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Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego Events

Epilepsy Education Conference: Full Program

Registration is $20 online through Friday, July 28, and $25 at the door. Those who register also gain access to our library of new video presentations provided by local and regional epilepsy experts, which can be watched from the comfort of one’s home.

EVENT DETAILS 

8:00 am • Onsite registration, attendee check-in, and Sponsor Marketplace opens. Light refreshments served. 

8:30 am • Welcome by Wendy Urushima-Conn, President & CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County

8:35 am • Keynote featuring Dr. Lee Rice, FAAFP, FAOSM, FAMSSM

9:15 am • Program Break. Attendees are invited to visit the Sponsor Marketplace, to enjoy refreshments, and to network.

9:30 am • Panel of Professionals featuring Sophia Ceulemans, Dr. Abraham Chyung, Dr. Jeffrey Gertsch, Dr. Robert Gray, Dr. Maria A. Montenegro and Dr. Howard Taras. Facilitated by Wendy Urushima-Conn.

10:45 am • Program Break. Attendees are invited to visit the Sponsor Marketplace, to enjoy refreshments, and to network.

11:00 am • Panel of Lived Experience, facilitated by Kelley Grimes, MSW.

12:15 pm • Closing Remarks, followed by Sponsor Marketplace and Networking.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS 

Listed in ascending alphabetical order by surname.

Round photo of Sophia Ceulemans.Sophia Ceulemans is a clinical pediatric genetic counselor. She works with patients and their families with known or suspected genetic conditions, specializing in neurological conditions like epilepsy, neuromuscular conditions, rare disorders, and others. Sophia graduated with Marquette University with an honors degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and completed her masters degree in Genetic Counseling at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is actively involved in the National Society of Genetic Counselors.

Round photo of Dr. Abraham Chyung.Dr. Abraham Chyung is a neurologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of memory and seizure disorders. With a doctorate degree in Alzheimer’s disease research, he has a strong clinical interest in conditions that cause memory loss.

Round photo of Dr. Jeffrey Gertsch.Dr. Jeffrey Gertsch is a neurologist and Associate Professor of Neurosciences at UCSD School of Medicine.

Round photo of Dr. Robert Gray.Dr. Robert Gray received his Ph.D. in school psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He went on to specialize in pediatric neuropsychology through completion of his internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Gray has held positions as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, staff pediatric neuropsychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Gray is the clinical director of pediatric neuropsychology services and training director of the postdoctoral residency program in pediatric neuropsychology at Advanced Neurobehavioral Health of Southern California. Dr. Gray also provides neuropsychological evaluation and consultation services for Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego. Dr. Gray has been awarded diplomate/board certification status in clinical neuropsychology and pediatric subspecialization status through the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology and American Board of Professional Psychology.

Round photo of Kelley Grimes.Kelley Grimes, MSW is a counselor, speaker, internationally bestselling author, Aspire Magazine expert columnist, and founder of Cultivating Peace and Joy. She received her Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Denver and has counseled in domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health fields, as well as with families impacted by chronic health challenges.

Round photo of Dr. Maria A. Montenegro.Dr. Maria A. Montenegro is a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist currently working at Rady Children’s Hospital / University of California San Diego School of Medicine. Her clinical expertise is in pediatric epilepsy, with an emphasis on epileptic encephalopathy and EEG. She completed medical school, residency and PhD at the University of Campinas (Brazil) and postdoctorate research fellowship at Columbia University (New York) and Herscot Center for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (Boston). Prior to her current position, she held an academic faculty appointment at the University of Campinas (Brazil) where she was the head of Pediatric Neurology.

Round photo of Dr. Lee Rice.Dr. Lee Rice is the founder of Lifewellness Institute and a premier medical expert on wellness in the United States and internationally, with more than 30 years of experience as a family and sports medicine physician. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and received his D.O. degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (now A.T. Still University). He completed his internship and Family Medicine residency in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. Currently, he is board certified in Family Medicine with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine; he is also a diplomate of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.

Round photo of Dr. Howard Taras.Dr. Howard Taras received his medical and pediatric training at McMaster University (Hamilton, Canada) and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He is a general pediatrician and his role at UCSD is to operate as a medical consultant to approximately 50 school districts across California, including most large school districts in San Diego County.

Wendy Urushima-Conn is the President & Daytime round color photo of Wendy Urushima-Conn.CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County. She has more than 25 years of experience in community outreach, fundraising and marketing. She previously served as president and CEO of the Asian Business Association and associate executive director of the Center for Community Solutions where she was the chief fundraising and marketing officer focusing on sexual assault/domestic violence intervention and prevention. Wendy also worked for more than a decade at KGTV/10News as community affairs manager, promotion manager and as a weather and traffic reporter.

