NCC Team

NCC Team

Calgary Neurocritical Care is led by three fellowship-trained, board-certified neurointensivists, working closely with a nurse practitioner and research manger in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team and other services to provide comprehensive patient and family centered care for patients with life-threatening neurologic disorders. 

NCC Physicians

Philippe Couillard

Andreas Kramer

Julie Kromm

NCC Nurse Practitioner

Caralyn Bencsik is an adult neurocritical care Nurse Practitioner with nearly two decades of nursing experience within Alberta Health Services. She completed her education with a Practical Nurse Diploma at Bow Valley College in 2010, Bachelor of Nursing at Athabasca University in 2013, and Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner at the University of Calgary in 2020. Caralyn began her nursing career in 2008 as a Nursing Attendant, with subsequent experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Undergraduate Nurse, and Registered Nurse in orthopedic surgery, trauma/surgery, and critical care as an RN in the FMC ICU from 2015-2020. Since completing her Masters, Caralyn has held NP positions in Cardiovascular Surgery, Neurology, and Critical Care. She has established the first neurocritical care NP role in Calgary and has clinical expertise in multimodal neuromonitoring, chronic critical illness, and provides neurocritical care ICU outreach and consultations to patients in critical care units and on the neuroscience, trauma, and other inpatient wards at FMC. In addition to her clinical work, Caralyn is an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Cumming School of Medicine and Department of Critical Care Medicine. She is an early career clinical researcher with an interest in the impact of NPs in critical care settings and neurocritical care, specifically post cardiac arrest neuroprognostication. She has obtained several academic grants, has led multiple studies, and has several peer reviewed publications. She holds multiple leadership positions including co-chairing the FMC Neurocritical Care Committee and DCCM Interdisciplinary Research Committee. 

Caralyn Bencsik

NCC Manager

Ish Bains holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s degree in Biochemistry, and a PhD in Spine Stem Cell Regeneration from the University of Calgary. With certifications including SOCRA-CCRP, Good Clinical Practice, Health Canada Division 5 Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects, and the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Humans, Ish demonstrates a strong commitment to clinical and ethical research standards. With over 15 years of research experience and project management with Alberta Health Services, Ish has been instrumental in advancing the research and educational initiatives of the Calgary Neurocritical Program.

Ish Bains

Collaborators

We would like to thank the innumerable individuals with whom we collaborate:  

  • Dr. Dan Zuege - Department Head, Critical Care Medicine
  • Dr. Nathalie Jette - Department Head, Clinical Neurosciences
  • Dr. Braedon McDonald, Director of Research & Innovation, DCCM
  • DCCM Managers & Administrative Assistants
  • Division of Neurosurgery - Dr. Steve Casha & Dr. Clare Gallagher
  • Calgary Stroke Program - Dr. Michael Hill, Dr. Andrew Demchuk & Dr. Mohammed Almekhlafi
  • Calgary Epilepsy Program and Electrophysiology - Dr. Sam Wiebe & Dr. Paolo Federio
  • Calgary Neuroradiology & Transcranial Doppler Programs
  • Calgary Division of Trauma Surgery
  • Dr. Christopher Grant, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  • FMC ICU Neurocritical Care Committee Members including
    • ICU Managers - Kelly Coutts, Kim Pennell, Michelle Cyca
    • ICU CNEs - Megan, Emily, Eve, Laura, Cassandra
    • ICU Pharmacists - Diana Callfas & Tom Gieni
    • ICU RRT - Peter Dhillon & Ryan Bader
  • FMC ICU Social Workers- Sheri Barnes and Brent Savard
  • FMC Neurocritical Care Champions 

 


Calgary Health Foundation

Support/Donations

Thank you to the Calgary Health Foundation and its donors for their generous support. 


Awards & Recognition

Collectively our team has been honoured with over 75 awards in recognition of our teaching, leadership and innovation. 

  • 2025 Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada Award for Early Career Leadership - Julie Kromm
  • 2025 Canadian Association for Medical Education, Meridith Marks New Educator Award - Julie Kromm
  • 2024 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Dean Sandham Award - Julie Kromm
  • 2023 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Outstanding Clinician Award - Andreas Kramer
  • 2022 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Research Mentor Award - Philippe Couillard
  • 2020 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Research Mentor Award - Andreas Kramer
  • 2021 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Outstanding Clinician Award - Julie Kromm
  • 2020 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Outstanding Clinician Award - Philippe Couillard
  • 2019 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Rotating Resident Teaching Award - Julie Kromm
  • 2017 Canadian Critical Care Society Frank Rutledge Award - Philippe Couillard
  • 2014 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Rotating Resident Teach Award - Philippe Couillard
  • 2013 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Kristin Sivertz Resident Leadership Award - Julie Kromm