Mumbai : Strengthening India’s efforts to improve stroke care through continuous medical education, the Indian Stroke Association (ISA) successfully concluded the 12th ISA Stroke Summer School 2026, its flagship three-day academic programme, held from 14th to 16th August 2026 at Novotel Imagicaa, Khopoli, Mumbai. Organised under the theme “From Fundamentals to Frontiers in Stroke Care,” the programme brought together leading stroke experts, neurologists, neurointerventionists, physicians, residents, fellows, medical students, and young consultants from across the country. Through scientific learning, practical training, and knowledge sharing, the initiative aimed to strengthen clinical expertise in modern stroke management, promote evidence-based treatment, and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals to deliver faster, more effective stroke care while advancing ISA’s nationwide “Save the Brain” mission.
Designed as one of ISA’s premier academic initiatives, the programme covered the complete spectrum of stroke care, including early recognition through the BE FAST approach, emergency stroke evaluation, advanced neuroimaging and Neurosonology, intravenous thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, Neurointervention procedures neurocritical care, stroke systems, rehabilitation, secondary prevention, and emerging technologies in stroke care. Participants also benefited from hands-on workshops, case-based lectures, structured debates, interactive discussions, recent clinical trial updates, live demonstrations, poster presentations, and a grand final quiz, providing practical knowledge that can be directly applied in day-to-day clinical practice.
The scientific programme witnessed the presence and active participation of Dr. Vikram Huded (President), Dr. Pawan Kumar Ojha (President-Elect), Dr. Arvind Sharma (Secretary), Dr. Vijaya P (Immediate Past President), Dr. Nirmal Surya (Past President), Dr. Salil Uppal (Treasurer), Dr. R. Lakshmi Narasimhan (Editor), and Executive Committee Members Dr. Amit Kulkarni, Dr. Jayanta Roy, Dr. Monika Singla, Dr. Shripal Shah, and Dr. Trilochan Srivastava, who shared their expertise, guided academic discussions, and contributed to making the 12th ISA Stroke Summer School 2026 a rich learning experience for participants.
Dr. Vikram Huded, President, Indian Stroke Association (ISA), said, “Stroke continues to be one of India’s biggest neurological emergencies, causing death and lifelong disability in thousands of people every year. The encouraging fact is that stroke is both preventable and treatable when recognised early and managed within the golden treatment window. The 12th Stroke Summer School has been created to equip healthcare professionals with the latest scientific knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to deliver timely, evidence-based stroke care. Advances such as thrombolysis , mechanical thrombectomy and other Neurointervention procedures have transformed stroke treatment, but their success depends on rapid recognition, organised stroke systems, and trained healthcare teams. Every doctor who learns here has the potential to save many lives in the future. Our message remains simple, which is Learn Today. Save Lives Tomorrow because every minute counts when treating a stroke.”
The scientific sessions also highlighted the need to strengthen stroke-ready hospitals, improve emergency referral systems, promote multidisciplinary collaboration, and increase public awareness so that more patients reach specialised stroke centres within the golden window for treatment.
Dr. Arvind Sharma, Secretary, Indian Stroke Association (ISA), said, “Continuous medical education remains one of the strongest pillars for improving stroke care in India. Stroke management continues to evolve rapidly, making it essential for healthcare professionals to stay updated with the latest treatment protocols, technologies, and scientific evidence. The Stroke Summer School provides a unique opportunity for participants to learn from experienced faculty, discuss real-life clinical challenges, and develop practical decision-making skills. Along with scientific excellence, we must continue educating communities about recognising stroke symptoms through the BE FAST approach so that patients receive timely treatment. Better-trained healthcare professionals, combined with greater public awareness, can significantly reduce stroke-related deaths and long-term disability.”
Dr. Nirmal Surya, Organising Secretary, 12th ISA Stroke Summer School 2026 and Past President, Indian Stroke Association, said, “The Stroke Summer School has evolved into one of ISA’s most important academic platforms for nurturing the next generation of stroke specialists. Our vision was to create an environment where learning goes beyond textbooks through hands-on workshops, interactive discussions, case-based teaching, and meaningful faculty-student interactions. Bringing together experienced experts and enthusiastic young clinicians under one roof encourages the exchange of ideas, builds confidence, and strengthens practical clinical skills. The overwhelming participation and engagement throughout these three days reaffirm our commitment to continuously investing in education, collaboration, and innovation so that stroke patients across India receive faster, safer, and better quality care.”
ISA Urges Everyone to Remember BE FAST
· B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
· E – Eyes: Sudden vision loss or double vision
· F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile
· A – Arm: Weakness or numbness in one arm
· S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
· T – Time: Seek emergency medical care immediately
By empowering healthcare professionals with the latest advances in stroke management and fostering collaboration between experienced experts and young clinicians, the initiative continues to support ISA’s vision of reducing the country’s growing stroke burden and ensuring that more patients receive timely, life-saving treatment when every minute counts.