News Release

Epilepsy conference to focus on new anti-seizure medications

Meeting Announcement

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 30, 2000) - The latest information on medications and treatments for living with Epilepsy is at the heart of the conference, "Knowing the Signs and Solutions for Seizures," to be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Thalians Mental Health Center Auditorium on the campus of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8730 Alden Drive, in West Los Angeles.

The conference, jointly organized and sponsored by the Epilepsy Foundation of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties and Cedars-Sinai's Epilepsy Program, will begin at 8:30 a.m., with registration starting at 8 a.m. The conference is scheduled to run until 2:30 p.m. and is free for everyone in attendance. Lunch will be served.

Dr. Paul Mullin, Associate Director of Cedars-Sinai's Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and a renowned neurologist and Epilepsy expert, will speak about the latest anticonvulsants (anti-seizure medications and treatments) that have been approved recently by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

"We want to inform everyone who has Epilepsy - as well as their families, friends, and the general public - that life can still be enjoyed and lived to its fullest," said Dr. Mullin, who recently joined the Cedars-Sinai Medical Staff after serving as co-director of UCLA's Seizure Disorder Center. "This is very good news for all patients whose lives have been affected by epilepsy. For years, the treatment of seizures relied on medications which may have stopped convulsants, but had intolerable side effects.

Today there is so much more to offer, including not only these three new medications, but other options such as epilepsy surgery. We want patients and their families to know that life can be lived to its fullest even if faced with epilepsy. The key is knowledge."

In addition to the many physician speakers, a panel of expert health care professionals in nursing, rehabilitation, and social work will address critical issues such as safety, driving, education, and women's health.

Dr. Mullin will be joined by other noted experts in the field, including Dr. Moise Danielpour, noted neurosurgeon who also recently joined the Cedars-Sinai medical staff as director of Pediatric Neurosurgery for the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Danielpour will discuss "Pediatric epilepsy: Indications for Surgical Intervention."

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Additional information and registration for the conference is available by telephoning the Epilepsy Foundation at (800) 564-0445 or by going online to www.epilepsy-socalif.org.

Continuing Education Units for nurses attending this conference will be available. When registering, nurses seeking these credits should ask for more information about the CEUs.

To arrange a media interview, or for more information, please call 1-800-396-1002.


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