Phone · 10 2009-2010 Donor List 12 Epilepsy Clinic in Haiti Needs Continuing Support ......

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A M E R I C A N E P I L E P S Y S O C I E T Y

MISSIONThe American Epilepsy Society promotes

research and education for professionals dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of epilepsy.

The American Epilepsy Society (AES) is one of the oldest neurological professionalorganizations in the nation, with roots dating to 1989. The Society was foundedas the American Branch of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in1936 and formally adopted its current name in 1954.

The Society, which is the United States Chapter of the International LeagueAgainst Epilepsy (ILAE), has grown from a small organization formed during adinner meeting in Kansas City, Missouri in 1936 to a membership of approxi-mately 3,000 people from almost 50 countries. Although the Society was initiallya physician-oriented society, it now unites physicians, nurses, basic scientists,and many other healthcare professionals who are committed to improving thelives of people with epilepsy through research and education. The Society’ssupport of these endeavors occurs in a variety of forms, including AES-sponsoredgrant programs, research awards, publication of Epilepsy Currents, and the AES’sAnnual Meeting.

Its 3,000 plus members are clinicians, researchers investigating basic and clini-cal aspects of epilepsy, and other healthcare professionals interested in seizure disorders. Members represent both pediatric and adult aspects of epilepsy.

The Society is based in West Hartford, Connecticut, and holds an Annual Meetingthat offers symposia, lectures, poster presentations and exhibitions. TheMeeting attracts more than 4,000 professionals from around the world andoffers excellent opportunities for networking and sharing of ideas.

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OFFICER REPORTS4 Report from the Current President5 Report from the Past President6 Report from the Executive Director8 Report from the Treasurer

GIVING BACK FINANCIALLY10 2009-2010 Donor List12 Epilepsy Clinic in Haiti Needs Continuing Support13 Nihon Kohden Auction Acknowledgement14 AES Participates in Epilepsy Walk and Public Policy Institute

GIVING BACK THROUGH SERVICE15 Report on Membership17 Report on Epilepsy Currents18 Report from the Council on Education20 Volunteer Acknowledgement21 2010 Board of Directors22 2009 Board of Directors

GIVING BACK THROUGH RESEARCH FUNDING23 Report on Research Funding and Awards

GIVING BACK THROUGH THE ANNUAL MEETING26 2009 Annual Meeting Report28 Corporate Partner Acknowledgement

CONTENTS

Photo credit: Lagniappe Studio, Inc.

Jaideep Kapur, M.D., Ph.D., 2010 President

The American Epilepsy Society (AES) completes 74 years of its existence while lookingforward to a bright future. Our investments in research, educating a new generation ofepilepsy specialists, and improving care of patients with epilepsy continue to fuel thegrowth and success of this enterprise.

The Society remains committed to enhancing research into causes, mechanisms andtreatment of epilepsy. It is only by understanding epilepsy and all of its manifestationsthat we will be able to improve the care of patients with epilepsy. Research in epilepsy

has focused on suppressing seizures and keeping patients seizure free. This effort has brought multiple seizure-suppressing drugs to the market, which have improved the quality of life of many of patients. However, animportant task remains ahead of us. It is to prevent the development of epilepsy and to cure epilepsy in thosepatients who already have it. Important and exciting research already ongoing in multiple laboratories all overthe country and the world is likely to yield new methods, drugs and biological target mechanisms to preventand cure epilepsy. This is an exciting challenge for the entire epilepsy community for the future. AES will playan important role in making this happen.

AES will also play an important role in delivering the best possible care to patients with epilepsy. In seeking toachieve this goal, AES has partnered with volunteer organizations such as Epilepsy Foundation, EpilepsyTherapy Development Project and professional organizations such as the American Academy of Neurology. Weintend to help physicians pick the best treatments, alleviate the comorbitites of epilepsy and provide access tothe best possible treatment options for our patients. With this goal in mind, we hope to galvanize all ourconstituents: neurologists, pediatric neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers andbasic scientists to bring the wealth of their knowledge in epilepsy to improve patient care.

An important way in which the Society communicates is through its journal. AES will start publishing theEpilepsy Currents journal starting in January 2011. This offers us an exciting possibility to develop the journalinto an important mechanism to communicate exciting developments in epilepsy research and developments incare of patients with epilepsy to our membership. We hope to utilize this handsomely in the future.

We believe that raising funds for our important activities will help us grow and provide critical resources forour members and other stakeholders. As we prepare for the 75th anniversary celebration of the Society we hopeto launch a development campaign that includes funds for travel to our Annual Meeting as well as funds forresearch and training of our junior members. We would also hope to be able to support some of our lectures andprograms during our Annual Meeting through this fundraising campaign. The success of this campaign will laythe foundations for the future success our organization.

The society remains committed to education of epileptologists and training a new generation of members. Thisgoal is accomplished through the Annual Meeting, web based educational tools, Epilepsy Currents and otheryear-round educational efforts. The Annual Meeting remains the most important educational event of the year.The meeting is packed with symposia, poster presentations, special interest group meetings, courses, updatesand more. It attracts more than 4,000 attendees from all over the world and continues to grow.

Our successes of past give me great hope that one day we will prevent most epilepsy from happening and curethose who get it.

Report from the CURRENT PRESIDENT

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2009-2010 AES Board of Directors and Staff

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Steven C. Schachter, M.D., 2009 PresidentI was humbled and honored to serve as your president last year and to work with somany talented and passionate colleagues on the AES Board and Committees, andmembers of the AES staff, led by our Executive Director Sue Berry, and by AssistantExecutive Director Cheryl-Ann Tubby.

If I could think of one headline for 2009, it would be that together we weathered theeconomic downturn while at the same time we maintained the excellence in ourmembership programs and services, and confidently planned for the future. Here are afew example of the excellent progress that we made last year.

• To broaden financial support for AES, we laid the foundation for a broad development campaign with 100%of the Board of Directors participating in the 2009 launch. One of the key achievements in 2009 for ourdevelopment campaign was to establish the Susan Spencer Clinical Research and Education Fund.

• We were fortunate that so many of you elected to renew your membership in AES. Through a specialPresident’s membership initiative, we enrolled 80 new junior members.

• We continued to maintain the highest standards of education and support for research and training, and werethrilled to receive six -year Reaccreditation with Commendation / Level III from ACCME.

• To achieve our mission takes a village, and in 2009 we strengthened relationships with our non-profitpartners and sister professional societies within and outside the US. You may recall that my PresidentialSymposium at our annual meeting in Boston focused on the treatment gap in epilepsy, and I am proud of ourongoing efforts within the Society to become a full partner with ILAE in the Global Campaign AgainstEpilepsy.

• The Society draws strength from the diversity of its members’ interests, which is reflected in the activities of40 committees, subcommittees, councils and task forces. In 2009, we established new task forces on thePsychiatric Aspects of Epilepsy, SUDEP, and Epilepsy Benchmarks.

• In 2009, we re-launched the Vision 2020 Committee, refreshed the AES website in response to memberfeedback, installed a web-based membership database, represented AES before the FDA at vigabatrinhearings and a transparency task force and renewed our relationship with Association Resources, Inc, whichmanages AES. Our Continuity of Supply Task Force developed a protocol to test AED bioequivalencebetween generic and brand products, met with the FDA to optimize study design, and received funding tostart the study.

My fellow past presidents all know from direct experience that we have been privileged to lead a wonderfullyvibrant Society. I am excited by the further progress that has been made under the presidency of Jaideep Kapurthis year, and under Vice Presidents Jack Pellock and Frances Jensen.

Please indulge me this one last chance to thank each of you for your support of AES and for all you do onbehalf of persons affected by epilepsy and their families through patient care, education and advocacy, andresearch.

Report from the PAST PRESIDENT

Report from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

M. Suzanne C. Berry, M.B.A, CAE

20,000 and Growing

So what does 20,000 mean? I will get to that in a few minutes…..This year’s annual report is about “Giving Back.” Giving back can mean so manythings… volunteering your time and expertise, contributing to an organization orcause that is important to you, giving a lecture on a critical topic, hosting an event to

help a cause or candidate, reading to a child, and so many other examples. In a time where so many of my association executive colleagues express concern over the lack of volunteereffort, I remain silent and think to myself how lucky the staff is to work with so many wonderful leaders withinthe American Epilepsy Society. I felt this strong volunteer commitment from the moment I started working withAES back in 1990. It was clear that I was working with a caring and committed group of volunteers. Despitevery busy jobs, clinics, large patient loads, no one has ever turned down an opportunity to work on AESprograms and activities. Even in today’s changing and more demanding healthcare environment the spirit ofvolunteerism within AES still exists. The AES staff maintains a dynamic database that collects all the names ofAES members who want to be involved in committee or project work. This database is accessed first whenthere is a need to add new members to a committee or workgroup. Some stats on AES volunteerism…….Board members meet three times a year- March, September and December (at the Annual Meeting). During theMarch and September board meetings, they spend at least one night away from their families and two days inmeetings. The Board meets before the Annual Meeting adding to the already long time away from home and theoffice. Add to that time, the fact that the Executive Committee has a weekly call each Friday. The call lasts anhour or more and there is some prep time with pre-meeting materials. The President, during his or her year inoffice, spends many more hours a week on AES activities. I know…I receive emails throughout the weekendand most evenings from the Presidents I have worked with.Committee chairs are very active and most conduct regularcalls with their committee and have participated on calls withthe Board reviewing the AES strategic plan. AES members participate in the Annual Meeting as faculty,platform and poser presenters, coordinators of Special InterestGroups, and session chairs. Countless hours go into preparingfor all these presentations and it is done without honorariumsor reimbursement. Also at the Annual Meeting, you will seeAES Ambassadors helping attendees with meeting logistics,responding to membership questions and demonstrating thenew AES Professional Networking System. Outside of AES, many members are involved with their localprofessional advisory boards of the local Epilepsy Foundationaffiliate. Members also participate in the National EpilepsyWalk (usually held in DC in March ) and sit on a scientificadvisory board for many of the epilepsy research foundations. AES members are also involved with theInternational League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and serve on many committees with colleagues from around theworld.

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As I look back on my 20 years as the AESExecutive Director (I am not retiring as Iam too young!!), I can’t help but reflect onthe growth of the Society. When I started in1990, there were 900 members, the budgetwas $500,000, and the Annual Meetinghad just 900 attendees. Today, AES canboast as having close to 3,000 members, a$ 3.6 million budget supporting over$500,000 in research grants and fellow-ships, and 4,500 attendees at its annualmeeting.

