Houston Methodist 6th Annual Stroke 360: Integrating Care and Science 2026

Acute Stroke Care • Thrombolysis • Mechanical Thrombectomy • Intracerebral Hemorrhage • Stroke Rehabilitation • Secondary Prevention • Artificial Intelligence • Neuroprotection • Cerebrovascular Medicine

The Houston Methodist 6th Annual Stroke 360: Integrating Care and Science 2026 provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, evidence-based update on modern stroke diagnosis, acute treatment, secondary prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery.

Held on January 15–16, 2026, and presented by the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, the symposium integrates contemporary clinical care with advances in stroke science, neurointervention, rehabilitation, artificial intelligence, and patient-centered outcomes.

The program covers major areas of contemporary cerebrovascular medicine, including thrombolytic therapy, mechanical thrombectomy, acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, secondary stroke prevention, post-stroke rehabilitation, intracranial and vascular risk management, artificial intelligence, neuroprotection, controversial thrombectomy questions, behavioral economics, music therapy, and the hidden effects of stroke.

Course Details

• Course: 6th Annual Stroke 360: Integrating Care and Science
• Provider: Houston Methodist
• Presented by: Houston Methodist Neurological Institute
• Year: 2026
• Dates: January 15–16, 2026
• Location: Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
• Original Format: In-Person and Virtual
• Primary Focus: Stroke Care, Vascular Neurology, and Cerebrovascular Disease
• Language: English
• Course Directors: Tanu Garg, MD; John Volpi, MD
• MedicalAmboss Package: MP4 video lectures only; no PDFs included

The official live symposium was held at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, with virtual participation also available.

Target Audience

The symposium is designed for healthcare professionals who interact with stroke patients across acute care, inpatient treatment, rehabilitation, and post-stroke recovery.

The official target audience includes:

• Physicians
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Trainees
• Nurses
• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech Therapists
• Social Workers

The program is particularly relevant to:

• Neurologists
• Vascular Neurologists
• Stroke Specialists
• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Neurocritical Care Physicians
• Neurosurgeons
• Neurointerventional Specialists
• Interventional Neuroradiologists
• Internal Medicine Physicians
• Rehabilitation Physicians
• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Stroke Nurses
• Residents and Fellows
• Researchers involved in cerebrovascular disease

Program Overview

Stroke care continues to evolve rapidly as new evidence changes the use of thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, secondary prevention, intracerebral hemorrhage management, neuroprotection, rehabilitation, and technology-assisted clinical decision-making.

The Houston Methodist Stroke 360 2026 program focuses on translating these advances into practical multidisciplinary stroke care.

The first day concentrates on major updates in acute stroke management, including thrombolytics, thrombectomy, secondary prevention, acute ischemic stroke outcomes, intracerebral hemorrhage, and rehabilitation.

The second day expands into emerging and controversial issues in stroke care, including lipoprotein(a), anti-amyloid therapy, drug-associated stroke, perfusion-era ASPECTS, medium-vessel occlusion thrombectomy, artificial intelligence, behavioral economics, music therapy, and the less visible long-term consequences of stroke.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to:

• Identify updates in acute stroke management including thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy.
• Learn updates in intracerebral hemorrhage and intracranial stenosis management.
• Identify gaps in post stroke care and highlight post stroke therapy.
• Review opinions on controversial topics in Stroke.
• Discuss patient centered outcomes.

Official Program Topics

Day 1 – Stroke Management Updates

Introduction to Stroke 360

Saisree Ravi, MD

Introduces the multidisciplinary scope of the symposium and the major scientific and clinical issues influencing contemporary stroke care.

Plenary Session I – Stroke Management Updates

Thrombolytics Update

Vivek Misra, MD

Reviews contemporary thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke, including evolving approaches to patient selection and acute reperfusion treatment.

Thrombectomy Update

Sanjeev Ariyandath Sreenivasan, MD

Examines current advances in endovascular mechanical thrombectomy and the expanding role of neurointerventional treatment in acute ischemic stroke.

Secondary Stroke Prevention Update

Thomas Kent, MD

Reviews strategies for reducing recurrent stroke risk following an initial cerebrovascular event.

Plenary Session II – Stroke Management Updates

A Modern Quest to Improve Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients – What Are We Doing Now and What Does the Future Look Like?

Eva Mistry, MBBS, MSCI, FAHA

Explores current approaches and future directions for improving functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke.

Updates in Management of Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Anh Nguyen, MD

Reviews contemporary approaches to intracerebral hemorrhage management and evolving strategies for improving outcomes in hemorrhagic stroke.

Updates in Stroke Rehabilitation

Timea Hodics, MD

Examines modern rehabilitation strategies and approaches to functional recovery following stroke.

