UC Irvine Health 2014 Epilepsy Symposium

The UC Irvine Health Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and the UC Irvine School of Medicine's Department of Neurology is presenting its 9th annual epilepsy symposium, “Epilepsy Therapy: From Breakthroughs to Patient Care” on March 8, 2014.

The symposium, led by Dr. Mona Sazgar, director of the UC Irvine Health Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, will be held at The Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel in Costa Mesa.

Registration information

Registration fees, which include breakfast and lunch, are:

• $85 — MD/DO
• $50 — RN/NP/PA/LCSW/Allied healthcare provider
• $25 — Patient/Family member
• Complimentary — Resident/Fellow

Register online with a credit card ›

Course description

"Epilepsy Therapy: From Breakthroughs to Patient Care" will introduce healthcare professionals and patients to a wide spectrum of new and established therapies for adults and children with epilepsy.

Our faculty speakers will address individualized approaches to treat epilepsy, including tailored drug and surgical therapies. The audience will hear about novel discoveries in research and promising advancements in clinical trials from leading national experts.

The overarching goal of the symposium is to provide insight and strategy to enhance the quality of life and cognitive function for people with epilepsy.

View the symposium brochure and program information ›

Learning objectives

At the conclusion of this activity participants should be able to:

• Analyze recent discoveries and development of antiepileptic drugs with novel mechanisms and discern how these new mechanisms of action might offer promising treatment results to patients with epilepsy
• Use the systematic approach in selecting antiepileptic medications for their patient population of children, adolescents, adult and elderly
• Identify how to utilize practical guidelines to change and add anticonvulsant medications and gain knowledge of new and upcoming antiepileptic medications
• Discuss the science and practice of a ketogenic diet in treating medically refractory epileptic patients
• Utilize a process for pre-surgical evaluation of patients with medically refractory epilepsy by considering both standard and novel epilepsy surgery procedures and ultimately employing an effective decision process for selecting the appropriate surgical procedure to yield the best surgical results
• Recognize the challenges and promises of epilepsy clinical drug trials and the process involved in development and testing novel anticonvulsant therapies

Keynote speakers

Jacqueline A. French, MD
Professor, Department of Neurology
Director, Translational Research & Clinical Trials, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, NYU Langone Medical Center
President, American Epilepsy Society

Elizabeth A. Thiele, MD, PhD
Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Program
Director, Carol and James Herscot Center for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Target audience

Neurology clinicians, primary care — including internal medicine — physicians, nurses, allied healthcare providers, individuals with epilepsy, and family members who want to expand and update their knowledge of, clinical diagnosis, management, emerging treatments, cognition and current research related to complicated epilepsy.

Accreditation statement

The University of California, Irvine School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide medical education for physicians.

Designation statement

The University of California, Irvine School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

A non-physician certificate of attendance for CEU purpose will be provided upon request. Each AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ translates into one nursing CEU. The California Board of Registered Nursing offers reciprocal credit for attendances at activities that provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Disclosure policy

It is the policy of the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine and the University of California CME Consortium to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all CME activities. Full disclosure of conflicts and conflict resolutions will be made prior to the activity in writing via handout  materials, insert or syllabus.

ADA statement

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your needs. For any special requests, please email Laurie Gumser or call 714-456-3707 by March 1, 2014.

AB 1195 statement

This activity is in compliance with California Assembly Bill 1195, which requires continuing medical education activities with patient care components to include curriculum in the subjects of cultural and linguistic competency. For specific information regarding Bill 1195 and definitions of cultural and linguistic competency, please visit the CME website at www.cme.uci.edu.

For more information, contact UC Irvine Health Business Development at 714-456-7200 or lgumser@uci.edu.