Strengthening Our Community, Together
As we enter the second half of 2025, I am more certain than ever that our greatest strength lies in our community, especially when we face uncertainty together.
A recent national report confirmed what many of us in nonprofit leadership already know: the broader nonprofit sector continues to face financial struggles. Rising inflation, shifting government support, and ongoing pressures are forcing organizations to make difficult choices.
The Child Neurology Society also feels these pressures. However, we continue to grow, adapt, and serve, thanks to you.
What makes CNS different is not just what we do, but how we do it: together. Our members consistently give more than just their dues; they also give their time, insight, expertise, and generosity. For decades, individual donors have been the foundation of nonprofit success, and that’s no different here. But I also see giving in every SIG leader, every mentor, every committee member, every CNS panelist, and every member who offers a word of encouragement or a moment of connection.
There’s truly nothing like stepping out from behind a screen, meeting face-to-face, and absorbing the energy of passionate child neurologists gathered to share, grow, and support one another. That’s the spirit we’ll celebrate this October when we gather in Charlotte, North Carolina, for our 2025 CNS Annual Meeting. We’re especially proud to introduce the inaugural CNS Genetics Summit, a major milestone that reflects both our scientific advancement and our collaborative power.
While the Annual Meeting is a highlight, CNS is more than a once-a-year event. We’ve worked hard to strengthen year-round engagement:
- We launched new self-service tools, including the CNS Career Center, and enhanced your member “My Account” dashboard.
- We expanded our virtual programming, including CME seminars and on-demand educational offerings.
- We increased our advocacy presence to ensure child neurologists have a voice in national health policy.
- And we embedded equity and representation into our planning, programming, and leadership development.
There’s a role for everyone in shaping the future of CNS—mentor a trainee, join a committee, lead a SIG, serve on our community panel, or simply show up and contribute. Your engagement keeps this community strong.
Monique Terrell, Executive Director & CEO
We also created new and meaningful ways for members to get involved and lead. Whether you want to mentor a trainee, join a committee, serve on our community panel, or lead a Special Interest Group (SIG), your engagement makes a lasting impact. Volunteering with CNS isn’t just about helping the Society, it’s about shaping the future of the field, expanding your own network, and inspiring the next generation.
As we look ahead to 2026, our Board is thinking strategically. We’re asking: What must we preserve? Where do we need to evolve? How do we stay true to our mission while building long-term sustainability? These questions are shaping our staffing, budgeting, and programming decisions, and your involvement will shape the answers.
You can help in simple but powerful ways. Renew your membership. Register early for the meeting. Make a meaningful gift. Volunteer. Invite a colleague to join. Each action strengthens the CNS not just financially, but through a visible and collective investment in our mission and in one another.
At our core, CNS exists to build a future where every child facing a neurological condition has access to the best care and every professional providing that care has the resources, training, and community to thrive. Looking ahead, we envision CNS as the leading voice and resource hub for child neurology, amplifying advocacy, advancing knowledge, and ensuring equity in care for all.
Serving as your Executive Director & CEO remains one of the greatest honors of my career. I see the challenges ahead, but I also see the strength we bring to them, together. Thank you for continuing to believe in our work, in each other, and in the future we’re building together.