Day 2 – Miscellaneous and Emerging Topics in Stroke Management

Plenary Session I

Lipoprotein(a) and Stroke

Kershaw Patel, MD

Examines the relationship between lipoprotein(a), vascular risk, and cerebrovascular disease.

Anti-Amyloid Therapy and Acute Stroke Management

Abyaz Asmar, MD

Reviews clinical challenges surrounding acute stroke treatment in patients receiving anti-amyloid therapy.

Stroke Associated With Drug Abuse

Connor Simutis, MD

Discusses cerebrovascular complications associated with substance use and their implications for stroke diagnosis and management.

Debate Case 1: Do We Still Need ASPECTS in the Perfusion Era?

Matt Yanus, MD; Rajan Gadhia, MD; David Chiu, MD

Explores the contemporary role of the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score in an era increasingly guided by advanced perfusion imaging.

Debate Case 2: Is It Time to Rethink MeVO Thrombectomy in the Era of Neuroprotection Trials?

Hanah Alley, MD; Rajan Gadhia, MD; David Chiu, MD

Reviews evolving evidence and controversies surrounding thrombectomy for medium-vessel occlusion and its relationship to emerging neuroprotection research.

Plenary Session II – Emerging Stroke Care

Artificial Intelligence in Stroke

Farhaan Vahidy, PhD, MBBS, MPH, FAHA

Examines applications of artificial intelligence in contemporary stroke research, diagnosis, clinical workflows, and treatment decision-making.

Behavioral Economics Applications in Treatment of Stroke

Wamda Ahmed, MD

Explores how behavioral economics principles may influence treatment decisions, adherence, and stroke care delivery.

Music Therapy and Stroke

Riya Bhavsar, MD

Reviews the potential role of music-based therapeutic approaches in stroke rehabilitation and recovery.

Hidden Effects of Stroke

Julie Schwarz, LCSW; Jan Flewelling

Addresses less visible consequences of stroke that may affect patients and families beyond conventional neurological deficits.

Major Topics Covered

• Acute Ischemic Stroke
• Stroke Management
• Vascular Neurology
• Cerebrovascular Disease
• Thrombolytic Therapy
• Acute Stroke Thrombolysis
• Mechanical Thrombectomy
• Endovascular Stroke Treatment
• Secondary Stroke Prevention
• Recurrent Stroke Prevention
• Intracerebral Hemorrhage
• Hemorrhagic Stroke
• Intracranial Stenosis
• Acute Stroke Outcomes
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Post-Stroke Recovery
• Functional Recovery
• Patient-Centered Outcomes
• Lipoprotein(a)
• Stroke Risk Factors
• Anti-Amyloid Therapy
• Stroke and Drug Abuse
• ASPECTS
• Perfusion Imaging
• Medium-Vessel Occlusion
• MeVO Thrombectomy
• Neuroprotection
• Artificial Intelligence in Stroke
• AI-Assisted Stroke Care
• Behavioral Economics
• Music Therapy
• Hidden Effects of Stroke
• Stroke Neurology
• Stroke Research
• Multidisciplinary Stroke Care
• Neurointerventional Therapy
• Post-Stroke Therapy
• Controversies in Stroke Management

Course Directors

Tanu Garg, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Vascular Neurology, Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center
Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

John Volpi, MD

Robert W. Hervey Distinguished Endowed Chair for Parkinson’s Disease Research and Treatment
Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience
Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

Faculty

Faculty featured in the scientific program include:

• Saisree Ravi, MD
• Vivek Misra, MD
• Sanjeev Ariyandath Sreenivasan, MD
• Thomas Kent, MD
• Eva Mistry, MBBS, MSCI, FAHA
• Anh Nguyen, MD
• Timea Hodics, MD
• Kershaw Patel, MD
• Abyaz Asmar, MD
• Connor Simutis, MD
• Matt Yanus, MD
• Rajan Gadhia, MD
• David Chiu, MD
• Hanah Alley, MD
• Farhaan Vahidy, PhD, MBBS, MPH, FAHA
• Wamda Ahmed, MD
• Riya Bhavsar, MD
• Julie Schwarz, LCSW
• Jan Flewelling

Accreditation

The official live activity offered:

• 8.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
• 5.00 ASET CEUs
• 8.25 Attendance Credits
• 8.25 Nursing Contact Hours
• 8.25 Occupational Therapy Credits
• 8.25 Physical Therapy CCUs
• 8.25 Social Work CE Contact Hours
• 8.75 Speech-Language Pathology Clock Hours

Note: These credits applied to the official Houston Methodist activity. The MedicalAmboss product page states that the downloadable product does not include CME points or a certificate.

Why This Symposium Is Relevant

The Houston Methodist 6th Annual Stroke 360: Integrating Care and Science 2026 addresses the entire stroke care continuum, from emergency reperfusion therapy through rehabilitation and long-term patient-centered recovery.