In addition to time that AES members invest in the Society, many members also donate their money.Approximately 737 members gave this past year to various fundraising activities conducted by AES to supportthe Lennox and Lombroso Trust Fund for Research and Training; the AES Annual Fund and the newly formedSusan S. Spencer Fund for Clinical Research and Training. Last, but not least, was the tremendous supportdemonstrated by the money raised to support the Epilepsy Clinic in Haiti. Over 100 members contributed morethan $15,000. Lionel Carmant, MD, Hospital Ste-Justin in Montreal, Canada was the bridge between the AESand the Port-Au-Prince Clinic and reported that the money helped to keep the clinic open and serving patients.In addition to all of this, Grass Technologies donated a much needed EEG machine. AES is not just a receiver of donated time and money, it also “gives back” to the epilepsy community by raisingfunds for the Lennox and Lombroso Trust, the Susan S. Spencer Fund and the Annual Fund. The money raisedsupports pre-doctoral/graduate students; post-doctoral fellows (both clinical and basic) as well as scholarshipsto junior investigators and nurses attending the meeting. This year we added financial support to physiciansattending the meeting from outside the US. AES has committed itself to organizing coalitions with epilepsy-related organizations and formed a group in2004 called Vision 2020. Members of this alliance include: Epilepsy Foundation, International League AgainstEpilepsy (ILAE), Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), Epilepsy Therapeutics Project (ETP),Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (TSA), Milken Family Foundation (MFF), National Association of Epilepsy Centers(NAEC), Seizure Tracker, National Institutes of Neurologic Disorders and Syndromes (NINDS), Center forDisease Control (CDC), People Against Childhood Epilepsy, Inc (PACE) , Finding A Cure for Epilepsy andSeizures (FACES), The IDEA League, The Anita Kaufman Foundation, Dravet Syndrome, National Epi-FellowsFoundation, Clinical Trials Consortium, and more organizations are joining all the time. As a result of thisalliance, there is coordination among the organizations to make sure that there are no gaps in research funding,share knowledge of each organization’ s advocacy efforts, as well as a new project to fund a study that will beundertaken by the Institute of Medicine in 2011. Many of our members serve as volunteers on grant reviewcommittees of these individual organizationsAs I look back on my 20 years as the AES Executive Director (I am not retiring as I am too young!!), I can’thelp but reflect on the growth of the Society. When I started in 1990, there were 900 members, the budget was$500,000, and the Annual Meeting had just 900 attendees. Today, AES can boast as having close to 3,000members, a $ 3.6 million budget supporting over $500,000 in research grants and fellowships, and 4,500attendees at its annual meeting. How did this happen? Yes, staff will take a little credit, but the real credit andkudos go to each and every member who volunteers and “gives back” time to AES. The 20,000 highlighted aspart of the title is a very rough estimate of the numbers of hours that are donated to the AES on an annualbasis. I am sure that this number is understated, but it is staggering nonetheless. AES will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary next year in 2011. We are all the recipients of what the leadersand members gave back then. Imagine what members will be saying 75 years from now with the time andenergy that are being expended today. Thanks to all for what you “give back” to the Society. It is for a worthy cause…the persons with epilepsy andtheir families.

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Report from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Continued)

The American Epilepsy Society closed the books onfiscal year 2009-2010 as of June 30, 2010. The infor-mation you see in this report is unaudited, but in theinterest of providing our membership with up-to-dateinformation, we are reporting our preliminary resultsto you now. An audited statement will be ready inNovember 2010 and will be available on the AESwebsite at www.aesnet.org.This report is an overview of where we stood at theend of Fiscal Year 2009/2010 and a look forward toFiscal Year 2010/2011. Despite a budgeted deficit, wefinished fiscal year 2010 with a surplus. Our policystates that any operating surplus is split between theAnnual Fund and the Long Term Reserve Fund. TheAnnual Fund is used for our research and trainingprograms.

Total RevenueMembership Operations $ 659,853Education* $3,156,987Research $ 476,498Publications/Products $ 236,815Total $4,530,153*Includes Annual Meeting

Total ExpensesMembership Operations $ 759,748Education $2,255,412Research $ 570,576Publications/Products $ 232,277Total $3,818,013

Overview of FY 2009-2010 BudgetAccomplishmentsThe vision for the 2009/2010 fiscal year budgetreflected our mission of education and research, thesewere our biggest expenditures. Much of our researchinvestments are generated from Annual Meeting

revenue surplus, which demonstrates our commitmentto our mission.We have experienced continued pressure from theweak economy, CME rules and government regula-tions on industry support. In addition, there has beena conscious effort to reduce the dependence on indus-try support. In response we are gradually moving awayfrom the traditional sponsorship models common inprofessional societies. This means developing creativeideas for support for programs as well as examiningthe value of all programs being offered. Morningsymposia now start a little later, allowing us to elimi-nate the cost of providing breakfast. We were able toget a tax exemption from the State of Massachusettsfor our Annual Meeting in Boston which saved usmore money. As an experiment we removed the carpetfrom the poster hall, which saved $10,000. We madea concerted effort this year to bring more devicemanufacturers into our exhibit hall and created newways to help industry share their latest research. Aswe plan for the 2010 Annual Meeting in San Antoniowe continue to look for new ways to save money andincrease revenues, while maintaining the extraordi-nary quality of our Annual Meeting. We have estab-lished a committee to enhance development programsfor AES so that in the future we can be more selfsufficient in supporting our critical programs. Wecontinue to focus expenditures on programs andprojects that support our Strategic Goals. Membership/Operations• Dues rates remained the same again this year and

retention remains about 90%.• There has been no increase in the cost of the

Epilepsia subscriptions.• Dues income is close to last year’s; a good sign in a

weak economy. The online member databaselaunched last year makes it even easier for membersto pay dues and track their dues payment history.

• Our Operations revenue continues to be adverselyaffected by unrealized gains/losses (investments offunds adversely affected by fluctuations in thestock market) which are required to be included inthe budget, but don’t actually affect the budget.Our finance committee has chosen a new financialmanager and implemented strategies to minimizemarket impact on our operations.

• We began providing leadership training to Boardmembers and Committee Chairs.

Technology• Annual Meeting symposia continue to be added to

the website. This year the programs were availableonline by mid-February.

Report from the TREASURERMichael D. Privitera, M.D. , Chair

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• The new online database continues to providemore benefits for members including access totheir committees, dues payments and subscrip-tions. A new social networking-type program willbe added later this year.

• A new website look was launched this spring.• The ability to donate to research has been made

easier with more options clearly available.Communications/Public Relations • We produced six issues of Epilepsy Currents and

four issues of AES News. The AES News is nowdistributed through the Web site to save printingcosts. Epilepsy Currents will now be selfpublished allowing a substantial cost savingswithout compromising the outstanding quality ofthe publication.

• The periodic member e-blasts continued through-out the year and the look was updated.

• A Communications Council was created to overseeall publications and PR efforts.

• The Annual Report is now published online onlyand is easily available year round.

Professional Development• Visiting Professor Series programs were offered in

community hospitals across the country thanks tofinancial support from our corporate sponsors.

• A Web based CME program titled: ThePharmacist’s Role in Epilepsy Management:Current Treatment Issues and Trends, waslaunched on ReachMD in partnership with Pri-Med, a medical communications company.

• A Web based CME activity on MedicationCompliance was launched in partnership withEpilepsy.com/professionals and Epilepsy TherapyProject.

Annual Meeting• Registration numbers hit a record of 4,158 despite

an increase in fees.• The Annual Meeting continued to be a revenue

generator with a net of $1,124,248. This surplusis actually less than prior years, we believe due toenvironmental and economic changes. The surplussupports the research funds as well as supple-menting the organization’s budget.

• The many cost cutting measures applied to theAnnual Meeting successfully reduced expenseswithout compromising the outstanding quality ofthe meeting.

• The part-time Medical Content Specialist positioncontinued this year to assist with CME programdevelopment.

Research and Awards Program• The Milken Family Foundation continued to

support the Early Career Physician-ScientistAward program with one $50,000 award presentedat the 2009 Annual Meeting. This was the lastyear of this program.

• This was also the last year for the GrassFoundation’s R. S. Morison Fellowship.

• AES continues to directly fund three pre-doctoraland three post-doctoral fellowships. The Boardvoted to fund these directly from the budgetinstead of from surplus emphasizing our commit-ment to research.

• The Lennox Trust Fund provided one pre-doctoralfellowship this year.

• AES is committed to its involvement with otherresearch funding organizations and will continueto support collaborative efforts with these organi-zations. We are currently working with theAmerican Academy of Neurology and the EpilepsyFoundation to launch the Susan Spencer ClinicalResearch & Training Fellowship.

• The Young Investigator and Nurse Awards, whichare selected from submitted abstracts, continuedto be offered. These awards provide travelstipends.

• AES continued to support the Epilepsy ResearchRecognition Award program.

• A fundraising campaign continued during the yearto expand the Lennox and Lombroso Trust forEpilepsy Research & Training to ensure funds areavailable for future research.

Future Outlook 2010/2011As we enter our new budget year (July 1, 2010 –June 30, 2011) we will continue the good work thatwas started this past year. As always, AES willcontinue to listen to feedback from our members indeveloping new programs and services. Over the next year, we will be continuing programsthat are supported by a sound and conservativebudget. We are unwavering in our commitment toeducation and research, in fact, the surplus from theAnnual Meeting provides funds to support AES initi-ated projects and programs.

