FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICAGO, IL (July 13, 2020) - The Epilepsy Leadership Council (ELC) announced today that it has elected
a new steering committee, led by Chair Amy Brin, MSN, MA, PCNS-BC of the Child Neurology Foundation
and Vice Chair Gabrielle Conecker, MPH of Wishes for Elliott.
The ELC is a coalition of more than 40 professional societies, patient advocacy organizations, and governmental agencies working together to improve the lives of children and adults living with epilepsy. In addition to Brin and Conecker, steering committee
members and their organizations are:
- Dave Clarke, MD (National Association of Epilepsy Centers)
- Beth Dean, MBA, MPA (CURE)
- Brandy Fureman, PhD (Epilepsy Foundation)
- Jennifer Burke (FamilieSCN2A Foundation)
- Gabrielle Rushing, PhD (TS Alliance)
Immediate past chair Christianne Heck, MD, MMM, FAES, of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers will serve as an ex officio member of the steering committee.
“So many organizations work hard to have a positive impact on the lives of people with epilepsy,” says Brin. “ELC brings us together to focus on areas where we can accomplish more by working together than we can independently. Accepting
the role of chair and building on the impressive work done by Christi Heck is both exciting and humbling—and I embrace the challenge.”
“ELC grew out of the Institute of Medicine’s 2012 recommendation that epilepsy organizations collaborate to ensure that accurate educational materials and other information is easily accessible to a wide and diverse audience,” notes
Heck. “Member organizations accepted that charge and expanded it in recent years. With Amy Brin’s and Gabi Conecker’s leadership, ELC is well-positioned to take its mission critical work on shared projects to the next level.”
The American Epilepsy Society (AES) is the administrative home of the Epilepsy Leadership Council. “As a professional society, it is critical for AES to partner with patient advocacy groups, federal agencies, and other professional organizations
to improve outcomes for children and adults with epilepsy,” says William D. Gaillard, MD, President of the American Epilepsy Society. “We are committed to support for ELC so all of us, as member organizations, can use our collective expertise
and commitment to amplify our impact on selected issues.”
About the Epilepsy Leadership Council
Founded in 2012, the Epilepsy Leadership Council (ELC) is made up of individuals representing
organizations serving people with epilepsy and their families, as well as professionals, and governmental
organizations. The ELC monitors advances in the epilepsy field, shares and disseminates information,
engages a diverse spectrum of people with epilepsy and their families, and creates a united voice for
advancing research, care, and education. For more information, visit epilepsyleadershipcouncil.org.
Eisai Inc provides partial funding support for the ELC.