Meet the SBMT President

Distinguished colleagues, esteemed guests, and fellow members of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics, it is an honor and privilege to stand before you today as the incoming president of SBMT.

I want to begin by expressing my deep gratitude to the past leaders of this society, whose vision and dedication have shaped SBMT into a powerhouse of innovation. I especially want to recognize Dr. Haridas and Dr. Kateb, whose mentorship and contributions have inspired many of us in this room.

I also want to acknowledge you—the researchers, clinicians, engineers, policymakers, and industry leaders—who are pushing the frontiers of neuroscience and technology every day. Our collective work is transforming lives, and I am here to tell you: this is just the beginning.

Today, I want to outline the initiatives we will be launching—both in Washington and at the local level—focused on brain health, spine health, and mental health. These are issues that affect millions of people across the country, from the operating room to the battlefield, from the lab bench to the streets of underserved communities.

I want to talk about the State of Brain, Spine, and Mental Health and Why This Matters Now

Let me start with a story. A few years ago, I met a young veteran who had survived multiple concussive injuries during deployment. Despite his outward resilience, he was struggling—battling chronic pain, PTSD, and undiagnosed mild traumatic brain injury. His access to specialized care was really limited, and he was caught in a frustrating cycle of misdiagnoses and inadequate treatment.

Unfortunately, his story is not unique. Every day, patients with neurodegenerative diseases, spinal cord injuries, and mental health disorders face barriers to care. Physicians battle burnout. Promising research sits in limbo, waiting for funding and regulatory approval.

But what if we could change this? What if we could bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world impact—not in decades, but in years?

That is the mission of SBMT, and under my leadership, we will push forward with three key initiatives at both the national and local levels to address these pressing challenges.

With national Initiatives, we will continue Driving Policy in Washington

Our first priority is to influence policy at the highest levels of government. Science and medicine do not exist in a vacuum—our work must shape legislation, funding priorities, and national healthcare strategies.

With The National Brain and Spine Health Initiative,

•We will advocate for a national framework to prioritize funding for brain and spine health, integrating research, early detection, and access to novel therapeutics.

•This will include an increase in NIH and Department of defense funding for traumatic brain and spinal cord injury research—especially for veterans and first responders.

•We will push for accelerated approval pathways for promising neurotechnologies, ensuring that breakthroughs move from the lab to the clinic faster.

To accomplish this, we are forming a coalition of scientific societies, policymakers, and patient advocacy groups to present a unified front in Washington.

Next, how can we leverage AI for Mental Health Policy Reform?

•AI-driven diagnostics and mental health platforms hold immense potential—but without proper oversight, they risk being underutilized or misapplied.

•We will work with federal agencies to establish ethical AI guidelines in mental health, ensuring that data privacy, clinical accuracy, and accessibility remain priorities.

•Additionally, we will advocate for insurance reimbursement models that support digital mental health interventions, making them accessible to all, not just those who can afford private options.

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and Neurotechnology Policy Development is another one of our critical

Missions.

•The future of neurology will be shaped by brain-computer interfaces, neural implants, and AI-driven diagnostics.

•SBMT will lead discussions with policymakers on safety standards, patient rights, and accessibility, ensuring that these technologies are developed responsibly.

•We will also host policy roundtables in Washington, bringing together neuroscientists, AI experts, ethicists, and lawmakers to craft regulations that encourage innovation without compromising patient welfare.

We will focus on Local Initiatives including Community-Based Action for Brain and Mental Health

Change doesn’t only happen at the national level—it starts in our own communities. That’s why we will be launching regional initiatives to bring brain and spine health advancements directly to those who need them most.

I will work to form Brain and Spine Health Equity Pilot Programs

•We will roll out pilot programs in underserved communities, focusing on early detection of neurological conditions and spinal disorders based on our previously peer-reviewed and published SBMT neuroscreen and spinescreen protocols.

•our goal will include mobile brain and spine health units, bringing neurospecialists and screening technology directly to at-risk populations.

Imagine a future where patients in rural America or inner cities can receive a neurological assessment without traveling hundreds of miles. We are going to make that a reality.

My next initiative will be Mental Health Resilience Training for Healthcare Providers

•Burnout, depression, and PTSD among physicians, nurses, and first responders are at an all-time high.

•We will partner with medical institutions and wellness organizations to provide resilience training, crisis intervention resources, and peer-support programs for frontline healthcare workers.

•Because if we don’t take care of our own, we cannot take care of our patients.

I will establish neuroscience and Technology Innovation Hubs

•We will establish regional Neuroscience Innovation Hubs in partnership with universities, industry leaders, and tech incubators.

•These hubs will serve as centers for collaboration, where researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs can develop and test the next generation of neurotechnologies.

This is about accelerating real-world impact—not just publishing papers, but bringing new treatments and technologies into practice faster than ever before.

As we know, Collaboration is The Key to a Transformative Future

None of this can be achieved alone. SBMT has always been about interdisciplinary collaboration, and in the coming year, we will:

•Strengthen our partnerships with NIH, DoD, FDA, and Congress to influence neuroscience and mental health policy.

•we will Expand our global network, ensuring that advances in brain and spine health reach beyond U.S. borders.

•we will Work closely with private industry leaders to bring novel therapeutics and technologies into clinical practice efficiently and ethically.

My mission for this year will be to usher in a New Era for SBMT and Brain Science

We stand at a pivotal moment in the history of brain science. The work we do in the coming year will shape the future of neuroscience, spine care, and mental health—not just for our generation, but for those to come.

This is our chance to turn scientific discovery into tangible solutions. This is our chance to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

I invite each of you to be part of this mission—whether as researchers, clinicians, engineers, or advocates. Together, we will push the boundaries of science and policy to create a world where every individual—regardless of background—has access to cutting-edge brain, spine, and mental healthcare.

Thank you. Let’s get to work.