Report from the TREASURER (Continued)

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Abou-Khalil, Bassel W.Acree, Lisa HahnAdhami, SeemaAkamatsu, NaokiAlexandre, VerianoAlexis, Richard P.Ali, AmzaAllen, Anne-Marie N.Alper, WilliamAlter, MichaelAmick, Carol J.Andermann, EvaAndermann, FrederickAnderson, Anne E.Anderson, Gail D.Anderson, William StanleyAranibar-Zerpa, AlbertoArnold, BonnieAronson, Peter S.Austin, Joan K.Babcock, Debra J.Babu, JonathanBabu, Mary S.Baca, SharonBachman, EricBailey, Joseph J.Bailiff, JackieBakken, LarryBalcezak, TomBanta, Dolores UferBaraban, Scott C.Baram, Tallie Z.Barbaro, Nicholas M.Barber, ArkadyBarbieri, LucilleBarry, ElizabethBartfai, TamasBauer, LeahBaulac, MichelBazil, CarlBeck, Barbara P.Beery, MelissaBej, Mark D.Belfer, Myron LBello-Espinosa, Luis E.Benedetti, FabrizioBen-Menachem, ElinorBento, Leo & LisaBerg, Anne T.Berg, Michel J.Berg, RobinBergey, Gregory K.Berry, PatriciaBerry, Peter and SuzanneBertram, Edward H.Bidwell, Arthur W.Bigelow, JeffreyBinder, Devin K.Black, Mary EllenBlau, JoanBleasel, Andrew F.Bleck, Thomas P.Blocker, RobertBlumenfeld, HalBonadio, Mila Y.Bonito, JenniferBonwetsch, RobertBordey, AngeliqueBorges, Karin

Boucher, Mr. & Mrs.Bough, Kristopher J.Bourgeois, Blaise F.D.Bozek, RobinBraeuer, Heinrich C.Bragin, AnatolBrenner, RobertBridgman, Peter A.Bristol-Myers SquibbBroderick, Patricia A.Bromfield, Edward B.Bronen, Richard A.Brooks-Kayal, AmyBrostrom, JillBrower, DeniseBrown, Stuart B.Brzoska, Robert W.Buchhalter, JeffreyBucholz, Kathleen K.Buckmaster, Paul S.Budde, ThomasBudge, Mary E.Buelow, Janice M.Bunney, Benjamin S.Burbank, Ellen C.Callan, DorisCallanan, MimiCamp, Elizabeth C.Caputy, Anthony and TinaCavazos, Jose E.Cavus, IdilCephalon, Inc.Cereghino, James J.Cervenka, MackenzieChaaban, JantiChadwick, BetseyChapman, Kevin E.Chatman, DeniseCho, MichaelCimity, Aaron M.Clark, SuzanneCole, Andrew J.Cole, SeanCollins, Ruth E.Conley, Rae L.Connolly, Mary B.Conry, Joan A.Cooper, Edward C.Copeland, CarlaCorrie, W. StephenCostanzo, Ann K.Cothron, James T.Couch, JimmyCox, John DavidCramer, Joyce A.Crino, Peter B.Crone, NathanCrumrine, Patricia K.Cunningham, Johnny &

SabinaCupole, Mary JayneCushner, Weinstein Sandra Danzer, SteveDavis, Suzannede Lanerolle, Nihal C.De Roehn, CarolDean, PatriciaDebets, Rene M.C.Debowy, Daniel

Dergalust, SunitaDeRosa, PattiDesai, AtmanDeSalvo, MatthewDevinsky, OrrinDichter, Marc A.Dilbeck, Estate of

Mary WinifredDonalty, JeanneDonner, Elizabeth J.Downey, Tim B.Dragovich, CharlesDrazkowski, JosephDreyer, Carol and HerbDuckrow, Robert B.Dunn, David W.Dworetzky, BarbaraEdwards, Robert H.Eid, ToreEinhaus, StephanieEisai, Inc.Eisenberg, CarolElger, Christian E.Elias, JohnElrich, Susan M.Elsas, Siegward M.Engel, JeromeEngle, Kevin D.Engstrom, LexEpilepsy FoundationErdinc, OguzEsclapez, MoniqueEspinosa, Patricio S.Fambrough, AnnFarrow, Simon J.Fava, MaurizioFazzino, JeanFenn, John E.Feoli, Enrique A.Fertig, EvanFink, Alan JayFisher, John D.Fisher, Judith P.Fisher, Robert S.Fitzer Geiger, Susan L.Fountain, Nathan B.Frank, L. MatthewFrench, Jacqueline A.Fukuda, MihoFukuyama, YukioFuller, John & MarleneFureman, BrandyGaddam, ShailajaGaillard, WilliamGalanter, Carol D.Garcia, Paul A.Gascon, Generoso G.Gatl, Kevin & BarbaraGenjiro, HiroseGiannotta, Steven L.Giapponi, RichardGibbs, Margaret I.Giegengack, Edward and

Teresa T.Gillen, Joy R.Gilliam, Frank G.Girls Club Aina HainaGjerstad, LeifGleason, Arthur and Annie

Go, Cristina Y.Goncharova, IrinaGoodkin, HowardGoodman, Jeffrey H.Goodman, Robert R.Gotman, JeanGraber, Kevin D.Greenberg, MarleneGreenwood, Robert S.Greer, Charles & SandraGrossman, Robert G.Gupta, AjayGurbani, SureshGurnett, ChristinaGwinn, RyderHackney, MarkHalford, JonathanHardy, KatharineHarrison, John and FayeHasegawa, HisanoriHashim, AnjumHaut, SherylHeck, Christianne N.Hedge, Anne L.Hegland, GlendaHellwinkle, MoniqueHelou, LeslieHenninger, Heidi L.Henry, Thomas R.Herman, Susan T.Hermann, Bruce P.Hirsch, EdouardHirsch, Lawrence J.Hobbs, Helene F.Hogan, CleoHogan, Robert EdwardHolmes, Gregory L.Horness, Cindy KayHorth, James and DeborahHouser, Carolyn R.Hucks, Kathy EHueffman, Donna T.Huguenard,JohnHuh, LindaHunter, Carol and KeithHuntley, Rebecca L.Hurst, KennethHurst, Walter A.Hutchins, Brent R.Hwang, PaulIadarola, LauraIpsen, Alice CobbIragui-Madoz, Vicente J.Iversen, Patrick L.Ives, John R.Jackson, Graeme D.Jacobowitz & Gubits,

Attorneys at LawJacobs, Margaret P.Jagannath, Anand D.Jasiorkowski, Elizabeth T.Jensen, Frances E.Jette, NathalieJobst, Barbara C.Johnson, NancyJokl, PeterJones-Gotman, MarilynJoshi, AlarkJoshi, Sanjoy

Joyce, CynthiaJoyner, John D.Judd, NatalieJustGive-Microsoft

Internet Search and GiveProgram

Kamen, Lisa M.Kan, LiKang, DeweyKang, HarrietKanner, HilaryKaplan, RosalieKapur, JaideepKaufman, Kenneth R.Kayne, Richard & MariaKelfer, HowardKelly, BarbaraKelly, Kevin M.Kennedy, Janice K.Kenney, Mary E.Kernitsky, LydiaKerwin, DorisKhurana, Divya S.Kluge, TilmannKoh, SookyongKohrman, MichaelKorn, Martin N.Korsun, HalinaKovtun, DavidKrauss, Gregory L.Krishnamoorthy, KalpathyKrumholz, AllanKwiatkowski, DavidLabiner, David M.Lachert-Segal, HannaLachhwani, DeepakLado, Fred A.LaFrance, W. CurtLammert, WarrenLarsson, Pal GunnarLear, Lauren R.Lee, Robert and IrisLees, RiittaLegido, AgustinLeiphart, JamesLenamon, R.Lenard, Sheri LeaLeppik, Ilo E.Lesser, Ronald P.Levey, ElizabethLevine, Tammy AnnLevisohn, Paul M.Levy, Susan R.Lewis, Darrell V.Linn, Heather M.Litt, BrianLittle, Robert A.Locatelli, Eduardo R.Lockwood, NancyLoddenkemper, TobiasLombroso, Cesare T.Long, Caroly L.Losey, Travis E.Louvi, AngelikiLowenstein, Daniel H.Lu, HaiyanLuan, GuomingLydon, John T. and JoshuaLyon, Alice L.

Giving Back Financially

10

Thank you to the following donors to the Lennox & Lombroso Trust for Research & Training; the Susan Spencer Fund for Clinical Research and Education and the AES Annual Fund who contributed betweenJanuary 2009 and June 30, 2010. Donors are listed alphabetically by last name or company name.

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Donor Recognition (Continued)

11

Lyon, Kyrsten K.Maertens, Paul M.Malik, Saleem I.Malone, ColleenMalthouse, Dean P.Mann, Smith & CummingsMarcarelli, Mary D.Marcus, Elliott M.Margolis, RobertMargulies, Susan KleinMart, Richard & HelenMartins, Ana Paula PinheiroMartuza, RobertMasino, SusanMasino, SusanMathern, Gary W.Matsuo, FumisukeMatsuyama, YukariMattson, Richard H.McCrea, HeatherMcEwen, BruceMcFadden, Deborah A.McFadden, LorraineMcKhann, Guy M.McKinstry, Robert C.McLaughlin, Thomas F.McManus, SharonMeador, Kimford J.Meek, Stephen L.Meisler, MiriamMeldrum, Brian S.Melin, JeffreyMercugliano, Lisa A.Metsahonkala, Eeva LiisaMeyer, RitaMiller-Horn, JillMilner, TeresaMizrahi, Eli M.Moeller, StanMohney, SuzanMontouris, Georgia D.Moody, Walter and MaryMoore, David B.Moshé, Solomon L.Murphy, Cheryl M.Murphy, WilliamMuxfeldt, MariaNabha, UditaNaegele, Janice R.Naidu, YaminiNerbonne, Jeanne M.Nespeca, Mark P.Neurology AssociatesNeuroPace, Inc.Nguyen, DangNiedermeyer, Ernst F.Niedermeyer, LolitaNiedzielska, KrystynaNiesen, Charles E.Nihon Kohden America, Inc.Noebels, Jeffrey L.Nole, Sam J.Novotny, Edward J.Nunes, JudyO’Connell, Josephine EarleyOjemann, Jeffrey G.Oles, Karen S.Ostheimer, Laura E.Ottman, RuthOwen, Roderic & Linda

Pan, Jullie W.Papanastassiou, AlexParent, Jack M.Park, YoungsookParker, Joseph & MaureenPartikian, ArthurPatel, Manisha N.Patterson, Joseph and Mary AnnPearl, Phillip L.Pedley, Timothy A.Pellock, John M.Pennell, PagePenovich, Patricia E.Penry, Martin D.Perucca, EmilioPestana, Knight Elia M.Peterson, DoloresPetroff, Ognen A.Phillips, Margot L.Piazzini, Ada J.Pickerell, WaynePincus, StevenPinsley, AlisonPizzoferrato, SandyPorter, Roger J.Powell, ElizabethPrince, David A.Privitera, Michael D.Prokop, Katherine S.Pusey, Mary AnnePutz, David A.Quest, Donald O.Rackley, AngelaRamirez, Maria C.Rao, GautamiReddy, RichardReynolds, Brenda A.Richerson, George B.Riikonen, RailiRinaldi, AngelaRisinger, Michael W.Rittenbaum, CraigRiviello, James J.Rizvi, Syed N.Robbins, Carol A.Roberts, David W.Robinson, Dorothy K.Rodgers-Neame, NancyRogin, Joanne B.Romeo, RussellRoper, Steven N.Rose, Alison and JamesRose, CecilyRosenberg, BradRoste, Line S.Roth, Robert H.Rothberg, Bonnie E.Roth-Bowersock, RoseRothman, StevenRuddle, Nancy H.Rueegg, StephanRundhaugen, LynnRusch, Mark DRutecki, Paul A.Sailus, Marianne C.Salanova, VicentaSalpekar, Jay A.Sammaritano, Michele M.Sanders, Dillo & MyongSanderson, Mary Louise

