CINCINNATI - The Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cincinnati and University Hospital will present "Success with Your Epilepsy III," an educational symposium for patients, families, and caregivers, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 10 at the Cincinnati Museum Center. The free, half-day symposium will explore the latest treatments and strategies for living successfully with epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. 

Featured speakers will be Michael Privitera, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Director of the Cincinnati Epilepsy Center; David Ficker, Associate Professor of Neurology and Director of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at the Cincinnati Epilepsy Center; Peggy Clark, a nurse practitioner at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; and Tom Koprowski, Director of Community Education at the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.

"Our ultimate goal for our patients with epilepsy is the complete elimination of seizures with improvement in quality of life," Dr. Ficker says. A seizure is an electrical disruption in the brain. During a seizure an individual can experience a period of confusion, a loss of memory, or a prolonged period of shaking.

The Cincinnati Epilepsy Center, located at University Hospital, was re-certified this month by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a Level 4 facility, the highest designation offered. The Cincinnati Epilepsy Center earned the designation because it provides complete diagnostic evaluations, intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring, extensive medical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial treatment, and a broad range of surgical procedures.

The Success with Your Epilepsy III symposium will cover topics relating to the causes and outcomes of epilepsy, the latest developments in medical and surgical treatments, controversies surrounding generic medications, new medications in development, pediatric epilepsy, and strategies for living well with epilepsy. The program will include lunch and a physician panel discussion.

"It's an opportunity for patients and family members to learn about what's new in epilepsy and to interact with healthcare providers who specialize in the treatment of people with epilepsy," Dr. Ficker says.

Patients, families, or caregivers wishing reservation information for the May 10 symposium can contact Evelyn Ries at (513) 569-5354 or TNI-events@healthall.com

Approximately 2.3 million Americans suffer from epilepsy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and between 400,000 and 600,000 people have seizures that are not controlled by anti-epileptic medications.

The Cincinnati Epilepsy Center is one of the few specialized diagnosis and treatment programs in the United States. It provides acces s to the best available treatment and the newest clinical trials to the estimated 8,000 people in Greater Cincinnati with epilepsy. About 250 patients undergo epilepsy monitoring at the Cincinnati Epilepsy Center each year, and up to 40 undergo neurosurgery.

The Center includes a New Onset Seizure Clinic, which serves newly diagnosed patients and their families. During a one-hour appointment at the clinic, patients receive a thorough evaluation by a healthcare provider who is experienced with epilepsy. They also receive counseling. Anyone wishing to make an appointment at the New Onset Seizure Clinic can call (513) 475-8730.

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 The Neuroscience Institute, a regional center of excellence, is dedicated to patient care, research, education, and the development of new treatments for stroke, brain and spinal tumors, epilepsy, traumatic brain and spinal injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, disorders of the senses (swallowing, voice, hearing, pain, taste and smell), and psychiatric conditions (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression).