OCTOBER 2014 NEWSLETTER
Serving epilepsy patients in Northern California from Fresno to Monterey to the Oregon border
In This Issue
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Upcoming Event
Explore the Possibilities
November 12, 2014

A Live-Web-Based presentation on APTIOM (eslicarbazepine acetate), an FDA-approved prescription medicine used with other medications to treat partial-onset seizures. Will include input from epileptologist, patient educator, patient and caregiver. 
Read more here
Thank you
2014 Gala Sponsors

Gold 
Remick Family Foundation



Silver
Prakash Arunachalam
Kenneth and Pamela Chrisman
Falasco Keeney Family
Dr. Edie E. Zusman and Stephen Pratt
 
 
Pacific Brain and Spine
 
Benefactor

Donate Used Goods &
Shop Savers
Berkeley, Dublin, Vacaville
(855) 336-0212
Savers accepts all gently used clothing and housewares.
Donations are tax deductible and benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California.
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Candlelight Gala
Epilepsy Care and Cure
Friday, November 21, 2014

Six O'Clock in the Evening
Julia Morgan Ballroom
465 California Street
San Francisco, CA


Dine & Dance the Night Away with 
Nigel & Clive, The British Invasion 
Sneak peek here

Purchase Tickets TODAY!

Sponsor? Download form here
Volunteer? We need your help!
Contact tracie@epilepsynorcal.org/ 415.677.4011
Dr. Martha Morrell: Innovation Award

Martha Morrell, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, NeuroPace, Inc., and Clinical Professor of Neurology at Stanford University will receive the Epilepsy Innovation Award during the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California's Candlelight Gala on Friday, November 21, 2014.

The Innovation Award will be presented to Dr. Morrell for her contributions to improving the lives of children and adults with epilepsy. Among the highlights in Dr. Morrell's career include her work related to issues of importance to women with epilepsy, which has spurred new research and improved clinical care. Most recently, Dr. Morrell has focused on the clinical development of the first closed loop responsive neurostimulator for epilepsy, which was approved by the FDA in November 2013 after more than a decade's effort. This device, the RNS System, brings an entirely new type of treatment to eligible patients with medically intractable epilepsy.

"Dr. Morrell has always been an extraordinary thinker in our field, highly regarded by patients, medical colleagues and entrepreneurs," said Edie E. Zusman, M.D., neurosurgeon, and Board Chair of the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California.

Continued below.
Epilepsy Awareness Club
Spread the Word

 
An East Bay high school has started an Epilepsy Awareness Club. Club members organize activities that revolve around epilepsy: Seizure First Aid educational classes, school fairs and Savers store participation. Most recently, members hosted a booth at their school fair to educate students about epilepsy. To involve students, club members set up three Brain Puzzles. Players raced to complete the puzzles and participants received prize tickets. Many children returned to play multiple times--learning is fun!
Purple Pumpkin Day for Epilepsy 

On October 18th, 
Max's Miracles in Biggs, CA celebrated Purple Pumpkin Day for Epilepsy! There were numerous vendors plus a pumpkin painting booth. EFNC volunteer Annette Rockenstein said, "It was great meeting families who are dealing with or have dealt with Epilepsy. We painted roughly 30 pumpkins! The highlight of the day for me was connecting with a young mom, new to the area, who is in the process of a new epilepsy diagnosis. She was so grateful to attend a local event and make a connection with someone who has been where she is. We are looking forward to and already planning for next year!"

Did you paint a purple pumpkin this year? 
Share your pumpkins with us via Facebook and Twitter!
Did you know?Bullying
October Was National Bullying Prevention Month

Bullying is too often a serious problem for children and youth with epilepsy and other health conditions/disabilities. Join Us to Start Educating and Stop Bullying!
  • Talk About It: Watch this video where Josh Cooke (from the TV Show, "Hart of Dixie") and Greg Grunberg (actor and Epilepsy Foundation spokesperson) talk about bullying.
  • Now Available: the free KnowBullying mobile app created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Available for Android and iOS smart phones, the app provides tools and information about how to recognize bullying and stop it on the spot. Check out the KnowBullying mobile app at http://1.usa.gov/1ng6xW3
In Case You Missed It
October News--Read Here!
Martha Morrell continued.Morrell

Dr. Morrell became Chief Medical Officer of NeuroPace, the company that has developed the RNS System.  Before returning to the Bay Area and joining NeuroPace, Dr. Morrell was the Caitlin Tynan Doyle Professor of Clinical Neurology at Columbia University and Director of the Columbia Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. She had previously served as Director of the Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. A graduate of Stanford Medical School, she completed residency training in Neurology at University of Pennsylvania, as well as fellowship training in EEG and epilepsy. Dr. Morrell's clinical and research work has been directed to the care of people with epilepsy. She has more than 150 publications on epilepsy and has spoken extensively on epilepsy nationally and internationally. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the American Epilepsy Society and Chair of the Board of the Epilepsy Foundation. Service to other professional societies includes the American Neurological Association as a member of the Council and the American Academy of Neurology as Chair of the Epilepsy Section. She is an elected Ambassador for Epilepsy of the International League Against Epilepsy and received the American Epilepsy Society's 2007 Service Award for outstanding leadership and service. She is incoming President of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics.

 

This year's Candlelight Gala, which will be held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, is being co-chaired by Edie E. Zusman, M.D. and Beth Ruggles, whose daughter, Bronte has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a very rare and severe form of epilepsy.

 

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities or more information regarding the Candlelight Gala, call (415) 677-4011, email efnca@epilepsynorcal.org, or go to www.epilepsynorcal.org.


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Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California | 415-677-4011  efnca@epilepsynorcal.org | http://www.epilepsynorcal.org
155 Montgomery Street, Suite 309
San Francisco, CA 94104

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