Sankar, RamanSanner, ColinSantilli, NancySaper, CliffordSarma, AmySarnat, Harvey B.Sasaki, Carolyn L.Sato, SusumuSavic, Berglund IvankaScabini, DonatellaSchachter, Steven C.Scharfman, Helen E.Schiff, Steven J.Scholz, FritzSchrader, Lara M.Schulman, Brian J.Schwartz, John W.Schwartz, Theodore H.Schweickart, Steven R.Segal, Tatyana and KarinaSegovia, ArmandoSeifert, BruceSelwa, Linda M.Shafer, Patricia O.Shapiro, HenryShapiro, MaryShaw, CoralieShaywitz, BennettShepherd, AmberShin, JosephShinnar, ShlomoSierzant, Tess L.Silveira, Diosely C.Silverman, Richard A.Slivinsky Family, TheSmith, ElaineSmith, GeorgetteSmith, Michael C.Smith, Walton N.So, Elson L.Sogawa, YoshimiSokol, Dennis A.Solari, FrancescaSolbrig, Marylou V.Solomon, Gail E.Sorbo, AimeeSorbo, Jane B.Spann, MarisaSpencer, Dennis D.Spencer, Susan S.Spitzberg, KarenStafstrom, Carl E.Staley, Kevin J.Starr, Irene and BillStarreveld, EloutSteinhaeuser, ChristianSteitz, Joan A.Sullivan, AnnSullivan, PatrickSusan Spencer Fund, Yale Epilespy

ProgramSutula, Thomas P.Swann, John W.Sweetman, MarieSzabo, Charles A.Tanaka, TatsuyaTanev, KaloyanTannenbaum, KateTesar, George E.Testa, Francine M.

Thadani, Vijay M.Theodore, William H.Thomas, Azreena B.Thomas, Horace L.Thompson, James L.Thompson, Lowery L.Thomson, KyleThumm, Mr. & Mrs.Tietjen, LynnTilley, Michael and KimberlyTilley, Thomas and BrendaTitus, CarolannTomson, TorbjornTownsend, BonnieTreiman, David M.Trescher, William H.Trevathan, EdwinTubby, Cheryl-AnnTuxhorn, Ingrid E.Valencia, IgnacioVan Haverbeke, PeterVan Ness, Paul C.Vegter, CandaceVender, RonaldVickrey, Barbara G.Vining, Eileen P.G.Vining, EugeniaVissicchio, Caroline G.Vives, Kenneth P.Wagner, Esperanza E.Walker, KarlaWannamaker, Braxton B.Warren, MargoWasterlain, Claude G.Watkins, John & PeggyWeiner, Howard L.Weiss, Robert M.West, RichardWheless, James W.White, BarbaraWhite, H. SteveWierzbinski, MichaelWijsman, D.J. PhilipWilcox, Karen S.Wilensky, Alan J.Wilkinson, Amy and RichardWilliamson, AnneWillmore, L. JamesWilson, JaniceWilson, Kathleen G.Wilson, MelindaWilson, MichaelWilton, SteveWiner, HerbertWinstanley, F. ScottWISEYODA TEAM, AES &Wolek, James & PatriciaWollmann, GuidoWPG, SolutionsWren, JeffreyWu, Brenda Y.Wu, KunWyman, Thomas C.Yahr, BarbaraYarsawich, DonaldYee, Audrey S.Yoshikawa, HidetoZajac, JoyZaveri, Hitten P.

Bold names are individuals or groups that contributed over $500


Since June 2008, the North American Commission of theInternational League Against Epilepsy, which includesAmerican Epilepsy Society, Canadian League AgainstEpilepsy and the Jamaican League, has made significantprogress toward improving care of the population livingwith epilepsy on the Island of Hispaniola shared by Haitiand the Dominican Republic. AES is a member of theNorth American Commission(NAC). Projects included theopening of the first epilepsy clinicin Haiti, the opening of an epilepsysurgery center in Santo Domingoand an assessment of the preva-lence of epilepsy and neurocysticer-cosis in the population living inrural areas of the DominicanRepublic. This was halted by thenatural disaster that occurred onJanuary 12, 2010, but the NAC ishappy to report that the projects areprogressing and have made a signif-icant difference in the region.Lionel Carmant, M.D., who visitedthe epilepsy clinic in Haiti inMarch 2010, reports that healthcareservices in the earthquake-ravagedcountry remain desperate. Dr. Carmant says, “More thantwice as many patients, including epilepsy patients andhundreds with other healthcare needs have been seen atthe epilepsy clinic in Port-au-Prince than were seen atthat facility in the 18 months prior to the quake.” Thenumber of new neurological disability cases, includingindividuals with epilepsy, in the earthquakes aftermathare estimated at 6,000, excluding the high number ofindividuals with post traumatic stress disorder andamputees.Although located within five minutes of the Presidentialpalace, the epilepsy clinic (CLIDEP, Clinique d’Épilepsiede Port-Au-Prince) remained standing after the earth-quake. The North American Commission, in part throughits fundraising campaign amongst AES members, hasbeen able to provide financial support for the repair ofthe clinic. A generous contribution from Astro-Med Inc.provided the clinic with a portable EEG machine toperform EEGs in hospitals and rural areas. CLIDEP has the only EEG equipment in Haiti, includingthe portable unit donated for the present crisis.Employees at the facility are now able to travel to thegeneral hospital and to NGO treatment centers with theportable unit providing EEG services for a variety ofsuspected conditions. MRI and other imaging technolo-gies do not exist in Haiti. Thus epilepsy surgery cannotbe done in country. The nearest MRI is in the DominicanRepublic where epilepsy surgeries recently started to beperformed, again with the collaboration of the NAC. Medical volunteers will continue to be needed at theepilepsy clinic. However, the lack of living accommoda-

tions remains a major problem. Dr. Carmant is looking forvolunteers – ideally physicians who speak Creole orFrench – who might be willing to spend one week, sothere is a neurologist every two months at the clinic forthe next six months to follow-up on the more complicatedpatients.

Dr. Carmant is concerned thatvolunteer organizations are begin-ning to withdraw from Haitileaving the country with a majorunresolved crisis in healthcare andgeneral recovery. “Haiti needsprojects that are sustainable bylocal personnel,” he says. “And itwill take a significant transfer ofknowledge to bring the populationto an adequate level of self-suffi-ciency.”CLIDEP, the only epilepsy centerin Haiti, needs our continuingsupport for equipment, suppliesand building repairs. Since thefirst call for donations went outearly in 2010, over $15,000 hasbeen raised for the clinic.

Contributions can be made by visiting the AES website atwww:aesnet.org.


12

Epilepsy Clinic in Haiti Needs Continuing Support

A newborn with neonatal seizures undergoing EEG evaluation in a tenthousing the neonatal care unit at the University Hospital. The hospital’spediatric pavilion was destroyed by the earthquake. Ten babies were beingtreated in the tent when this photo was taken.

The Port-au-Prince epilepsy clinic’s EEG technologist with the Comet PortableEEG system donated by Grass Technologies. The clinic, which has the onlyEEG machines in Haiti, has used the portable unit at the general hospitaland at several NGO health centers for evaluation of patients with epilepsyand a variety of other suspected conditions.

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Auction to Benefit Research and Training Funds

In 2009, Nihon Kohden America, Inc. teamed upwith AES to announce the auction of its latest EEGtechnology in support of the AES Lennox andLombroso Trust for Epilepsy Research and Training.Nihon Kohden America offered an EEG-1200ADiagnostic and Monitoring Solutions - System thatincluded digital video, camera and spike and seizuredetection software for auction on their own websitefrom September 10 through November 10, 2009. Themachine had a $42,000 value and the minimum bidwas set at $10,000. They committed one hundredpercent of the proceeds to the AES Lennox andLombroso Trust for Epilepsy Research and Training.The highest bid was posted weekly on the NihonKohden America website through November 9th.The winner of the auction was notified by November30th and publicly recognized at the AES AnnualMeeting in Boston, MA on December 6. TheCleveland Clinic Foundation was the highest bidderat $23,360. The check for that amount waspresented to AES President, Steve Schachter, MDwho received the funds on behalf of the Trust. Kathy Hart, Director of Nihon Kohden America’sNeurology Business stated, “For over 50 years NihonKohden has continuously strived to work withhealthcare thought leaders to introduce technologicaladvancements to improve the diagnosis for peoplewith epilepsy. Nihon Kohden is proud to provide100% of the proceeds from the EEG-1200A auctionto the Lennox and Lombroso Trust for EpilepsyResearch and Training to augment support for thenext generation’s promising new scientists andresearch in epilepsy.”“We appreciate the creative and generous way inwhich Nihon Kohden is supporting our efforts toexpand the cadre of young scientists working toimprove the lives of people with epilepsy,” saidBraxton B. Wannamaker, M.D., 2009 Chair of theLennox and Lombroso Trust Committee. “Recentadvances in neuroscience present unprecedentedopportunities for discovery in epilepsy research.This support will further encourage and foster younginvestigators to come into the field.”

The auction idea has been expanded for 2010 withthree companies offering auctions to benefit the AESLennox and Lombroso Fund and Susan SpencerFund. Two devices and one software license will beauctioned before the 2010 Annual Meeting.

Research and Training FundsThe American Epilepsy Society needs your help tosustain and expand upon its mission of promotingresearch into the prevention, treatment and cure ofepilepsy. Your donation can be designated in supportof any of the following AES funds for epilepsyresearch and training.The Lennox and Lombroso Trust for EpilepsyResearch and Training supports programs fundingfellowships and early career grants for pre- andpostgraduates, and newly independent faculty. TheTrust also recognizes role models for Epilepsyresearch via the Lennox and Lombroso Lecture andthe Lennox Award. The Susan S. Spencer Fund supports a two yearclinical research fellowship designed to provideclinical lab and methodology experience as well asexecution of the research project. These trainingfellowships are designed for new investigators at thebeginning of their career. The fellowships will beoffered in partnership with the American Academy ofNeurology and the Epilepsy Foundation in memoryof Dr. Susan Spencer and her contributions. Alecture in the name of Susan S. Spencer may also befunded.AES Annual Fund provides support for namedawards, lectureships, and junior investigator travelawards. In addition, this Fund supports both pre-andpost-doctoral research training fellowships that helpstrengthen the connection to epilepsy research.Contributions to any of these funds or to create anamed lecture can be done through the AES websiteat http://www.aesnet.org/go/contributions.

