TOPICS & SPEAKERS
IN-PERSON
Emerging Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment of Epilepsy with Dr. Jerry Shih
Medication Updates with Kim Tallian, PharmD
Surgery for Epilepsy with Dr. David Gonda
Cognitive and Memory Strategies: How Epilepsy Impacts Brain Function with Dr. Marc Norman
VIRTUAL (VIDEO RECORDINGS)
•Adult Epilepsy 101 with Dr. Abraham Chyung
•Pediatric Epilepsy 101 with Dr. Neggy Rismanchi
•Epilepsy Treatment Options with Dr. Olivia Kim-McManus
•Women With Epilepsy with Monsita Faley, DNP, FNP-BC
•Legal Rights with Lauren Giardina, J.D.
•Ketogenic Diet Therapies for Intractable Epilepsy with Vanessa Aldaz, MPH, RDN, CDCES
Registration Includes:
Access to Both In-Person and Virtual Topics
Free On-Site Parking
Shaded Outdoor Venue
Coffee and Refreshments
Q&A with Professional Speakers
Guided Meditation Exercise
Opportunity Drawing for Prizes
Information About No-Cost Programs and Services
Access to Vendors and Resources
Vendors & Resources:
Challenged Sailors San Diego
Providing therapeutic and recreational adaptive sailing opportunities for people with disabilities to enhance their dignity, well-being and independence.
Cross Roots Fresh Cold-Pressed Juice
Cold-presses the freshest organic ingredients from local farms to create raw juice and delivers it to your doorstep. Samples available.
Kate Recore, Author of Brain Storm: An Electrifying Journey
At the age of 23, Kate began having seizures in her sleep. Kate’s inspiring story leads us along her path through seizures to acceptance and wellness. Her journey continues, as she endeavors to bring awareness to the dangers of misdiagnosis, and to eliminate the lingering misconception about epilepsy. Signed book copies available for purchase.
Register to attend for $20! The Epilepsy Education Conference returns to Academy of Our Lady of Peace on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
Exploring the theme Cutting-Edge Therapies: Transforming Epilepsy Care, this year’s educational conference dives into the latest epilepsy therapies reshaping how we understand and treat epilepsy today. From medications and surgical innovations to genetic insights and dietary interventions, this event will explore the full landscape of modern epilepsy care.
Through expert-led panels and powerful stories from individuals with lived experience, attendees will gain a comprehensive view of how science, technology, and patient-centered approaches are converging to improve outcomes and quality of life for those living with epilepsy. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, researcher, caregiver, or person with epilepsy, this conference offers valuable insights and meaningful connection.
Partnership Opportunities Now Available! Our ability to offer 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. To learn more, reach out to Dale Jaggers at dale@epilepsysandiego.org or visit our sponsorship opportunities page today.
Sign up as a volunteer! Volunteers are needed to support a variety of event operations, including event setup and cleanup, attendee and participant check-in, and more.
Funds raised from the Epilepsy Education Conference provide year-round education and awareness resources, training programs on seizure recognition and first aid, as well as access to specialty and supportive care at no cost for the more than 50,000 people in San Diego who are impacted by epilepsy.
EVENT AGENDA & TIMELINE
9:00 am Registration and Sponsor Marketplace Open. Light Refreshments Served.
9:30 am Welcome – Rick Burritt, President & CEO
9:35 am Opening Session – Dr. Kim Tallian Memorial Keynote Speaker Robyn Cortese, PharmD, RPh
9:55 am Break (Sponsor Marketplace, Refreshments and Networking)
10:05 am Panel of Professionals, featuring Sharona Ben-Haim, MD (Neurosurgeon), Sophia Ceulemans, MS, CGC (Pediatric Clinical Genetic Counselor), Robyn Cortese, PharmD, RPh (Clinical Pharmacist), Marc Dentico-Olin, DMD, MD (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon), Maria Augusta Montenegro, MD (Pediatric Neurologist, Epileptologist, and Clinical Professor), and Jerry Shih, MD (Neurologist), facilitated by Sarah Waters, MSW, ASW
11:05 am Break (Sponsor Marketplace, Refreshments and Networking)
11:20 am Panel of Lived Experience,featuring Joe Carballo, an adult living with epilepsy who manages his seizures with prescribed medication; Emily Garcia, the mother of a toddler living with epilepsy who is currently managing the condition through the Ketogenic diet; Sarah Maleki, the mother of a teenage daughter with epilepsy who has undergone brain surgery as part of her treatment journey; Mike McKenna, an adult with epilepsy who is being treated with a Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) device; and facilitated by Sarah Waters, MSW, ASW
12:05 am Break
12:10 pm Q&A with Panel of Lived Experience
12:40 pm Break
12:45 pm Q&A with Panel of Professionals
1:15 pm Closing Remarks, followed by Sponsor Marketplace and Networking
MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PANEL OF PROFESSIONALS*
Robyn S. Cortese, PharmD, RPh. Robyn Cortese is this year’s Dr. Kim Tallian Memorial Keynote Speaker.
