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Advocacy

Advocacy



In 2025, AES made the strategic decision to build a federal advocacy program that would give epilepsy professionals a stronger voice in federal policy. Since then, AES has established an Advocacy Committee, earned a seat in the American Medical Association House of Delegates, expanded its engagement with policymakers and partners, and adopted an advocacy agenda. This work brings our members’ clinical and scientific expertise to the decisions that shape epilepsy research and care at the federal level.

2026-2027 Advocacy Agenda

A formal advocacy agenda enables AES to translate our mission, member expertise, and goals into a consistent policy program by connecting the Society's clinical and scientific expertise to federal decisions affecting access to care, research and innovation, clinical practice, and the epilepsy workforce.

This agenda serves as a strategic framework that identifies the outcomes we seek to advance during the 2026-2027 fiscal year and will guide resource allocation, coalition participation and partnerships, grassroots engagement, communications, and the evaluation of emerging issues.

Epilepsy professionals have a distinct and essential role in shaping federal policy. AES is building a stronger advocacy presence to ensure that our members’ clinical and scientific expertise informs the federal decisions that shape epilepsy research and care and directly affect the lives of the people we serve.

Howard P. Goodkin, MD, PhD, FAES
AES and partners on the Hill
AES advocacy on the Hill
AES Aatif Husain at the AMA
AES with Steny Hoyer on the Hill
AES Advocacy on the Hill
AES on the Hill
American Epilepsy Society at the American Medical Association House of Delegates

Pillars of the 2026-2027 AES Advocacy Agenda

The board-approved 2026–2027 AES Advocacy Agenda was developed with guidance from the AES Advocacy Committee, which helped shape and refine its priorities to address the needs of the epilepsy community and a changing federal policy environment.

The agenda connects the clinical and scientific expertise of AES members with federal policy decisions affecting epilepsy research, care, and the workforce. Its five pillars guide where AES leads, where we collaborate with partners, and how we respond to emerging legislative and regulatory opportunities.

  • Improve access to high-quality, patient-centered epilepsy care and advanced therapies
  • Accelerate epilepsy research and innovation through greater federal investment in and attention to epilepsy
  • Reduce administrative burdens and promote sustainable epilepsy care delivery
  • Strengthen the epilepsy workforce and improve epilepsy education across the medical community
  • Secure passage and implementation of the National Plan for Epilepsy Act (S. 494/H.R. 1189)

A People-Powered Commitment to Advocacy

The Society's work on Capitol Hill and across federal agencies would not be possible without the leadership of the Advocacy Committee. We are grateful for the time, expertise, and commitment to our mission.

The AES Advocacy Committee guides the Society’s advocacy priorities and work. We are grateful for their service and expertise.

AES Advocacy Committee

Howard Goodkin, MD, PhD, FAES Chair
Anny Reyes, PhD Liaison - DEI Committee
Mingshan Xue, PhD Liaison - Research & Training Council
Aatif Husain, MD, FAES Liaison - Council on Clinical Activities
David Labiner, MD, FRSM, FANA, FAES Liaison - Delegate to the American Medical Association
Vacant Liaison - Board of Directors
Susan Herman, MD, FAES Member
Annaelle Devergnas, PhD Member
Raj Rajaraman, MD, FAES Member
Alexandra Mock, DNP, CPNP-AC Member
Elaine Kiriakopoulos, MD, MPH, MSc, FAES Member
Danielle Wallace, PhD, MPH Member
Gardiner Lapham, RN, MPH Member
Thomas Swanson, MD, FAES Member
Jonathan Williams, MD Member
Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH Member

 

For more information, contact Adam Eickmeyer, Senior Director of Advocacy, Access, and Impact at advocacy@aesnet.org.

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