CHICAGO ― Eileen M. Murray, MM, CAE, will be presented with the 2024 Extraordinary Contributions to the Field of Epilepsy Award during the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society (AES). This award is designated for those who have made extraordinary contributions across multiple fronts, including science, education, leadership and advocacy. The award is only presented in those years when the AES board of directors determines there is an individual whose accomplishments embody the spirit of recognition.
Murray has been CEO of AES since Dec. 1, 2013. Her strategic, goal-focused mindset and results-oriented execution have been instrumental in driving organizational growth and impact for the Society. Murray’s leadership accelerated the AES’ ability to fulfill its mission to support those who seek to understand, diagnose, study, prevent, treat and ultimately cure epilepsy.
She has led the organization during a transformative period, partnering with the AES’ board of directors on significant governance and mission-driven programmatic advances and building a diverse, high-performing, professional staff team. Working with elected leadership, Murray guided three strategic planning cycles, including the most recent, which centers on organization commitments to improving the lives of people with epilepsy through cross-disciplinary work, inclusivity and equity, and expanded investment in research and evidence-based practice and education. Her efforts in supporting the organization to increase visibility, credibility and influence in the epilepsy and larger medical community has been instrumental in advancing knowledge and improving outcomes for persons with epilepsy and their families.
In addition to serving with the AES, Murray served on the National Advisory Council for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Advisory Council for the American Academy of Pediatrics Center for Children and Youth with Epilepsy. She also was the recipient of the Association Forum of Chicagoland Samuel B. Shapiro Award for Chief Staff Executive Achievement.