Robyn completed a Bachelor of Science in Neuropsychology at Simmons College in Boston, MA . She received her Doctor of Pharmacy East Tennessee State University’s Gatton College of Pharmacy. During pharmacy school, Robyn was awarded admittance into the military’s prestigious Health Professions Scholarship Program. After graduation, Robyn entered active duty in the United States Air Force stationed at Keesler, AFB in Biloxi, MS. During her time in MS, she met her future husband, Tony, who was a naval aviator stationed in NAS Whiting Field in Pensacola, FL. Together they moved to San Diego in 2016 where Tony’s aviation career brought him to his last assignment before retirement in 2019. Upon discharge of the military, Robyn was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for her dedicated service to military medicine and the United States Air Force. While in San Diego, Robyn continued her passion for military medicine by becoming a staff clinical pharmacist at Naval Medical Center San Diego. She has since welcomed two children into their family (two boys), who keep her very busy in her off-time. Robyn’s youngest son has a rare genetic syndrome, Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, and cerebral palsy. She has become a fierce advocate for her children and has been featured on the Special Needs Mom Podcast.
Sharona Ben-Haim, MD. Dr. Sharona Ben-Haim is a neurosurgeon specializing in treatment-resistant epilepsy, movement disorders (including Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and essential tremor), and chronic pain. She performs advanced procedures such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), including both awake and asleep techniques, and cutting-edge epilepsy surgeries like laser ablation, responsive neurostimulation, and gamma knife radiosurgery.
Her research focuses on minimally invasive methods to localize and treat seizures and improve DBS techniques. Dr. Ben-Haim has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to the Textbook of Cortical Brain Stimulation. She has presented nationally on neurosurgical innovations and is chair-elect of Women in Neurosurgery.
Dr. Ben-Haim completed her residency at Mount Sinai, fellowship at Yale, and was a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford. She earned her MD from UC San Diego and has received multiple awards recognizing her leadership and research. She also serves in leadership roles for major neurosurgical societies.
Sophia Ceulemans, MS, CGC. Sophia Ceulemans works as a genetic counselor at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. She supports patients and their families with known or suspected genetic conditions, specializing in neurological conditions like epilepsy, neuromuscular conditions, movement disorders, rare disorders, and others.
Maria Augusta Montenegro, MD. Dr. Maria Augusta Montenegro is a pediatric neurologist, epileptologist, and clinical professor, currently serving as Director of the Ketogenic Diet Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital and the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Her clinical expertise lies in pediatric epilepsy, with a particular focus on epileptic encephalopathies and electroencephalography (EEG).
Dr. Montenegro earned her medical degree, completed her residency, and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Campinas in Brazil. She later pursued a postdoctoral research fellowship at Columbia University in New York and spent four months training at the Herscot Center for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Before her current role, Dr. Montenegro held a faculty appointment at the University of Campinas, where she served as head of Pediatric Neurology. She has authored numerous scientific papers and book chapters in her field.
Jerry Shih, MD. Dr. Jerry Shih is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating people with epilepsy. He directs UC San Diego Health’s Level 4 Epilepsy Center, which provides the highest level of care to people with epilepsy and other seizure disorders, and is the only nationally designated adult epilepsy center in the region. The Comprehensive Epilepsy Program offers state-of-the-art neurodiagnostic monitoring and neuroimaging for diagnosing complex epilepsy conditions, and advanced medical and surgical treatment options. Dr. Shih’s expertise and interest is in managing the care of patients with refractory epilepsy, or seizures that are not controlled with medications.
As a Professor in the Department of Neurosciences, Dr. Shih instructs medical students, residents, and fellows. His research focuses on cell therapy and new medical and surgical treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy.
Dr. Shih has authored or co-authored numerous book chapters and abstracts, and over 100 peer-reviewed articles.
With your help, The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County improves the lives of people affected by epilepsy through education, advocacy, research, and connection.
Our wide array of programs and services serve people living with epilepsy, families, friends and caregivers.
All of our programs and services are offered at no-cost.
The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the San Diego community since 1954.
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