(1/4) October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month🎗️ For pediatric neurosurgeons, caring for children with spina bifida (myelomeningocele) is daily practice. But the challenges of spina bifida extend far beyond the operating room—hydrocephalus, weakness, sensory deficits, and bladder and bowel dysfunction can affect patients throughout their lives. Importantly, spina bifida sometimes can be prevented. Adequate folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy reduces the risk of neural tube defects. The challenge? The neural tube develops very early—often before a woman knows she is pregnant. In 1998, the U.S. mandated folic acid fortification of enriched cereal grains. The result was a dramatic reduction in neural tube defects. Yet an important gap remained: corn masa flour, a staple in many Hispanic communities, was not included in the original mandate. This is where neurosurgery advocates stepped in. So what happens when neurosurgeons take the next step and turn clinical experience into advocacy? This week we highlight how the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS) is turning advocacy into action—from research, to resolution, to state legislation, and ultimately to global prevention. The journey starts here. spinabifidaassociation.org/ @SpinaBifidaAssn @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @PedsSection @neurosurgery