Steven Schachter, President (far right) accepts the check forthe EEG-1200A machine at the AES Annual Meeting. Alsopictures are Fumio Suzuki, President and COO, NihonKohden Corporation, Tallie Z. Baram, M.D., incoming Chairof the Lennox & Lomroso Fund Trustees, Braxton B.Wannamaker, M.D., outgoing Chair of the Lennox &Lombroso Fund Trustees and Kathy Hart, Director, NeurologyBusiness Nihon Kohden America.

A M E R I C A N E P I L E P S Y S O C I E T Y14

Giving Back Through Service

AES holds its spring Board meeting in Washington, DC in conjunction with the Epilepsy Foundation’s Public PolicyInstitute/Kids Speak Up program every year. President Jaideep Kapur gave the keynote talk at the annual Public Policydinner in March and most of the Board and staff walked in the 2010 Epilepsy Walk. The Yale team walks in memory ofSusan Spencer and directs the funds they raise to AES. Counting some other donations, the two teams raised $19,425which came back to AES. This money will be used to fund research and training.

AES Participates in 2010 Epilepsy Walk and Public Policy Institutein Washington DC

Staff and leadership at the 2010 walk on a brisk morning.

AES and the Yale Team sporting their purple ball caps.

Board member Amy Brooks-Kayal helpsrespond to audience questions following thekeynote talk at the 2010 Public PolicyInstitute.

President Jaideep Kapur addresses theparents and families gathered at the 2010Public Policy Institute.

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15

As of June 10, twenty days before the close of thefiscal and membership year, AES membership standsat 2,720 members strong! Three hundred and fifty-five new members applied and were approved duringthis membership year. Below, a pie chart illustratesthe breakdown of membership by member category. Asecond pie chart shows the breakdown of professionalactivity. Since members are allowed to choose morethan one professional activity, the percentages listedfor this statistic add up to more than 100%; reflectingthese numbers relative to the total group.

Our retention rate coming out of the last fiscal yearwas at 86%. However, an interesting phenomenonoccurred: gradually, the retention/renewal rateincreased after members were dropped. Many were“reinstated” for the 2009-2010 year which caused thefinal retention rate to reach 92%. We’re confident thatwith the slightly earlier invoicing cycle, moremembers will be renewing early and on time so thatretention for 2010-2011 will be near 100% at thispublication’s completion, and certainly by October 1,2010.

Dues Remain Unchanged, Renewal Comes EarlyDues remained unchanged in all categories for the2009-2010 Membership year. You may have noticedthat the dues invoices arrived earlier than last year’sfirst invoice. Prior to the electronic and printedinvoices going out, a notification of impending duesrenewal was sent by email. The first “official”invoices were sent both electronically and via the U.S.Postal Service. Dr. Kapur’s letter highlighting activi-ties and milestones --- each a direct result ofmembers’ financial support --- was included in bothversions of the dues invoice.

Prior to the decision to change the membership yearto the fiscal year (July – June), it made good sense torenew membership with Annual Meeting registration,or actually during the meeting at the registrationdesk! This convenience is no longer appropriate for thefinancial operation of the Society. Dues are requestedthree times during the renewal period, via electronicand printed (USPS) invoices; Late April, July, andSeptember. The Membership Committee decided thatOctober 1 was a reasonable and fair deadline for duesrenewals.

The adjustment of the invoicing cycle has created theclarity and fairness a membership organization needswhen benefits are attached to renewal. Dues paidbefore the Annual Meeting registration cut off allowsrenewed members to receive the registration discount,and non-renewed members to pay the full, non-member rate. The Society also saves the expense ofpurchasing Epilepsia subscriptions for those notintending to renew. While members can always be“reinstated” by renewing after the renewal deadline,reapplication for membership is required after areasonable period has lapsed. If you have concernsabout this policy, feel free to discuss it with anymember of the Membership Committee.

Funding Programs for Students, Residents, and FellowsAES President, Jaideep Kapur, M.D., Ph.D., continuedthe tradition Dr. Steven Schachter began with hisPresidency in 2009: setting aside funds for 125Junior Memberships at a reduced dues rate. This“Presidential Fund” allows a student, resident, orfellow to join --- with or without Epilepsia --- foreither $35 or $110, respectively. This is a traditionthat will hopefully continue with future AESPresidents!

Training Program Directors were contacted through anemailed invitation to share the benefits of member-ship in AES with their students. Reminders to allmembers were included in our E-newsletters to besure the word got out to anyone at an institution wherestudents, residents, and fellows are training. The longtime members of AES know how important it is tocreate a community for the next generation of practi-tioners so they can continue the AES tradition.

The 125 available membership subsidies that beganwith the strategic and thoughtful gesture by thenPresident Schachter have been exhausted. To date, 65Junior Members have taken advantage of the KapurPresidential Fund for Junior Membership.

Report on MembershipKenneth R. Kaufman, M.D., MRCPsych, Chair, Membership Committee

The Kaufman Fund for Psychiatry in Epilepsy wasestablished this year by the Chairman of theMembership Committee to enablestudents/residents/fellows in psychiatry andneuropsychiatry to similarly join the AES at adiscounted Junior Membership rate. As noted in thepie chart, less than 1% of members identifiesthemselves as psychiatrists though psychiatric illnessis highly co-morbid with epilepsy with a significantlyincreased suicide rate compared to the generalpopulation. As a psychiatrist, I feel strongly that ourefforts to address the treatment gap in the treatmentof epilepsy must also address the lack of appropri-ately trained psychiatrists in this field. Our firststudent to take advantage of this program was JoannaSpencer, M.D., daughter of our beloved Susan S. andDennis D. Spencer.

The Future of AES Membership – AES membersknow how important our professional society is, andmany recognize their AES membership is a bargaincompared to other professional organizations. Even inthese tenuous economic times the need for epilepsyresearch and education to attain maximal qualitycare will continue unabated. The AES must confirmour ongoing commitment for communication andaction.

In order to enhance our usually high membershipretention rate, at a time when some institutions andindividuals are de-prioritizing dues payments, AESmembership solicitations will be expanded to allhealthcare professionals involved in the treatment of

epilepsy or the use of antiepileptic drugs. Two physi-cian groups to be targeted are psychiatrists and painspecialists, for the majority of antiepileptic drugs areutilized in psychiatry and pain management, not inthe treatment of epilepsy. As the majority of patientswith epilepsy (PWE) have co-morbid psychiatricdisorders, this is a significant component of the treat-ment gap in epilepsy that has not yet been addressedand must be if our patients are to truly have animproved Quality of Life.

Though the primary goals of the AES concernresearch, education, and quality healthcare for PWE,the AES has an obligation to share its knowledge ofantiepileptic drugs with those specialties that mostcommonly prescribe these agents. By so doing, it ishoped that the future will see collaborative researchand educational efforts among these specialties.

I was most honored to be co-chair at the MembershipCommittee meeting held during the AES AnnualMeeting in Boston. This year, I look forward to chair-ing the first meeting as Committee Chair and have sofar enjoyed the committee including the addition oftwo new members to our Membership Committee:Laura Strom, M.D. and Tracey Milligan, M.D. We willsay goodbye to several members at the meeting in SanAntonio and wish to thank Joseph Drazkowski, M.D.,Kimberle M. Jacobs, Ph.D., David Y. Ko, M.D., Paul M. Maertens, M.D., for their years of service andcommitment to AES and its membership.


Report on Membership (Continued)

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Adult Neurology / Epileptology

44%

Pediatric Neurology / Epileptology

26%

Electroencephalography /Clinical Neurophysiology

23%Basic Science

Research14%

Clinical Science Research 7%

Nursing / Advanced Practice 6%

Pharmacology 4%

Other 4%

Neuroimaging 3%

Psychology / Neuropsychology 2%

Social Work 1%

Psychiatry / Neuropsychiatry -1%Industry / Marketing -1%

Non-profit / Government -1%Physician’s Assistant -1%

Veterinary Science -1%

16

2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 A N N U A L R E P O RT 17


Report on EPILEPSY CURRENTSMichael A. Rogawski, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Editor, Basic Science

Gregory K. Bergey, M.D., Chief Editor, Clinical Science

Epilepsy Currents – the official AES journal – is enter-ing its eleventh year of publication. As has been thecase from inception, the journal continues to publishshort topical reviews directed to the epilepsy commu-nity and commentaries on research papers of particularinterest. So as not to compete with Epilepsia and otherjournals whose primary purpose is the communicationof original research, Epilepsy Currents does not publishcontributed research papers. The journal is managed byGregory K. Bergey (clinical science) and Michael A.Rogawski (basic science), who serve as Senior Editors,along with Associate Editors Jacqueline A. French andCarl E. Stafstrom. An editorial board that now numbers51 serves the important function of identifying topics ofinterest and contributing much of the content of thejournal. AES staff member Cheryl-Ann Tubby managesthe journal. Reviews published in the journal aresolicited by the managing editors from experts in thefield; the commentaries are written by a member of thejournal’s editorial board.

The journal is published in six bimonthly issues peryear. Each issue is divided into two main sections:basic science and clinical science. Volume 10 of thejournal (2009–2010) includes 42 commentaries and 10reviews. The publisher averaged 67 days to produce theprinted journal from receipt of articles from the society

A print version of the journal is mailed to all AESmembers. In addition, the journal content is availablewithout access fee on the AES website and on theNational Library of Medicine’s electronic publishingplatform PubMed Central. Articles are indexed inPubMed. Citation numbers are available on GoogleScholar. The four most highly cited articles publishedin the journal are the following reviews: (1) “TheAssociation Between Antiepileptic Drugs and BoneDisease” by Alison M. Pack (Epilepsy Currents, Vol. 3,Issue 3, Pages 91–95, 2003); (2) “The Yin and Yang ofthe H-Channel and Its Role in Epilepsy” by Nicholas P.Poolos (Epilepsy Currents, Vol. 4, Issue 1, Pages 3–6,2004); (3) “Effects of Seizures on Autonomic andCardiovascular Function” by Orrin Devinsky (EpilepsyCurrents, Vol. 4, Issue 2, Pages 43–46, 2004); and (4)“Depression in Epilepsy: A Neurobiologic Perspective”by Andres M. Kanner (Epilepsy Currents, Vol. 5, Issue1, Pages 21–27, 2004).

