Dr. Joseph S. Kass joins Nexus Health Systems as Chief of Neurology, Adult Neurocontinuum
Nexus Health Systems welcomes Joseph S. Kass, M.D., J.D., F.A.A.N. to the team at Nexus Specialty Hospital and Nexus Neurorecovery Center. Dr. Kass assumes the role of Chief of Neurology of the Adult Neurocontinuum, offering comprehensive care to patients across the neurological continuum, including individuals with brain injury and disorders of consciousness.
“Taking care of people with stroke, brain injury or dementia is a privilege. I view it as servant leadership. People are trusting you with their health and it’s a big deal,” Dr. Kass said. “The ability to earn trust through hard work, integrity and compassion is an amazing way to spend life.”
Dr. Kass was a tenured Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry and Medical Ethics at Baylor College of Medicine. He was most recently Associate Dean of Student Affairs and previously served as Neurology Residency Program Director. Dr. Kass directed Baylor’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center, where he was the Principal Investigator on the leading clinical trials in Alzheimer’s Disease. For more than 15 years, he also served as Chief of Neurology at Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was the founding director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center. Ben Taub General Hospital is the flagship public safety net hospital in the Houston metropolitan area.
Prior to completing medical school, neurology residency and a behavioral neurology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Kass graduated from Amherst College in Amherst, MA with a B.A., magna cum laude, in Russian. He then earned his J.D. from Colombia Law School in New York, NY. He speaks six languages, including English, Hebrew, Russian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, and is committed to facilitating respectful cultural diversity and access to state-of-the-art care for all patients.
Leadership and team building have been cornerstones of Dr. Kass’s career, and he is focused on continuing to build innovative, patient-centered programs at Nexus Health Systems. As an educator and researcher, he is looking forward to blending theory and practice in helping patients, residents and their families navigate the challenges of brain injury, stroke and other neurological illnesses or conditions.
Dr. Kass will collaborate with Dr. John W. Cassidy, Nexus Health Systems Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer, on program development and quality initiatives.
“I was attracted to Nexus Health Systems because of my academic background. The patient-centered values at Nexus align with my professional values,” explained Dr. Kass. “Being involved with operations and the executive side of things provides the opportunity for program building, and I have and will continue to enjoy learning from Dr. Cassidy.”
With a certification in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry from the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties, Dr. Kass brings specialized behavioral neurologic knowledge to the Nexus Health team. He is excited to develop internal programs that help Nexus staff provide the best care to patients while creating an inclusive clinical environment where every member of the treatment team is valued.
“Respect is vital in a clinical setting. Everybody has a role in providing solutions, and anyone who touches a patient has a role in their care,” Kass explained. “Having a leadership approach means educating people on why something needs to be done and then getting feedback. This helps in creating evidence-based protocols that ensure quality of care.”
Dr. Kass will lead the adult neurocontinuum program, which provides ongoing medical care and rehabilitation in the least restrictive to individuals rehabilitating from a variety of neurological challenges.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Kass and look forward to developing and expanding our patient-centered programs. He brings a wealth of knowledge and research experience in the full spectrum of neurological and neurobehavioral conditions,” Dr. Cassidy remarked.
