Thomas Lehrich board president recognizes NATIONAL NEONATAL NURSES DAY

By Thomas Lehrich

Plus One Foundation recognizes the contributions of neonatal nurses.

National Neonatal Nurses Day, observed each year on September 15, recognizes those who care for the most fragile patients as they take their first breaths. The celebration takes place in the middle of National Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month. 

Neonatal nurse specialists work with newborn infants who are delicate at birth due to a variety of reasons. They may have been born premature or born with birth defects, infection, neurological conditions, surgical issues, or heart problems. Neonatal nurses also provide care for healthy newborn infants immediately following their birth.

The day celebrates their dedication and commitment to the profession. It also is a way to encourage others interested in the field to take a closer look. With the growing demand for qualified neonatal nurses, the more students stepping up to the challenge of this satisfying career, the better.

Board of Directors to hold Annual Fall Planning Retreat in Seattle 🍂

By Thomas Lehrich, President 

As fall begins the Plus One board is busy planning the year of programming. 

Fall marks a time for planning and is a time for the earth’s autumnal equinox. 

Autumnal equinox is when the earth experiences nearly equal day and night, marking the official beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. 

This astronomical event occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator, and for those in the Northern Hemisphere, days become shorter and cooler. 

We know the equinox is also associated with cultural celebrations, like harvest festivals, and increased activity all over the world. 

In late fall the board is meeting on the campus of University of Washington to complete the 2026 strategic plan and committee goals. 

The retreat and strategic sessions is designed to deliver high impact programming and education for the neurological community. 

Thomas Lehrich board president discusses support for World Alzheimer’s Month

By Thomas Lehrich, President 

During September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.

During World Alzheimer’s Month, we call on everyone, from individuals to large organizations, to support advocating for greater awareness and understanding around dementia. 

Education is at the heart of what we do; our Think aBout It campaign aims to dig deeper into all aspects of TBIs and neurological conditions. Look for the upcoming segment this fall on the newest research for TBI treatments. 

Welcoming New Team Members to Plus One

President Thomas Lehrich Welcomes New Members.

This summer we are thrilled to welcome new team members whose skills, passion, and dedication will help us continue our mission.

Meet Our New Team Members
We’re excited to introduce:

• Hannah Handal, Development Officer – Hannah joins us with expertise in donor engagement and fundraising, ready to help us expand our reach and deepen our impact.

• Joanna Fernando, Office Manager – Joanna brings strong organizational skills, a passion for fostering inclusive environments, and a dedication to ensuring our operations run smoothly.

We’re grateful for the leadership, creativity, and energy both Hannah and Joanna bring to Plus One Foundation. We can’t wait to see the amazing things we’ll accomplish together.

See Our Full Team

Traumatic Brain Injury Assessment Overhauled

By Thomas Lehrich, President of the Board

Trauma centers across America will begin to test a new approach for assessing traumatic brain injury. This improved assessment should provide accurate diagnoses and more appropriate treatment.

The new framework, which was developed by a coalition of experts and patients from 14 countries and by the National Institutes of Health, expands the assessment beyond immediate clinical symptoms. Added criteria would include biomarkers, CT and MRI scans, and factors such as other medical conditions and how the trauma occurred.

For a little over 50 years, trauma centers have used the Glasgow Coma Scale to assess patients with TBI, dividing them into mild, moderate, and severe categories, based on their level of consciousness and other clinical symptoms. That diagnosis determined the level of care patients received in the emergency department. In the U. S., TBI results in approximately 80 thousand deaths annually and accounts for about half-a-million permanent disabilities each year.

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