The Council on Education (COE) oversees the development and implementation of all educationalprograms sponsored by the American Epilepsy Society.Activities are directed to both AES members and non-members including epileptologists, neurologists (bothadult and pediatric), neurosurgeons, psychiatrists,pharmacists, and professionals in epilepsy care with asignificant interest in the research, diagnosis and treat-ment of epilepsy, (e.g. nurses, social workers, researchscientists, neuropsychologists, other referring special-ists, and general practice physicians who provide carefor patients with epilepsy, and others interested in thefield of epilepsy.)

The main role of the Council on Education is the strate-gic planning for all AES educational programming,ensuring that the CME Mission Statement is carriedthrough, as well as the oversight and implementation ofnew educational initiatives. The COE also develops,reviews, and implements all policies with relation toCME activities and ensures that its activities meet therules as set forth by the Accreditation Council forContinuing Medical Education (ACCME). The Councilensures that these mandates are followed when planningall educational activities.

The Council on Education oversees two committeesresponsible for planning educational programs: AnnualMeeting and Educational Development.

Annual Meeting CommitteeThis Committee is charged with organizing the contentof the premier event of the AES, our Annual Meeting. Itis made up of the chairpersons of the various commit-tees that develop educational symposia and programsthat are presented at the annual meeting. They include:

• the Scientific Program Committee which reviewsabstract submissions and assigns poster and platformsessions, as well as planning up to two plenarysessions

• Annual Course

• Investigators’ Workshops

• Pediatric Content Committee

• AET Symposium

• Practice Management

• Spanish Symposium

• Presidential Symposium

• Merritt-Putnam Symposium and

• Professionals in Epilepsy Care Symposia.

These groups meet individually during the AES annualmeeting to review and discuss potential topics for futureannual meetings. They are then presented and refined ata meeting of the Annual Meeting Committee whichensures that the programs are aligned with meetingattendee interests and educational goals, and to preventoverlap of topics and scheduling.

Overall Annual Meeting attendance set a new recordhigh of 4200 in Boston in 2009. There were 23% moreattendees generating 26% more revenue than budgeted.There was a record number of nonmembers.

Educational Development Committee The Educational Development Committee is comprisedof four individual sub-committees (CME Review,Professionals in Epilepsy Care, Basic Sciences, andResident/Student Education). It is responsible for devel-oping, reviewing, and ultimately approving educationalprograms that are of interest to the AES members andwhich fall within the scope of our educational mission.It directs and provides guidance to these programs andensures that AES educational activities meet ACCMEstandards.

Two initiatives that began in 2008 concluded at the endof 2009: Epilepsy Update: A Case Series Newsletter andthe Visiting Professor Series. Both were supported witheducational grants. The newsletter is now available onthe AES website.

Two more educational activities were initiated in late2009. AES along with the Epilepsy Therapy Project arejointly sponsoring a new CME activity entitled“Medication Compliance.” The activity is geared toepileptologists, general neurologists, nurses, pharma-cists and other healthcare professionals involved in thecare of patients with epilepsy.

In addition, the American Epilepsy Society, Pri-Medand ReachMD have partnered in a CME activity entitled“The Pharmacist’s Role in Epilepsy Management:Current Treatment Issues and Future Trends.” Thisprogram is targeted to both pharmacists and neurolo-gists.


A M E R I C A N E P I L E P S Y S O C I E T Y18

Council on Education David M. Labiner, M.D., Chair

2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 A N N U A L R E P O RT 1919

Accreditation In 2009 the Society was awarded “Accreditation withCommendation” by the ACCME. This is an accomplish-ment of which we are very proud. This status placesAES in the top 10% of accredited CME providers. Wecontinue to review and improve upon our CME programby examining current policies and making necessaryadjustments.

Medical Content SpecialistPaul Levisohn, M.D. continues as our part-time MedicalContent Specialist. Dr. Levisohn assists the AnnualMeeting Committee, staff and faculty with documentingeducational content to meet ACCME requirements. Healso reviews and summarizes needs reported by ourmembership generating a needs assessment so thatprogramming better serves the needs of our member-ship.

Educational OutcomesOne of the most important components of the Council onEducation’s role is assessing the success of our educa-tional programs. We regularly assess the reviews of theprograms and continue to evaluate the program’s abilityto facilitate changes in physician behavior afterwards.We are looking at creative ways to do similar assess-ments of all of our programs. The Annual Meeting of theAmerican Epilepsy Society provides the opportunity forthe Society to achieve one of its major missions, provi-sion of educational opportunities for our members. AESadheres to the directives from ACCME regarding theprovision of CME credits. CME must address the educa-tional needs of our members as they relate to clinicalcare and patient outcomes. Toward that end, AESprovides the opportunity for our membership to tell usabout their needs and interests through the AESwebsite. In addition, the committees charged withdeveloping symposia and courses for the Annualmeeting provide input regarding needs.

Analysis of the Needs Assessment from the 2009Annual Meeting reveals the broad clinical interests ofthe membership. Topics as varied as neurophysiology tobilling and practice management were identified. Broadcategories of needs can be defined, reflecting the variedmembership of AES. These categories include diagnos-tic techniques, treatment (including medication andnon-pharmacologic treatments), clinical epilepsy (e.g.,comorbidities, legal and practice issues), research andbasic sciences, behavioral sciences, and special popula-tions (e.g., pediatrics, women’s issues). Recent CMEprograms have addressed needs identified in each of

these areas. While providing CME opportunities isimportant for the Society and its members, most impor-tant is the quality of these educational opportunities.The active participation of our membership allows fordevelopment of innovative programs. For example, whilenot providing CME credit, Special Interest Groupsfurther the goal of providing for the educational needs ofour membership in more focused areas, in a less formalvenue.

UpdatesStaff Update: In an effort to mainstream work flow, weno longer employ the services of medical educationcompanies to help organize Annual Meeting activities.The functions previously done by these organizationsare now done by full-time AES staff.

Online repurposing: we are exploring changes to ouronline repurposing programs to make past symposiaavailable on MP3 and MP4 formats.

Funding of educational programs: Commercial supportcontinues to be difficult as pharmaceutical industrysupport continues to decline. Commercial supporters arestill in the process of paradigm changes separating outmarketing dollars from grant dollars. Most majorsupporters have now converted to using online grantapplications, which are separated from marketing moneyand reviewed/approved based upon strict educationalneeds, objectives and outcomes requirements. Whiletotal dollars of support for our educational mission havedeclined, we have actually been able to increase thebreadth of supporters, often through member contacts.


Council on Education (Continued)

Advocacy CommitteeJerome Engel, Jr., M.D., Ph.D

Access to Continuity of SupplyTask ForceMichel J. Berg, M.D.Michael D. Privitera, M.D.

AET Symposium CommitteeH. Steve White, Ph.D.L. James Willmore, M.D.

Annual Course CommitteeMichael Sperling, M.D.

Annual Meeting CommitteeRobert E. Hogan, M.D.

Archives Task ForceHoward Goodkin, M.D., Ph.D.

Basic Sciences CommitteePaul S. Buchmaster, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Benchmarks Task ForceBrandy Fureman, Ph.D.

Budget CommitteeMichael D. Privitera, M.D.

Clinical Investigators’ WorkshopCommitteeMatthias J. Koepp, M.D., Ph.D.

Clinical Research Task ForceKimford J. Meador, M.D.

CME Review SubcommitteeHoward Goodkin, M.D., Ph.D.

Communications CouncilSteven C. Schachter, M.D.

Conflict of Interest andCompliance CommitteeFrances E. Jensen, M.D.

Corporate Advisory CommitteeR. Edward Faught, Jr., M.D.

Council on EducationDavid M. Labiner, M.D.

Early Career Physician-ScientistAward SubcommitteeGary W. Mathern, M.D.

Education Development CommitteeFred A. Lado, M.D., Ph.D.

Epilepsy Currents EditorsMichael A. Rogawski, M.D.,Ph.D., Chief Basic EditorGregory K. Bergey, M.D., ChiefClinical EditorJacqueline A. French, M.D.,Associate Clinical EditorCarl Stafstrom, M.D. Ph.D.,Associate Basic Editor

Finance CommitteeMichael D. Privitera, M.D.

Genetics Task ForceJeffrey L. Noebels, M.D., Ph.D.

Governance CommitteeJohn M. Pellock, M.D.

Guidelines Task ForceAndres M. Kanner, M.D.

Health Reform Task ForcePage Pennell, M.D.

International Affairs CommitteeWilliam H. Theodore, M.D.

Investigators’ WorkshopCommitteeHeinz Beck, M.D.

Lennox & Lombroso Fund TrusteesTallie Z. Baram, M.D., Ph.D.

Membership CommitteeKenneth R. Kaufman, M.D.

Mentoring Task ForceBrandy Fureman, Ph.D.Susan T. Hermann, M.D.

NES Task ForceBrien J. Smith, M.D. W. Curt LaFrance, Jr., M.D., M.P.H.

Nominating CommitteeDennis Spencer, M.D.

Pediatric Content CommitteeDennis Dlugos, M.D.

Practice CommitteeChristine O’Dell, RN, M.S.N., CNS

Professionals in EpilepsyEducation SubcommitteeJanice Buelow, RN, Ph.D.

Research Infrastructure AwardSubcommitteeEdward Cooper, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Initiative FundSubcommitteeSteven Rothman, M.D.

Research Recognition AwardsCommitteeJacqueline A. French, M.D.

Research & Training CommitteeKevin J. Staley, M.D.

Scientific Program CommitteeJose E. Cavazos, M.D., Ph.D.

Special Interest Group OversightElson L. So, M.D.

Student & Resident EducationSubcommitteeAwais Riaz, M.D., Ph.D.

SUDEP Task ForceJeffrey Buchhalter, M.D., Ph.D.Tess L. Sierzant, RN, M.S.

Vision 2020 CommitteeFrances E. Jensen, M.D.Steven C. Schachter, M.D.

Web Content CommitteeDavid M. Ficker, M.D.


AES appreciates its volunteers, particularly those who take on theresponsibility of Chairing a Committee or Task Force. Many thanks

to our 2010 Committee Chairs.