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Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego Events

Sharon’s Ride.Run.Walk 2023 Recap

Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County is grateful to our supporters and donors, whose generosity raised $120,000 for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy in San Diego! Their participation and contributions make a difference to the nearly 50,000 San Diegans affected by epilepsy.

If you were unable to attend Sharon’s Ride.Run.Walk. 2023 and would still like to make an impact, click below to donate now.

Participants ran, walked and biked together in honor of loved ones with epilepsy.

Congratulations to Team Anaya/Hilkene for achieving Top Fundraiser status once again by raising over $30,000! We appreciate your fundraising efforts and more than 24 years of support. 

Congratulations, too, to our additional Top Fundraising Teams—Team Emily, Team Reiko, Brainstormers and Team Zapoticzny!

Thank you to all the participants and teams for attending and making it a special day.

Please join us for our next annual event—the Epilepsy Education Conference, which takes place on Saturday, July 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego.

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Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego Events

Epilepsy Education Conference: Join us on July 29, 2023

Register today to join us at the 2023 Epilepsy Education Conference, which takes place on Saturday, July 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego.

Gathering together under the theme of Wellness and Thriving, experts speaking at this year’s conference will share new research, emerging technologies and treatment options, medicine and therapies to manage seizures, as well as practical solutions for anyone affected by epilepsy.

“It was very interesting to learn of all of the advances,” shared a past conference attendee who was originally diagnosed with epilepsy before the advent of MRIs. “It was a well planned conference covering important topics and allowing questions and with good, interesting speakers.”

As in recent years, everyone who registers for the conference will also gain access to a library of video presentations by San Diego’s top epilepsy professionals and physicians. 

“I always learn new things and in fact took screenshots of several of the wearable devices in case they might be advantageous for my daughter,” shared a past registrant who took advantage of the conference’s library of video presentations. 

Early bird registration is $15 through June 30, $20 beginning July 1, and $25 at the door. Clients, parents and caregivers, medical professionals, teachers, school personnel, employers, and advocates of all ages are welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you!

Volunteer. The success of our events is made possible because of our amazing volunteers! Help is needed in a variety of event operations, including set-up, registration and guest check-in, breakdown and more. Please sign up today to volunteer on Saturday, July 29.

Support our programs. Our ability to provide evidence-based resources, programs and events that help individuals and families in San Diego impacted by epilepsy is made possible through the generosity of our community.

Sponsorships and underwriting packages for the Epilepsy Education Conference are available at preset and custom-tailored levels. Individuals can also donate directly to the organization. 

The deadline for sponsorship is July 7, 2023. To learn more about each package, please contact Ingrid de Llamas at ingrid@epilepsysandiego.org. Please reach out or donate today!

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Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego Events

Join the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County on Sunday, April 30, 2023 for Sharon’s Ride.Run.Walk

Online registration is now open for Sharon’s Ride.Run.Walk 2023, coordinated and hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County! 

We’re excited to return to De Anza Cove in Mission Bay, San Diego, to host our annual event that gets San Diego active in the name of epilepsy awareness. Rally your friends and family to come out and show their love for San Diego’s epilepsy community. 

This fun-filled, outdoor community event consists of a 5K run/walk, a 15-mile bike ride and a community picnic. Pre-register online or register onsite as an individual or as a team.

Pre-registration is $45 until Friday, March 31, 2023. After that, pre-registration is $50.

Sharon’s Ride.Run.Walk is also made possible with the help of volunteers, and the charitable support of sponsors and individual and team donors. 

Volunteer for Sharon’s Ride.Run.Walk. Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of event operations, from setup and breakdown, to cheering our race participants on towards the finish line. This is an ideal outdoor volunteering event, especially if you or someone you know has volunteer-hour goals for 2023.

Sponsor, underwrite, fundraise, or donate to Sharon’s Ride.Run.Walk. Sponsorships and underwriting packages are available at preset and custom-tailored levels. Individuals and team leaders can donate directly at preset or custom-filled levels or set up their own fundraising page to help us reach our fundraising goal of $100,000. 

When the average cost of care for a person living with epilepsy in the U.S. can be as much as $15,000/year, the free resources provided by the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County are invaluable. Please help us improve the lives of people and families in San Diego impacted by epilepsy. Sign up to participatevolunteer, sponsor, fundraise, and/or donate today!