The program is particularly relevant for clinicians seeking current education on:

• Acute ischemic stroke treatment
• Thrombolysis
• Mechanical thrombectomy
• Secondary stroke prevention
• Intracerebral hemorrhage
• Modern stroke rehabilitation
• Post-stroke care gaps
• Lipoprotein(a) and vascular risk
• Acute stroke management during anti-amyloid therapy
• Drug-associated cerebrovascular disease
• ASPECTS and perfusion imaging
• Medium-vessel occlusion thrombectomy
• Neuroprotection
• Artificial intelligence in stroke care
• Behavioral approaches to stroke treatment
• Music therapy and recovery
• Patient-centered stroke outcomes

Its multidisciplinary structure makes the symposium relevant not only to neurologists and stroke specialists but also to nurses, rehabilitation clinicians, therapists, social workers, and other professionals involved throughout the patient’s stroke journey.

Short Description

Houston Methodist 6th Annual Stroke 360: Integrating Care and Science 2026 provides a multidisciplinary, evidence-based update on acute ischemic stroke, thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, intracerebral hemorrhage, secondary prevention, stroke rehabilitation, neuroprotection, artificial intelligence, controversial neurointerventional topics, and patient-centered post-stroke recovery.

+ Topics:

• 01 Acute Ischemic Stroke Thrombolysis – Contemporary Thrombolytic Strategies, Patient Selection, and Reperfusion Treatment Updates
• 02 Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Stroke – Current Endovascular Evidence, Patient Selection, and Neurointerventional Treatment Advances
• 03 Secondary Stroke Prevention – Evidence-Based Strategies to Reduce Recurrent Ischemic and Cerebrovascular Events
• 04 Acute Ischemic Stroke Outcomes – Current Treatment Strategies and Future Directions for Improving Functional Recovery
• 05 Intracerebral Hemorrhage – Contemporary Management Strategies for Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke
• 06 Stroke Rehabilitation – Evidence-Based Approaches to Functional Recovery and Post-Stroke Therapy
• 07 Lipoprotein(a) and Cerebrovascular Disease – Understanding Lp(a) as an Emerging Stroke and Vascular Risk Factor
• 08 Anti-Amyloid Therapy and Acute Stroke – Clinical Considerations for Managing Cerebrovascular Events During Amyloid-Targeting Treatment
• 09 Drug-Associated Stroke – Recognizing and Managing Cerebrovascular Complications Related to Substance Abuse
• 10 ASPECTS in Modern Stroke Imaging – Reassessing Early CT Scoring in the Era of Perfusion-Guided Treatment
• 11 Medium-Vessel Occlusion Thrombectomy – Evaluating MeVO Intervention in the Era of Neuroprotection Trials
• 12 Artificial Intelligence in Stroke Care – AI Applications in Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, Clinical Workflow, and Treatment Decision-Making
• 13 Behavioral Economics in Stroke Treatment – Applying Behavioral Science to Clinical Decision-Making and Patient Care
• 14 Music Therapy After Stroke – Exploring Rehabilitation Applications for Neurological and Functional Recovery
• 15 Hidden Effects of Stroke – Recognizing Psychosocial, Cognitive, and Functional Consequences Beyond Visible Neurological Deficits
• 16 Patient-Centered Stroke Outcomes – Integrating Functional Recovery, Quality of Life, and Individual Goals Into Stroke Care
• 17 Post-Stroke Care – Identifying Gaps in Rehabilitation, Recovery, Follow-Up, and Long-Term Support
• 18 Multidisciplinary Stroke Management – Integrating Neurology, Neurointervention, Nursing, Rehabilitation, Therapy, and Social Care Across the Stroke Continuum

+ 

• 01 Lipoprotein(a) and Stroke
• 02 Anti-Amyloid Immunotherapy and Stroke Management
• 03 Recreational Drug Use and Cerebrovascular Disease
• 04 Debate – Is It Time to Rethink MeVO Thrombectomy in the Era of Neuroprotection Trials
• 05 Debate – Do We Still Need ASPECTS in the Perfusion Era
• 06 AI Across the Stroke Continuum – From Risk Prediction to Recovery
• 07 Behavioral Economics and Its Applications in Medicine
• 08 Music On My Mind – Music Therapy and Stroke Rehabilitation
• 09 Hidden Effects of Stroke
• 10 Updates in Stroke Rehabilitation
• 11 Introduction to Stroke 360
• 12 Thrombolytics in Acute Ischemic Stroke – An Update
• 13 Updates in Neuro-Interventional Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke
• 14 Secondary Stroke Prevention Update
• 15 A Modern Quest to Improve Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients – What Are We Doing Now and What Does the Future Look Like
• 16 Advances in ICH Management