance.

This interactive keynote helps audiences develop greater emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and emotional regulation through practical strategies they can apply immediately at work and in life.

What makes this experience unique is how the message is delivered. Drawing on two decades as a national touring DJ, Rich uses live music as a complementary tool to create emotional awareness, engagement, and connection in real time—making the lessons memorable without distracting from the content.

The result is an energizing, high-impact keynote that raises emotional intelligence, strengthens communication, and sets a powerful emotional tone for lasting success.

Key Takeaways:
-Establish the key foundational elements of emotional intelligence and how they contribute to your success personally and professionally.
-Understand how to retrain your emotional intelligence triggers and work your emotions like a good DJ works a crowd.
-With nearly 72% of people unable to accurately identify their emotions when they happen, you will discover how to turn vulnerability into strength.
-Learn to build positive habits to enhance your emotional intelligence, confidence, and self-value for a successful future.

Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
San Juan Ballroom

General Session
Finish the Ride: The Power of Belief at Work and in Life
• Dean Otto
San Juan Ballroom
When your team is facing pressure, uncertainty, or fatigue—belief becomes the differentiator. Dean Otto’s keynote isn’t just a powerful personal story. It’s a transformational experience that shows teams how to face adversity, lead with purpose, and build a mindset that outlasts the odds. After surviving a life-altering accident and overcoming a 2% chance of walking again, Dean brings hard-won wisdom on resilience, mindset, and human connection to every room he steps into.

Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
San Juan Ballroom

Breakouts

• EQ | Boosting Culture & Performance Through EI Meeting Room A
  • Rich Braken
    

    Emotional intelligence is one of the most powerful predictors of leadership success—and it’s becoming even more critical in the age of artificial intelligence. As technology automates tasks and accelerates decision-making, the leaders who stand out are those who can build trust, communicate with empathy, and navigate human complexity.

    This interactive keynote helps leaders develop stronger emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and emotional regulation to lead effectively in today’s AI-driven workplace. Participants learn how emotions influence communication, decision-making, and performance—and how to stay grounded, human, and confident in moments that matter most.

    Drawing on research-backed emotional intelligence principles and real-world leadership experience, Rich Bracken delivers practical strategies leaders can apply immediately to improve connection, manage pressure, and strengthen culture. Live music is used strategically to create emotional awareness and engagement in real time—enhancing the learning without distracting from the message.

    In a world shaped by AI, this keynote equips leaders with the human skills technology can’t replace—helping organizations lead with clarity, empathy, and lasting impact.

    Key Takeaways:
    -Learn the fundamental elements of emotional intelligence (EQ)
    -Discover how to identify your EQ strengths & weaknesses
    -Identify strategies for managing your triggers
    -Learn the professional & personal benefits of EQ
    -Understand the impactful (and fun) changes you can make to improve your EQ

• Surviving Chaos: Private Practices Facing New Realities Meeting Room C
  • Cameron Cox, MHA, FACMPE, e3cs Consulting
    Beyond the traditional realm of private practice, physicians are grappling with a new reality shaped by mergers, acquisitions, and powerful external players. This seminar sheds light on the challenges posed by private equity, corporations, and health systems, offering a deep dive into the daily struggles practitioners face. The discussion will include how these external threats could impact neurosurgery practices both now and in the future.
    
    
• Socio-Economic Survey Results Meeting Room D
  • Steve Warner, KSM
  • Emily Penn, KSM
  • Madeline Ritter, KSM
    Katz Sapper & Miller returns with its annual analysis of the NERVES Socio-Economic Survey, sharing updated industry benchmarks and the latest trends in neurosurgery salaries and benefits. This is a must-attend session for leaders looking for reliable, data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making.
    
    

Lunch + Business Meeting
• AANS - Charlotte Pineda
San Juan Ballroom

Dinner Event - Boots, Bulls, & BBQ

Friday, May 1, 2026

Breakfast & Networking with Exhibitors
San Juan Ballroom

General Session
Building Effective Leadership Partnerships Through Dyad Leadership
•  Donna Bailer + Dr. Jakob Godzik, UAB 
• Jacob Rodman + Kenneth J. Rich, MD - Raleigh Neurosurgical Clinic 
• Moderator: Antoine Curtis
San Juan Ballroom
In today’s complex healthcare environment, effective collaboration between clinical and administrative leaders is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes and operational efficiency. This panel discussion will feature the administrator leader and physician leader from a prominent neurosurgery group, who will share their insights on the challenges and opportunities they face as they partner to navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on best practices for leadership alignment, interdisciplinary communication, and strategic decision-making in neurosurgery.

Learning Objectives:
-Understand the dynamics of the partnership between clinical and administrative leaders in a neurosurgery context.
-Explore strategies to foster effective communication and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.
-Identify key challenges facing neurosurgery executives and how to address them through united leadership.
-Share success stories and lessons learned from real-world experiences in managing neurosurgery practices.

Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
San Juan Ballroom

General Session
Neurosciences Landscape Update
• Kate Zentner, Sg2
San Juan Ballroom
This session will cover the latest trends and landscape for neurosciences and spine service lines. You will learn:
- How top trends and new developments (eg, technology advances, novel therapeutics, payer influences, site of care shifts) are intersecting to impact the neurosciences
-Key subspecialty updates and projected growth in high priority areas such as stroke, spine, pain, and more
-Considerations for program development and strategic planning

General Session
When the Unexpected Happens: Unscripted Responses
San Juan Ballroom
Neurosurgery executives face unprecedented challenges when crises strike—from cybersecurity breaches and natural disasters to challenging physician behaviors and emergencies that can disrupt operations within moments. This interactive session will explore real-world strategies for maintaining organizational stability and clear decision-making during high-stakes situations where there's no playbook to follow.

Panelists will share practical frameworks for rapid response coordination, transparent stakeholder communication, and maintaining patient care continuity when normal protocols no longer apply. Attendees will leave with actionable tools for leading through uncertainty and transforming chaotic moments into opportunities for organizational resilience.

Advisory Committee Meeting
Meeting Room D