For the Media

Epilepsy Foundation Announces Free Forum to Help Patients Maximize Care

Landover, Md., May 4, 2005 -- The first of two free Epilepsy Empowerment Forums, hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation, will be held on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Scottsdale campus of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Persons unable to attend can dial in toll-free or join an online presentation.

The goal of the forum is to help people with epilepsy gauge the effectiveness of their current treatment regimen, improve their treatment and quality of life by enhancing their communication with their health care team, and to provide new information about epilepsy treatment options.

One of the most common disorders of the nervous system, epilepsy affects people of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds. More than 2.7 million Americans are living with epilepsy, including 55,000 in Arizona alone. Every year, 200,000 Americans, develop seizures and epilepsy for the first time. The condition can develop at any time of life, especially in early childhood and old age.

At the forum, people with epilepsy, caregivers and medical professionals will meet before a live audience to discuss issues regarding treatment goals, quality of life and the roles and responsibilities of people with epilepsy. An audience question-and-answer period will follow the panel discussion.

Invited professional panelists include: Dr. Joseph Drazkowski, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic; Dr. David Labiner, University of Arizona, College of Medicine; and Dr. Joseph Sirven, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic. The program will be moderated by Merri Bennett, reporter from KVOA, the NBC affiliate in Tucson, Arizona.

"This will be an opportunity for people to meet others with the disorder and their family members, share experiences, and get answers from experts," said Eric Hargis, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation.

To attend the Forum, contact the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona toll-free at (888) 768-2690. To find out more about participating by phone or online, call (800) 332-1000 or visit the Forum website. The next Epilepsy Empowerment Forum will take place in Chicago this fall. Details will be posted on http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org later in the summer.

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About the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona

Since 1971, the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona, has been responding to the needs of the more than 55, 000 people in Arizona with epilepsy. Programs include support groups, seminars, in-service trainings, rural outreach, and Camp Candlelight, a summer camp for children with epilepsy.

About the Epilepsy Foundation

The Epilepsy Foundation, a national, charitable organization, founded in 1968, is dedicated to supporting children and adults affected by seizures through research, education, advocacy and service. The national office, located in the Metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., has nearly 60 affiliated Epilepsy Foundations providing local services throughout the nation.

About the Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a private group practice of medicine dedicated to providing diagnosis and treatment of patient illnesses through a systematic focus on individual patient needs. As a leading academic medical center in the Southwest, Mayo Clinic focuses on providing specialty and surgical care in more than 65 disciplines at its outpatient facility in north Scottsdale and at Mayo Clinic Hospital.