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2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 A N N U A L R E P O RT 21

2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PresidentJaideep Kapur, M.D., Ph.D. University of Virginia

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT John M. Pellock, M.D. Medical College of Virginia

SECOND VICE PRESIDENTFrances E. Jensen, M.D.Harvard Medical School

TREASURERMichael D. Privitera, M.D. University of Cincinnati

PAST PRESIDENT Steven C. Schachter, M.D.Beth Israel Deaconess MedicalCenter

BOARD MEMBERS

Amy Brooks-Kayal, M.D. The Children’s Hospital, Universityof Colorado

James C. Cloyd, Pharm.D.University of Minnesota

William D. Gaillard, M.D.Children’s National Medical Center

John Huguenard, Ph.D.Stanford University Medical Center

Steven N. Roper, M.D.University of Florida

Elson L. So, M.D.Mayo Clinic and Medical Center

EX-OFFICIOResident AgentCesare T. Lombroso, M.D., Ph.D.Harvard Medical School

EF PAB LIAISONPage Pennell, M.D.Brigham and Women’s Hospital

CME DIRECTORDavid M. Labiner, M.D.University of Arizona

AAN LIAISONAndres M. Kanner, M.D.Rush University Medical Center

EPILEPSY CURRENTSGregory Bergey, M.D.Johns Hopkins Hospital

RESEARCHKevin J. Staley, M.D.Massachusetts General Hospital

ILAE LIAISONJohn W. Swann, Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine

NINDS LIAISONBrandy Fureman, Ph.D.NINDS/NIH

PresidentSteven C. Schachter, M.D.Beth Israel Deaconess MedicalCenter

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Jaideep Kapur, M.D., Ph.D. University of Virginia

SECOND VICE PRESIDENTJohn M. Pellock, M.D. Medical College of Virginia

TREASURERMichael D. Privitera, M.D. University of Cincinnati

PAST PRESIDENT Dennis Spencer, M.D. Yale University School of Medicine

BOARD MEMBERS

Amy Brooks-Kayal, M.D. The Children’s HospitalUniversity of Colorado

James C. Cloyd, Pharm.D.University of Minnesota

John Huguenard, Ph.D.Stanford University Medical Center

Frances E. Jensen, M.D.Harvard Medical School

Eli M. Mizrahi, M.D. Baylor College of Medicine

Elson L. So, M.D.Mayo Clinic and Medical Center

EX-OFFICIOResident AgentCesare T. Lombroso, M.D., Ph.D.Harvard Medical School

CANADIAN LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVERichard Wennberg, M.D.Toronto Western Hospital

EF PAB LIAISONPage Pennell, M.D.Brigham and Women’s Hospital

CME DIRECTORDavid M. Labiner, M.D.University of Arizona

AAN LIAISONAndres M. Kanner, M.D.Rush University Medical Center

EPILEPSY CURRENTSGregory Bergey, M.D.Johns Hopkins Hospital

RESEARCHKevin J. Staley, M.D.Massachusetts General Hospital

EPILEPSY FOUNDATIONEric HargisChief Executive Officer

ILAE LIAISONJohn W. Swann, Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine

NINDS LIAISONBrandy Fureman, Ph.D.NINDS/NIH

2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 A N N U A L R E P O RT

One of the core goals of the American Epilepsy Society isadvancement of research into the causes and treatment ofepilepsy. To this end, the AES commits substantialresources to fund innovative proposals from all levels of themembership of the Society. These projects are funded inclose collaboration with other organizations such as theEpilepsy Foundation of America, which shares the researchgoals of AES. Ongoing communication and cooperationbetween the organizations is the key to the seamless facili-tation of the dozens of research projects and training fellow-ships launched every year in the fight to overcome epilepsy.This year has seen many exciting developments. The Vision2020 group is a coalition of epilepsy advocacy and researchorganizations that are working together to identify commongoals. One of the first such goals is establishing the publichealth impact of epilepsy, and the Institute of Medicine isbeing engaged to address this important issue. The Grass Foundation has a long history of working with theAmerican Epilepsy Society to fund research into causesand treatments of epilepsy. This year the Grass Foundationand AES are collaborating to establish a new travel grant toenable students and young investigators to attend the AESmeeting. This program, to be launched next year, will

provide young neuroscientists access to the latest issues inepilepsy research and clinical care, with the goal of encour-aging more of the best and brightest young investigators tostudy epilepsy.The first Susan Spencer Clinical Fellowships will beawarded this year. This is a new two-year program designedto train a new generation of clinical epilepsy researchers.This training and research support was championed by thelate Dr. Susan Spencer. The new fellowship is jointly fundedby the AES, American Academy of Neurology (AAN) andthe Epilepsy Foundation. It will be administered by theAAN.As I conclude my three year term as Chair of the Research& Training Committee, I want to thank all the volunteerswho have served with me. In addition to the Research &Training Committee itself, the three subcommittees thatreviewed funding applications each year (ResearchInitiative Fund, Research Infrastructure Award, and EarlyCareer Physician-Scientist Award) helped us meet ourmission of funding research. I welcome Doug Coulter to theChair of this committee and wish him much success overthe next three years.

Giving Back Through Research Funding

Report on Research Funding and AwardsKevin J. Staley, M.D., Chair, Research & Training Committee

23

Research FundingOversight provided by the Research & Training Committee and its subcommittees.

Early Career Physician-Scientist AwardsSupported by the Milken Family Foundation with thefunding period starting in January 2010, this awardwas presented by Howard Soule of the Milken FamilyFoundation, during the 2009 Annual Meeting. Thisis a funding mechanism for physician-scientists whoare embarking on academic careers and wish todevelop outstanding epilepsy research programs. Thisaward is primarily for investigators whose researchinterests will potentially affect epilepsy patients inthe near term.

Yoshimi Sogawa, M.D.Albert Einstein College of Medicine, MontefioreMedical CenterMentor: Shlomo Shinnar, M.D., Ph.D.“Computerized EEG Analysis Methods to Create theAlgorithm to Detect Subtle Features on EEG”


AES-funded Postdoctoral FellowshipsFunded for the 2009/2010 Academic Year, administered by the Epilepsy FoundationDavid Feliciano, Ph.D.Yale University School of Medicine“Electrophysiological analysis of a malformation of cortical development”

Jeanne Paz, Ph.D.Stanford University“The role of thalamus in epileptogenesis followingcortical stroke”

Timothy Petros, Ph.D. Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of CornellUniversity“Developing a cell based therapy for intractablecortical seizures”

Postdoctoral Research & TrainingFellowship for Clinicians Funded by TheGrass Foundation/R.S. Morison FellowshipSecond YearGabriel Ustin Martz, M.D.University of Virginia“Intracerebral Infusion to Treat Limbic Epilepsy”

AES Funded Predoctoral FellowshipsFunded for the 2009/2010 Academic Year, administered by the Epilepsy FoundationKatharine Nicole Gurba, B.A.Vanderbilt University Medical Center“Effect of GABAa receptor beta3(G32R) mutation onGABAr assembly & function”Jerrah Kathleen Holth, B.S. Baylor College of Medicine“Converging Mechanisms of Epilepsy andAlzheimer’s Disease”Sung KwonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison“Molecular mechanisms of an antiepileptic drug,Levetiracetam”

William G. Lennox Predoctoral FellowshipNicole LykensDrexel University“AMPA receptor splice-modulating oligonucleotidesto treat epilepsy”Research Initiative FundFunded January 2010 by AESAmy Brooks-Kayal, M.D.University of Colorado Denver“Role of p75 neurotrophin receptor signaling inepileptogenesis”

Research Infrastructure ProgramFunded January 2010 by AES and the EpilepsyFoundationW. Curt LaFrance, Jr., M.D., M.P.H.Rhode Island Hospital“Establish a collaborative multicenter researchprogram on non-epileptic seizures”

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Research Recognition AwardsGiven annually to active scientists and cliniciansworking in all aspects of epilepsy research, thisprogram was designed to recognize professionalexcellence reflected in a distinguished history ofresearch or important promise for the improvedunderstanding, diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

Award for Basic ScienceAnnamaria Vezzani,Ph.D.

Award for Clinical ScienceJosemir W. Sander, M.D., Ph.D., FRCP

Distinguished Achievement AwardsHonors members for service and achievements2009 J. Kiffin Penry Excellence in Epilepsy CareAwardAllan Krumholz, M.D.

2009 AES Service AwardL. James Willmore, M.D.

2009 William G. Lennox AwardBraxton B. Wannamaker, M.D.

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Research Funding (Continued)

AES AWARDSSelected by the Research Recognition Awards Committee. The Society recognizes members at the Annual Meeting.

AttendanceThe 63rd AES Annual Meeting turned the Hynes ConventionCenter in Boston into a hive of activity during the first week ofDecember. A record number of attendees (4,158) includedmore than 860 who registered on site at the meeting. Anyfears of reduced attendance due to the economy or fear ofsnow in Boston were eliminated when Friday sessions wereoverflowing their rooms. Approximately 39% of attendees werefrom outside the US including countries such as theDominican Republic, Iceland, Nigeria and Oman. A majorityof meeting attendees (58%) were not members of AES.

ProgramsThe meeting provided a variety of educational offeringsincluding 15 lectures and symposia, 37 Special InterestGroups, 15 Investigators’ Workshops, 1,060 posters in fiveposter sessions, 40 platform presentations, scientific exhibits,a mentoring session, and several receptions for networking.

The most popular programs with over 1,200 registered werethe Merritt-Putnam Symposium and the Hoyer Lecture. Nextwere the Annual Course and the Presidential Symposium withover 1,100 registered. As usual, topics covered a broad rangeof interests. Slides and transcripts from 13 of the symposia areon the AES website.

• Neurophysiology 101 - Annual Fundamentals of Epilepsy• Biomarkers in Epilepsy - Hot Topics Symposium• Pitfalls in Diagnosis and Treatment of Epilepsy -

Spanish Symposium• Battling Epilepsy with Models and Molecules – 7th

Judith Hoyer Lecture in Epilepsy• Predictors and Methodologies of Epilepsy Self-Management

– Professionals in Epilepsy Care Symposium• Beyond Seizures: Mechanisms Underlying Epilepsy

Spectrum Disorder – Merritt-Putnam Symposium• Treatment Strategies for the Patient with Epilepsy –

AET Symposium• Selecting Patients for Epilepsy Surgery – Annual Course• Expert Consensus on Patient Safety – Epilepsy Monitoring

Unit Symposium• It Takes A Village: Solving the Treatment Gap –

Presidential Symposium• The Future of Epilepsy Therapy – Lennox Lecture• Treatable Metabolic Epilepsies – Pediatric State of the Art

Symposium

• The Postictal and Interictal Periods: What Are We Missing? – Plenary II

• Redefining Treatment Resistant Epilepsy – ILAESymposium

• ICU Monitoring – Plenary IIIA keynote session for the Epilepsy Research RecognitionAward winners was offered on Sunday during the lunch break.This gave the awardees a chance to share some of their awardwinning accomplishments with attendees.

