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In this special episode recorded live at the International Stroke Conference (ISC25), we dive into the American Stroke Association’s pilot program, Stroke Connections. This initiative is designed to amplify the voices of stroke survivors and caregivers, ensuring their lived experiences are heard at the conference—a group that has historically been underrepresented in stroke research and advocacy.

Join me as I chat with Stephanie Mohl, National Vice President of the American Stroke Association, and two inspiring stroke survivors and advisory committee members, Gracie Doran and Michelle Ballasiotes (previous guest on Episode 55). We discuss how the Stroke Connections pilot is bridging the gap between research and lived experience, and the importance of community and advocacy for improving stroke care.

While the program is still in its early stages, the goal is to secure sponsors to expand and make survivor perspectives a permanent part of future conferences.

Takeaways from this episode:

• The International Stroke Conference is a critical platform for both research and survivor voices.
• Incorporating survivor experiences into research and conferences can lead to more impactful stroke care and advocacy.
• The Stroke Connections program provides an opportunity to amplify the voices of survivors and caregivers in shaping stroke care and research.

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Show credits:
Music intro credit to Jake Dansereau. Our intro welcome is the voice of Caroline Goggin, a stroke survivor and our first podcast guest! Please listen to her inspiring story on Episode 2 of the podcast.

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Know Stroke Podcast Disclaimer:
Our podcast and media advertising services are for informational purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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Welcome to Episode 78 of the Know Stroke Podcast. On this episode co-host David Dansereau is running solo without his broadcasting partner Mike Garrow, who is traveling to LA to attend the 2025 International Stroke Conference ( and maybe he’ll even fit in a Lakers game while there! )

Mike will be taking part in advisory board meetings for the American Heart and Stroke Association, sharing his valuable care provider lived experience and advocacy perspectives.

For our listeners attending ISC, please introduce yourself to Mike!

On this first episode of 2025, David gives a quick update to why he hasn’t been behind the microphone for a bit on the show, and also covers his own ‘magic wand’ answer to our somewhat famous question we’ve asked every guest on our show.

David also reveals the origin story behind the magic wand question, how it's tied to research initiated while at the International Stroke Conference (ISC), his current book project (Closure After Stroke), and what all the knowledge gained from these answers reveals about changes needed to the stroke care pathway. Here are some of the common themes around changes needed in stroke care (see linked post for details):

• Enhanced Public Education and Awareness
• Streamlined Emergency Response Systems
• Comprehensive Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
• Equitable Access to Care
• Advancements in Research and Technology
• Patient and Care Partner Access and Voice

Also David thanks one of our show supporters who reached out to him recently, politely inquiring, ‘are you still doing the show??’

So hopefully this episode answers that question too and with it ensures your continued needed support! Help Us -Be a Show Supporter!

Show Mentions:

More on our famous podcast question

Support Our Show!
Thank you for helping us to continue to make great content. We appreciate your generosity!

Support the show

Show credits:
Music intro credit to Jake Dansereau. Our intro welcome is the voice of Caroline Goggin, a stroke survivor and our first podcast guest! Please listen to her inspiring story on Episode 2 of the podcast.

Connect with Us and Share our Show on Social:
Website | Linkedin | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Substack

Know Stroke Podcast Disclaimer:
Our podcast and media advertising services are for informational purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Get Our Podcast News Updates on Substack

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In this episode, we explore the critical role of social determinants of health (SDOH) in stroke prevention and recovery with an incredible panel of experts from the Bugher Collaborative. Our guests include:

• Dr. Nirupama Yechoor, Principal Investigator at Mass General Hospital and leader of the Bugher Collaborative.
• Dr. Devanshi Choksi, neurologist and colleague of Dr. Yechoor at Mass General.
• Rachel Kitagawa and Sofia Constantinescu, neurology postgraduates from Yale University.

We dive into:

• The Bugher Collaborative: Its mission, the partnership between Mass General, Yale, and UCSF, and how it addresses equity in stroke care.
• Research Highlights: Insights into how socioeconomic status, access to care, and community support affect stroke outcomes.
• Yale’s Findings: Key demographic differences uncovered through their research and what they reveal about health equity.
• The Road Ahead: Next steps for the collaborative and their vision for improving stroke care.
• Magic Wand Wishes: What each guest would change to improve stroke prevention and recovery if they had unlimited resources.

This conversation builds on our discussion of the 2024 ASA Stroke Prevention Guidelines, offering a deeper dive into the intersection of health equity and stroke care.

Resources and Links:

• Learn more about the Bugher Collaborative
• Dr. Nirupama Yechoor’s Bio
• Dr. Devanshi Choksi's Bio
• Rachel Kitagawa’s Bio
• Sofia Constantinescu’s Bio

Support Our Show!
Thank you for helping us to continue to make great content. We appreciate your generosity!

Support the show

Show credits:
Music intro credit to Jake Dansereau. Our intro welcome is the voice of Caroline Goggin, a stroke survivor and our first podcast guest! Please listen to her inspiring story on Episode 2 of the podcast.

Connect with Us and Share our Show on Social:
Website | Linkedin | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Substack

Know Stroke Podcast Disclaimer:
Our podcast and media advertising services are for informational purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Get Our Podcast News Updates on Substack