Our Mission
Treat The Stroke Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the tripartite mission of enhancing education, training, and research in all aspects of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
Founded by a group of prominent cerebrovascular specialists, the foundation looks to partner with industry and other cerebrovascular stakeholders to create opportunities to advance its mission with the ultimate goal of benefiting patients and families whose lives are affected by ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
Treat the Stroke continues to engage with the latest updates in neurointervention to push the field forward in leading stroke care. Learn more about Research Efforts here.
Our Team
As a group of prominent cerebrovascular specialists, our board is dedicated to creating positive change in the treatment of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Fueled by this dedication, our board is working every day to find ways to prevent the devastation of stroke, create the most effective treatment process for stroke possible, and enhance the lives of those affected by stroke.
Jessica K. Campos, M.D., Executive Director
Dr. Campos is a neurosurgery resident physician at the University of California, Irvine. Since completing her research fellowship for the Department of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, she has focused on clinical outcomes research in cerebrovascular patients. Her passion for research is matched only by her desire to improve and advance the care of stroke patients. She plans to fulfill her dreams of caring for these complex patients throughout her neurosurgical career.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she started her formal education at Vanderbilt University where she studied chemical and biomolecular engineering and earned her Bachelor of Engineering with a focus in biotechnology. Dr. Campos went on to complete her medical school education at Loyola University Chicago. While at Loyola, she cultivated a deep appreciation for neurosurgery and her passion for research continued with projects in both the Departments of Surgery and Neurological Surgery.
Her current research centers on the clinical outcomes and technical nuances of endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms, emergent large vessel occlusions, and vascular malformations. In these efforts, Dr. Campos strives to enhance the understanding of novel and available treatment modalities within the field of cerebrovascular neurosurgery for patients and physicians.
Alexander L. Coon, M.D., President
Dr. Coon is a world-renowned vascular neurosurgeon and researcher. He is the Director of Endovascular and Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery for The Carondelet Neurological Institute in Tucson, Arizona. He is a highly skilled in Endovascular Neurosurgery, a field that uses the innovative approach of working within the vessels to treat conditions of the brain and spine. As one of the world leaders in the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms, he primarily focuses his efforts on the treatment of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke using an array of endovascular techniques.
He commenced his medical education at Columbia University in New York City in the late 1990s. Upon graduating Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), he traveled to Baltimore, Maryland to start his residency in Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. It was during this time that he also completed a dedicated 2-year fellowship in Interventional Neuroradiology/Endovascular Neurosurgery. In 2009, he was recruited to join the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurosurgery to serve as the Director of Endovascular Neurosurgery. Dr. Coon’s experience in treating aneurysms and other forms of stroke using endovascular means is unrivaled in the Mid-Atlantic Region (Maryland, DC, Virginia, Carolinas).
Dr. Coon is a prolific author, educator, and researcher. His current research interests focus on the use of flow-diverting stents for the treatment of complex cerebral aneurysms as well as the use of next-generation neuro-endovascular devices for aneurysm and stroke treatment.
Dr. Coon has developed an independent research program that collaborates with other centers of excellence (University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Irvine) across the nation to evaluate most innovative and most recent neuroendovascular devices, notably, the Pipeline Embolization Device (Medtronic Neurovascular, Irvine, CA) as first flow diverting device to gain FDA approval in the U.S.
With over 100 peer reviewed manuscripts on the subject of flow diversion devices and the techniques associated with utilizing them in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms, Dr. Coon is a beacon of inspiration for the continued innovation in the field of endovascular neurosurgery. His recent work speaks to the increasing complexity of modern neurointerventions and the shift of intracranial access techniques towards more robust distal support platforms, the use of platelet aggregation inhibitors for the management of acute intraprocedural thromboembolic complications during flow diversion treatment, and more broadly, procedural and occlusion outcomes following endovascular treatment of aneurysms.
He is internationally recognized for his research and clinical skill in the area of flow diversion and cerebral aneurysm treatment. He has been asked to lecture and proctor individual physicians on the use of flow diversion devices nationally and 4 continents worldwide. He has also served as the faculty of numerous flow diversion courses throughout the country and abroad.
He enjoys spending his time outside of the hospital with his wife (Laura) and their two small children (Alex and Ellie). Dr. Coon is an avid cyclist and endurance athlete, having completed 16 different Ironman events around the world.
Geoffrey P. Colby, M.D. Ph.D., Vice President
Geoffrey P. Colby, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery and an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a highly accomplished and recognized expert in Endovascular Neurosurgery. This specialty uses the most advanced tools and minimally-invasive techniques to treat blood vessel diseases of the brain and spine.
Dr. Colby received his undergraduate degree with the highest of honors from Columbia University in New York City in 1998. With a passion for patient care and scientific research, he continued at Columbia University to earn both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. Moving south to Baltimore, he completed a residency in neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. During this time, he did a dedicated 2-year fellowship in Endovascular Neurosurgery and Interventional Neuroradiology. While in training, Dr. Colby received awards for academic achievement and for improving patient safety,
In 2012, he was recruited to join the esteemed faculty at The Johns Hopkins Hospital as Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Radiology. During his time at Hopkins, he performed thousands of neurosurgical procedures and was an avid researcher. His passion for teaching earned him the Department of Neurosurgery Chairman’s Award of Excellence, and the Neurosurgery house staff at Johns Hopkins presented him with the Richard J. Otenasek, Jr. Faculty Teaching Award.
Dr. Colby is an award-winning educator, a prolific author, and a cutting-edge researcher. He has lectured around the world in 4 continents on advances in the treatment of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. He has also written numerous scientific articles and book chapters describing the most sophisticated endovascular techniques and novel neuro-vascular treatment devices.
Dr. Colby lives in Santa Monica and is an avid enthusiast of endurance sports. He has completed Ironman events, marathons, and mountaineer.
Li-Mei Lin, M.D., Secretary
Dr. Li-Mei Lin began her medical career at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she later completed her Neurosurgery residency and Endovascular Neurosurgery fellowship. She is now a neurosurgeon who specializes in cerebrovascular neurosurgery, minimally invasive neurointerventional surgery and endoscopic neurosurgery. Dr. Lin’s practice is currently at The Carondelet Neurological Institute in Tucson, Arizona, where she focuses on surgical and endovascular treatments of brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), cavernous malformations and dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) of the brain and spinal cord. Read more about Dr. Lin and her passion for treating patients with stroke at her website: www.drlimeilin.wordpress.com
Jonathan Collard de Beaufort, Social Media Ambassador
Jonathan Collard de Beaufort is an undergraduate student majoring in biochemistry at Syracuse University with an early acceptance into SUNY Upstate Medical school as the class of 2029. At Syracuse, he is in the Renée Crown Honors Program, an active member of the Syracuse University Ambulance service, and on the Dean’s List.
Jonathan is currently integrating clinical outcomes research in cerebrovascular neurosurgery with ongoing Treat the Stroke efforts to promote a better understanding of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke treatment. As social media ambassador for Treat the Stroke, he works towards highlighting updates within the cerebrovascular field.