PostersThe Scientific Program Committee accepted a total of 1,060abstracts for presentation during the meeting. TheInvestigators’ Workshop program included two poster sessionsshowcasing 41 posters. These posters were also presentedduring one of the three main poster sessions in the PosterHall. Posters were presented over three days in the followingcategories: Professionals in Epilepsy Care; ClinicalNeurophysiology; Clinical Epilepsy; Comorbidity (Somaticand Psychiatric); Human Imaging; Antiepileptic Drugs; Non-AED/Non-Surgical Treatments; Surgery; Human Genetics;Practice Resources; Neuropsychology/Language/Behavior;Health Services; Translational Research; and Neuropathologyof Epilepsy. The categories with the most posters were ClinicalEpilepsy with 217 posters and Translational Research with162. In addition to the Poster Session, 26 Platform Sessionswere held focusing on Translational Research;Surgery/Imaging and Clinical Epilepsy. Another 14 posterpresenters participated in the Pediatric Epilepsy HighlightsSession.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)These 90-minute, member-directed discussion groupscontinue to be one of the most popular parts of the AnnualMeeting. The most anticipated SIG was the Neurostimulationsession on “Programming Neurostimulation Devices: The Nutsand the Volts” with 628 registered. Next was theNeuroimaging session on “Imaging Evidence of White-MatterDamage in MTLE” with 402 registered. Many SIG roomswere overflowing with attendees this year.

2009 ANNUAL MEETING REPORT

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Investigators’ WorkshopsThe Investigators’ and Clinical Investigators’ Workshopswere held over three days and featured speakers from allover the world. Topics included:

• The Impact of Neuroinflammation on NeuronalExcitability and Excitotoxicity

• Mapping Cortical Function with IntracranialElectrodes

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Changes AfterProlonged Febrile Seizures and Temporal LobeEpilepsy

• Imaging Synchrony with Activity-dependent Dyes

• Stem Cells and Epilepsy

• Imaging Drug Resistance

• Rapamycin: From Tuberous Sclerosis and Beyond

• The Two Faces of BDNF/Jak Dependent Neurogenesis

• Possible Mechanisms of SUDEP

• Do Neonatal Seizures per se Cause Brain Damage?

• Optical Imaging of Epilepsy

• Sensing the Brain in Epilepsy

• Curing the Disease by Replacing the Defective Gene

• Neuron-glia Signaling and Epilepsy

• Rodent Models of Febrile Seizures

Special EventA very special event was held on the Saturday night of themeeting. A memorial concert in memory of Susan Spencerwas performed by Longwood Symphony at the New EnglandConservatory in Boston. The symphony, made up mostly ofmedical professionals, students and residents includes Susanand Dennis Spencer’s daughter, Andrea, a violist. Theconcert, which was followed by a reception for AES ticketholders, raised $45,200 for the Susan Spencer MemorialFund. This fund will support clinical research fellowships.

Press RoomMore than 200 reports referencing the AES annual meetingappeared in print and online during December 2009 throughJanuary 2010 compared to 45 published reports for the sameperiod the previous year. The published articles, includingtwo news reports in JAMA and articles in at least fivelanguages, generated 64 million media impressions (a metricfor the number of potential readers/online visitors who haveseen the published reports).

The December meeting marked the third year in which aspecial media briefing was held for journalists onsite andremotely by telephone. Presenters for the briefing, a report onthe treatment gap in epilepsy, were Steven C. Schachter, M.D.(AES); Patrick Kwan, M.D., Ph.D. (ILAE); and Eric Hargis(Epilepsy Foundation).

Eight ‘mini-briefings’ were held throughout the course of themeeting, a new feature giving journalists onsite the opportu-nity for informal, sit-down interviews with scientists andsession presenters. The mini-briefings involved seventeenresearchers and fourteen scientific reports. The majority ofreports concerned basic and translational science, researchareas typically given less coverage by journalists attendingprevious AES annual meetings.

Exhibit Hall and Commercial SupportThe Exhibit Hall was a lively place with 73 separateexhibitors representing pharmaceutical companies, device andequipment manufacturers, publishers, non-profit organiza-tions, recruiters, and more. This year a drawing was held forpeople who got their “passports” validated at ten participatingbooths. Twelve meeting attendees received prizes such asAmerican Express gift certificates or digital cameras. Withinthe exhibit hall was the Epilepsy Resource Center withcomfortable chairs, AES membership information, practiceresource demonstrations, clinical trial information and copiesof AAN Guidelines.

In addition to the commercial exhibits in the exhibit hall, fourcompanies showcased their up and coming products atScientific Exhibits in a different part of the ConventionCenter.

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2009 ANNUAL MEETING REPORT

CORPORATE PARTNERS ACKNOWLEDGMENTThe American Epilepsy Society would like to recognize the Annual Meeting

and year round support of the following corporate partners:

2009 Annual Meeting & Year Round Support

LEADERSHIP LEVEL ($250,000 – $500,000)

• Pfizer, Inc.Support of PresidentialSymposium, Plenary II, twoSpecial Interest Groups; ExhibitBooth; and Exhibit Hall Lunch.

• UCB, Inc.Support of PresidentialSymposium, AET Symposium;Spanish Symposium; EMUSymposium; Plenary III; twoScientific Exhibits; and ExhibitBooth.

SPONSOR LEVEL($100,000 – $249,999)

• GlaxoSmithKlein Support for AET Symposium;Merritt-Putnam Symposium; PECSymposium; Year RoundEducation and Exhibit Booth.

SUPPORTER LEVEL ($50,000 – $99,999)

• Eisai Inc. Support for Program Book ad;President’s Reception; Lennoxand Lombroso Trust; and SusanSpencer Clinical Research Fund.

• Lundbeck Support for ILAE Symposium;Cyber Café in Exhibit Hall;Scientific Exhibit; one SpecialInterest Group and ExhibitBooth.

• Questcor Pharmaceuticals,Inc. Support for Pediatric Symposium;one Special Interest Group,Cyber Café in Registration areaand Exhibit Booth.

• Sepracor Inc. Support for AET Symposium;Scientific Exhibit (all day); twoSpecial Interest Groups; andExhibit Booth.

CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL ($25,000 – $49,999)

• Nihon Kohden American,Inc. Support for Lennox andLombroso Trust through anauction of Video EEG machineand an Exhibit Booth.

• Medtronic Support for Junior InvestigatorAwards and Scientific Exhibit.

ADVOCATE LEVEL ($10,000 – $24,999)

• Cyberonics Support for one Special InterestGroup and Exhibit Booth.

• Elekta Support through an ExhibitBooth.

• Compumedics Limited Support through an ExhibitBooth.

• Natus Medical Support through an ExhibitBooth.

• PMT Corporation Support through an Exhibit Boothand a Program Book Ad.

• Care Fusion/Cardinal Health Support through an ExhibitBooth.

• Grass Technologies Support through an ExhibitBooth.

• Stellate, An Alpine BiomedCompany Support through an ExhibitBooth.

• Ad Tech Medical InstrumentCorp. Support through an ExhibitBooth.

PATRON LEVEL ($5,000 – $9,999)

• Analyze Direct Support through an Exhibit Booth.

• Blackrock Microsystems Support through an Exhibit Booth.

• Cadwell Laboratories Support through an Exhibit Booth.

• Electrical Geodesics, Inc. Support through an Exhibit Booth.

• Epilepsy Foundation Support through an Exhibit Booth.

• Health LearningSystems/LEAD Support through an Exhibit Booth.

• NeuroLogica Corporation Support through an Exhibit Booth.

• Ripple LLC Support through an Exhibit Booth.

• Valeant PharmaceuticalsInternational Support through an Exhibit Booth.

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OTHER ANNUAL MEETING EXHIBITORSThe Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society is designed as a forum for theexchange of ideas among professionals and brings together those engaged in the researchand treatment of epilepsy. Meeting attendees welcome the opportunity to meet withexhibitors and learn how products and services can aid their research or treatment ofepilepsy.

Ad-Tech Medical Instrument Corporation

AED Pregnancy Registry

American Express Open

American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology,Inc.

American Board of Registration ofElectroencephalographic and EvokedPotential Technologists, Inc.

AnalyzeDirect Inc.

Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Inc.

Angioma Alliance

The Anita Kaufmann Foundation

Athena Diagnostics, Inc.

Blackrock Microsystems

Cadwell Laboratories, Inc.

CareFusion (formerly Cardinal Health)

Clever System, Inc.

CNS Vital Signs

Cochrane Epilepsy Group

Compumedics USA, Ltd.

CURE: Citizens United for Research inEpilepsy

Cyberonics

Data Sciences International

Demos Medical Publishing, Inc.

Diagnostic MD

DigiTrace – Subsidiary of SleepMed, Inc.

Dixi Microtechniques

Eisai

Electrical Geodesics, Inc.

Elekta, Inc.

Elsevier Mosby Saunders

www.epilepsycongress.org

Epilepsy Foundation

Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project

Epilepsy Therapy Project

Family Studies in Epilepsy at ColumbiaUniversity

GlaxoSmithKline

Grass-Technologies, An Astro-Med, Inc.Product Group

The IDEA League

Integra LifeSciences Corporation

Intractable Childhood Epilepsy Alliance

John Libbey Eurotext Ltd.

Kappametrics Inc

LEAD/Health Learning Systems

LGS Foundation

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Lundbeck

Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

National Association of Epilepsy Centers

Natus Medical Incorporated

Neuralynx, Inc.

neuroConn GmbH

NeuroLogica

NeuroNexus Technologies

Nihon Kohden America, Inc.

NINDS – National Institute of NeurologicalDisorders and Stroke

Nutricia North American

Optima Neuroscience

Oxford University Press

Pfizer Inc.

Pinnacle Technology, Inc.

PMT Corporation

Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rhythmlink International

The Ring Chromosome 20 Foundation

Ripple LLC

Sepracor Inc.

STATKING Consulting, Inc.

Stellate Systems

SynapCell

Transgenomic, Inc.

Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance

Tucker-Davis Technologies

UCB, Inc.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals

Wiley-Blackwell

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2010San Antonio, TXSan Antonio Convention CenterDecember 3-7

2011Baltimore, MDBaltimore Convention Center December 2-6

2012San Diego, CASan Diego Convention CenterNovember 30-December 4

2013Washington, DCWashington Convention CenterDecember 6-10

Upcoming Annual Meeting Dates!

SAN ANTONIO, TXCONVENTION CENTER

December 3-7, 2010

AMERICAN EPILEPSY SOCIETY

64 TH ANNUAL MEETING

2010

MEETING HIGHLIGHTSn CME Symposia and Lectures

n Platform Sessions

n Poster Sessions

n Commercial Exhibits

n Special Interest Groups

For updates and information on theAnnual Meeting read the electronic AESNews, your source for highlights and thelatest in Annual Meeting news.

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