When a stroke strikes, every minute counts.
In fact, patients treated within the first hour after symptoms begin—the “golden hour”—have a significantly higher chance of recovery.
That urgency is what drives the work of Dr. William “B.J.” Hicks, a vascular neurologist in Columbus, Ohio, and the American Heart Association’s 2025 Physician of the Year.
Dr. Hicks helped lead the creation of Central Ohio’s first mobile stroke treatment unit, a specialized ambulance designed to diagnose and begin treatment right at a patient’s doorstep.
Unlike a typical EMS vehicle, this unit includes a CT scanner, lab testing tools, and telemedicine access to a stroke neurologist.
With this mobile setup, patients experiencing a stroke can receive clot-busting medication up to 30 minutes faster than through traditional transport and hospital care.
These innovations are especially critical in areas like Columbus, where stroke risk factors—high blood pressure, diabetes, and tobacco use—are widespread.
Dr. Hicks emphasizes that social determinants of health, including access to nutritious food, safe neighborhoods, and medical care, heavily influence stroke outcomes.
That’s why he sees the mobile unit as more than just a medical tool—it’s a form of equity in motion.
Historically underserved neighborhoods now have access to the same gold-standard stroke treatment as any other, helping to level the playing field regardless of ZIP code.
As vice president of neurosciences at OhioHealth and a longtime volunteer with the American Heart Association, Dr. Hicks blends clinical expertise with community-centered action.
He helped found the Franklin County Hypertension Network in 2018, a program that prioritizes blood pressure control in primary care settings across the region.
Beyond the clinic, Dr. Hicks also advances care through research.
He is currently the local principal investigator for a national study known as FASTEST, which is testing whether early administration of a promising drug can help patients experiencing a bleeding stroke in the brain.
As a physician, mentor, and advocate, Dr. Hicks is a constant presence in efforts to reduce stroke disparities and prepare future generations of health leaders.
He mentors students through AHA’s scholars programs at historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions, sharing both clinical wisdom and a deeply personal belief in representation.
Dr. Hicks often speaks about the profound influence of his father, an oncologist, and his grandfather, a pastor—both pillars in Columbus’s Black community who taught him to lead with purpose and compassion.
His commitment has roots in experience, but it’s strengthened by mentors who helped shape his path, including Dr. Jim Grotta, a pioneer in mobile stroke treatment, whose work in Houston inspired Hicks to replicate the model in his own hometown.
Today, the ripple effect of that decision is measurable.
Lives are being saved, outcomes are improving, and barriers to care are being broken down.
A short video from the American Heart Association illustrates how mobile stroke units like those in Columbus are redefining emergency stroke response.
As Dr. Hicks sees it, progress in stroke care is not only about the science.
It’s about showing up—in neighborhoods, in emergency rooms, in mentorship—and making sure that innovation serves everyone, everywhere.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this important work.
The story of Dr. B.J. Hicks is not only about medical advancement.
It’s about what’s possible when a physician leads with skill, equity, and heart.