Continuing its nationwide quot; Save the Brain quot; movement, the Indian Stroke
Association (ISA) organized Stroke 360°, a one-day scientific and educational program in Salem
on 12th July 2026. Conducted in association with Stroke Academy, Salem Brain Club, and the
Association of Physicians of India (API), Salem Chapter, the initiative aimed to strengthen stroke
education among doctors, inspire future healthcare professionals, and increase awareness
about the importance of timely stroke treatment.

As part of the program, leading stroke specialists and intervention Neurology experts from
across the country delivered focused scientific sessions covering the complete spectrum of
stroke care, from emergency assessment and neuroimaging to intravenous thrombolysis,
mechanical thrombectomy, Stenting, coiling, AVM and dural fisutla embolization, secondary
prevention, and rehabilitation. The conference was designed to help physicians translate the
latest evidence into everyday clinical practice, ensuring patients receive faster diagnosis and
appropriate treatment.

Dr. Vikram Huded, President of the Indian Stroke Association (ISA), said, quot; Stroke remains one
of the leading causes of death and long term disability in India. It can leave survivors with
paralysis, speech and swallowing difficulties, cognitive impairment, and lifelong dependence on
caregivers, profoundly affecting their quality of life. Despite advances in treatment, many
patients still do not reach the hospital within the critical treatment window of 4.5 hours for IV
thrombolysis and Upto 24 hours for Mechanical thrombectomy. Through initiatives like Stroke

360°, our goal is to continuously update healthcare professionals with the latest scientific
evidence while creating greater awareness among young medical students who will become
tomorrows stroke physicians. Every doctor trained today has the potential to save countless
lives tomorrow. Our message remains simple: recognise stroke early, act immediately, and
remember that Time Lost is Brain Lost.quot;

The program also featured an Undergraduate Medical Quiz, where teams of medical students
from different institutions competed on stroke related knowledge, encouraging academic
excellence and early interest in neurology and emergency medicine. Alongside this, a Stroke
Awareness Reels Competition provided students with an opportunity to create engaging public
awareness content on stroke prevention and early recognition, helping spread life saving
messages through social media.

Dr. Arvind Sharma, Secretary of the Indian Stroke Association (ISA), said, quot; Stroke awareness
should not remain confined to conference halls. Future doctors play a vital role in educating
communities, identifying stroke symptoms early, and ensuring timely referral
to specialised stroke centres. By combining scientific education with interactive competitions,

Stroke 360° encourages learning while promoting public engagement. Increasing awareness
about the BEFAST warning signs, improving emergency response, and strengthening
multidisciplinary stroke care can reduce stroke related disability and deaths in India."

ISA urges everyone to pay attention to BEFAST symptoms
Balance difficulty
Eye vision changes
Facial drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to act

The event forms part of ISAs larger  Save the Brain campaign, which focuses on improving
stroke care through continuous medical education, strengthening emergency response
systems, promoting evidence based treatment, and increasing public awareness about stroke
prevention. Experts continue to stress that early recognition of stroke symptoms, rapid
transport to an equipped stroke centre, and timely interventions such as intravenous
thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy remain the most effective ways to improve
patient outcomes.

By bringing together experienced clinicians, young doctors, and medical students under one
platform, Stroke 360° is committed to strengthening India&s stroke care ecosystem while
inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals to contribute towards reducing the
countrys growing stroke burden.