“We started a movement, right here in our community, that people with epilepsy need education and awareness,
Thank you to the thousands of you who answered the recent call to stand up to local media suggestions that Gopher Football Coach Jerry Kill was unworthy of his job due to his seizures. We started a movement together and we’re working to continue the momentum into 2014, when EFMN celebrates 60 years of serving people with seizures. This issue contains a number of educational opportunities…from school nurse trainings, to Seizure Smart Community Workshops, to our fall conference and more! There are plenty of ways to get involved and connect with others this fall. Your feedback is always welcome: vkopplin@efmn.org or 651.287.2314.
not pity.”
Vicki Kopplin Executive Director
The Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota is a nonprofit organization and one of forty-eight affiliates of the National Epilepsy Foundation. Serving Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota, the Foundation works to educate, connect and empower people affected by seizures. 1600 University Avenue West | Suite 300 | St. Paul, MN 55104 www.efmn.org | 800.779.0777
Professional Advisory Board
Mission The Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota leads the fight to stop seizures, find a cure and overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy.
Officers President Past President Vice President Treasurer
Designated Members Tess Sierzant – PAB Chair Mark Lenhardt –Central MN Representative Josh Malnourie – Northwestern MN & Eastern ND Representative
Brett Boyum Ann S. Kelly Jones Tim Gallagher Elizabeth Beastrom
Appointed Members Jason Engkjer – Legal Counsel Tabitha Fields Marcus Fischer Brandon Megal Michael Gonzales Deb Meyer Mike Murray Wendy Osterberg Jim Silburn Tom Spiczka Jessica Stoltenberg Trudi Trysla Christopher Turoski Randy Unzicker Bill Walsh
2 | Epilepsy Minnesota
Chair | Chair | Tess Sierzant, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CNRN | Saint Joseph’s Hospital Anne Barnwell, MS, CRC | Epilepsy Advocacy & Employment Group Jeannine Conway, PharmD, BCPS | University of Minnesota Armantina Espinosa, MD | Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology Timothy Feyma, MD | Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare Miguel Fiol, MD | University of Minnesota Douglas Heck, PhD | Duluth Psychological Clinic, Inc Thomas Henry, MD | University of Minnesota Ilo Leppik, MD | University of Minnesota & MINCEP Epilepsy Care Donna McKenny, PHN, LSN, MEd | Centennial Schools Katherine Nickels | Mayo Clinic Patricia Penovich, MD | Minnesota Epilepsy Group Kathleen Rieke, MD | CentraCare Health System Frank Ritter, MD | Minnesota Epilepsy Group Joanne Rogin, MD | Midwest Center for Seizure Disorders Teresa Tran, MD | Park Nicollet
www.efmn.org