Category: Surgeons | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: December 1, 2025
By Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, MD Co-Chair, Spine Division, Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics Founder, The HyperCharge Human Engineering Lab
The Deficit of Standard Medical Societies
If you have been to one medical conference, you have been to them all. Orthopedic surgeons talk to orthopedic surgeons. Neurosurgeons talk to neurosurgeons. Engineers talk to engineers. We exist in echo chambers. We pat ourselves on the back for incremental gains while the rest of the world—physics, policy, artificial intelligence—races past us.
I spent 20 years in these silos. I became an expert in the “Standard of Care.” But I realized that if we want to solve the massive, complex problems of the human nervous system—from spinal cord injury to Alzheimer’s—we don’t need another medical society. We need a task force.
That is why I accepted the role of Co-Chair of the Spine Division for the Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics (SBMT).
This is not a club. It is a global consortium designed to break things. Specifically, it was founded to break the boundaries between Science, Technology, Medicine, Art, and Healthcare Policy.
The Visionary: Dr. Babak Kateb
You cannot understand SBMT without understanding its founder, Dr. Babak Kateb. Most medical societies are founded by doctors who want to preserve the status quo. SBMT was founded by a neuroscientist who wanted to bring NASA into the operating room.
Dr. Kateb established SBMT in 2004 at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena. His vision was radical but simple: The technology we use to map the stars should be used to map the human brain.
He didn’t just want surgeons in the room. He brought in astrophysicists, nanotechnology experts, and policymakers from the G20.
- His Track Record: Dr. Kateb was a key architect of President Obama’s BRAIN Initiative. He pioneered the field of Nano-Bio-Electronics, integrating nanotechnology with cellular therapeutics. He has chaired 9 Congressional briefings and holds patents in AI and microwave cancer therapy.
- His Philosophy: He understands what I preach every day at HyperCharge: Medicine is an Engineering Discipline.
As Dr. Kateb often says:
“We are not just mapping the brain; we are mapping the future of healthcare economics, policy, and technology. If we do not fast-track therapeutics through global collaboration, the economic burden of neurological disorders will bankrupt the world.”
The Mission: Brain Mapping Day at US Congress
One of the most unique aspects of SBMT is our direct engagement with policymakers. Every year, we go to Washington D.C. for Brain Mapping Day at the US Congress.
I have had the privilege of participating for the last two years. We don’t just lobby for funding; we educate Congress on the Economic National Security implications of brain and spine health. We explain why “Sick Care” is bankrupting the nation and how Neuro-Technology is the solution.
The Leader: Dr. Namath Hussain
Leading us into the future is Dr. Namath Hussain, the 2025-2026 President of SBMT. As a neurosurgeon who has pioneered minimally invasive techniques, Dr. Hussain embodies the Society’s mission of rapid translation from “Bench to Bedside.” His vision for the upcoming year is to dismantle the barriers that keep life-saving neuro-technology stuck in the lab, ensuring it reaches the patients who need it most.
The Human Impact: Christina’s Story
This isn’t just abstract policy. It changes lives. In my recent TEDx Minneapolis talk, I shared the story of Christina, a young woman who suffered a devastating spinal cord injury after falling from a parking ramp. She was told she would never be independent again.
But through the network of the Society for Brain Mapping, Christina was connected to a groundbreaking stem cell trial at the Mayo Clinic. She didn’t just accept the “Standard of Care” (Paralysis). She accessed Innovation. Today, she has regained significant function and serves as a powerful advocate for the Society.
- The Lesson: SBMT doesn’t just publish papers; it connects patients to the future of medicine before it becomes mainstream.
Watch my podcast with Christina here:
The “Brain Trust”: My Podcast Guests
The caliber of minds in this organization is staggering. I have had the privilege of hosting several SBMT leaders on my podcast, Wellness at the Speed of Light, to discuss the future of neuro-engineering:
- Dr. Abilash Haridas: The 2024-2025 President of SBMT and a brilliant vascular neurosurgeon. We discussed his mandate to bridge the gap between microsurgery and non-invasive therapeutics, and how SBMT is creating the “United Nations” of Neuroscience.
- Dr. Keerthy Sunder: A pioneer in integrative psychiatry and TMS, winning the SBMT Golden Axon Award for his work in addiction and mental health.
- Dr. David Baron: The Senior Vice President at Western University and former Deputy Clinical Director at NIMH, who bridges the gap between psychiatry and elite sports performance.
The Invitation: Join Us in Los Angeles (2026)
This mission culminates every year at the Annual World Congress. I am personally inviting you to join me at the 23rd Annual World Congress of SBMT, taking place April 16-19, 2026, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This isn’t a stuffy dinner. It is where Hollywood meets Science. It is where recipients of the “Humanitarian Award” sit next to Nobel Laureates. It is a celebration of Human Potential.
My Role: As Co-Chair of the Spine Division, I am building a program that bridges the gap between Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, and Regenerative Engineering. We are looking for the “Rebels”—the surgeons, engineers, and scientists who are tired of the silos.
Join the Task Force. Learn more and register at: WorldBrainMapping.org
The Verdict
The era of the “Siloed Doctor” is over. The future belongs to the Connectors. SBMT is the only organization I have found that has the courage to put a NASA engineer, a Spine Surgeon, and a G20 Policymaker in the same room and say: “Fix it.”
I am proud to help lead this charge. Let’s map the future together.
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