EDUCATIONAL EVENTS: Webcasts, Seminars, Lectures
LOCAL EVENTS
- A conference for people with epilepsy, their families and friends -
We invite you to attend the 6th Annual Epilepsy Awareness Day conference held on Saturday, November 7th, at the Columbia University Medical Center. Partnering with local epilepsy centers and other organizations, this conference will provide you with information about epilepsy and the many treatment possibilities that exist and the latest developments in newer treatments, research and the quality of life for persons with epilepsy.
Presentations will include information on new medications, surgery and device therapies as well as women’s health issues, how childhood epilepsies affect behavior in children, and how epilepsy affects mood and memory. Speakers include physicians from the Columbia, Montefiori, Cornell and North Shore/LIJ epilepsy centers as well as representatives of the Epilepsy Society of Southern NY, the Epilepsy Foundations of New Jersey and the Epilepsy Institute of New York. Additional sessions include a teen-to-teen lunch chat and a parent-to-parent group.
For more information or to register for this free educational event (continental breakfast and lunch will be provided at no cost), contact Adriana Rodriguez via email at ar2945@columbia.edu, via fax at 212-305-5445 or via phone at 212-342-3711.
» To view the invitation and schedule of events, please click here.
With great hope, The Columbia Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and the Epilepsy Coalition of NYS, Inc., are co-hosting the
The theme of the event is called
It will be held on
Saturday November 7, 2009, 5pm to 10pm, at The National Track and Field Armory,
216 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032.
For more information please visit us at www.theimportanceofone-epilepsygala.com, or contact Janice Gay of the Epilepsy Coalition of New York at jgayepi@efsny.com.
A Day for Teens with Epilepsy
Managing Transitions
A Free Educational Conference
Saturday, June 14, 2008
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location:
Hammer Health Sciences Building
Columbia University Medical Center
701 West 168th Street, Room 401
Northwest corner of 168th Street and Fort Washington
New York, NY 10032
To RSVP Call: 212-305-5601 or e-mail: fr2105@columbia.edu
To see flyer (pdf) for this event please click here
TEENS SHARE THEIR SECRET OF EPILEPSY
New York, NY − Jennie, a 19-year old college freshman, shared her secret with an auditorium full of teenagers and their parents on June 14th. Jennie has epilepsy, and along with sixty five other participants at the Columbia Comprehensive Epilepsy Center's conference titled "A Day for Teens with Epilepsy" found empathy, hope and tools to manage her life with a medical condition that often finds them stigmatized. Teenagers shared their concerns of telling their friends, because they had lost friends after disclosing that they experience seizures. Adolescents, who are naturally battling for independence but can not be left alone because of their medical condition, discussed the difficultly in finding a friend they can trust, who will enable their independence from their parents. Parents struggled with letting go as their child ages to a young adult, since their whole life's focus has been a watchful eye.
Dr. Alison Pack, Epileptologist and Director of the Conference, opened a full day of presentations. She noted the need for a conference devoted to teenagers, "During this time of transition for families, it is essential to have the knowledge to manage, and open communication to achieve success." Experts from the Epilepsy Center presented topics such as how sports plays in your life, the need for sleep for a teen with seizure disorders, side effects of medications and the impact on a teen's self esteem, and creative alternative therapies for teens. The conference was attended by families throughout the New York metro area.
Three lunchtime group discussions for teens, young adults and parents respectively, allowed for sharing of tips and tricks, and comfort. In the teen group, one adolescent was consoled as he expressed his fear that his seizures will worsen with age. In the young adult group, a 20-something was encouraged to attend a party even though she didn't know anyone there. And during the parents group, a couple received applause when they announced their daughter was taking a trip without them.
The day culminated with a panel discussion on Managing Transitions: Social Issues Involving Teens with Epilepsy and included issues of partying, driving and becoming independent.
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 200,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed each year; of that are 45,000 children under the age of 15. The prevalence of active epilepsy (history of the disorder plus a seizure or use of antiepileptic medicine within the past 5 years) is estimated as approximately 2.7 million in the United States.
The conference was made possible through a generous donation by the PLK Foundation, and was hosted by The Columbia Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and The Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian – dedicated to the specialty care of adolescents and teens with epilepsy and seizure disorders.
NATIONAL EVENTS
JOIN COLUMBIA FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL NATIONAL WALK FOR EPILEPSY
Columbia University Medical Center is a proud supporter of the Third Annual National Walk for Epilepsy™
When: Saturday, March 28, 2009
Where: The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Time: Pre-Walk Rally - 8:45 am;
Walk - 9:15 am and
Post-Walk Activities - 11 am
Join us for a morning full of events dedicated to the education, empowerment and encouragement of those living with epilepsy, as well as their loved ones, doctors, friends and other supporters. This event will also help raise funds to further the Epilepsy Foundation's mission of helping to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy and services.
Our very own Columbia University, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center team is now in operation. To view and join, please log onto www.epilepsyfoundation.org, click National Walk for Epilepsy /find a team/columbia university comprehensive epilepsy center. There is a $35.00 donation fee to join ($20.00 for children)
Janine Rose and the Columbia Teen Talk Group will be the captains of our team. Come and get to know one another, at this important event in beautiful Washington D.C.
If you are unable to make it to Washington D.C., you can still join the team by becoming a "Virtual Walker". Your participation is important to us all. By joining the team, please pick up your special Columbia University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center T-shirt at the start of the walk or by going to see Francisco Rodriguez at the Neurological Institute, 710 West 168th street, 7th floor, New York, NY 10032.
The epilepsy community is waiting for you to make a difference. Come and join now!
Janine Rose and members of "Teen Talk"
To learn more or register, call Francisco Rodrigues at 212-305-0457 or contact Janine Rose at 342-0481 jr2780@columbia.edu
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