Ask the Medical Expert Forum

Posted: October 11, 2003

This forum, presented at the Epilepsy Foundation's 35th Annual Conference, was an opportunity for adults living with epilepsy to meet with others, discuss daily issues and concerns, and ask questions of experts.

The speakers who took part in this forum were: William Garnett, Pharm.D.; Steven Schachter, MD; and Patricia Dean, ARNP, MSN. Please listen to the audio from this presentation.

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Dr. Garnett earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. Garnett joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina in 1973 and taught there from 1973 to 1976. While at UNC, Dr. Garnett learned to appreciate good basketball and says he still bleeds "Carolina Blue" during basketball season. In 1976 Dr. Garnett moved to the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia where he is currently Professor of Pharmacy and Neurology.

Dr. Garnett has been actively involved in clinical epilepsy research for the last 25 years. He has been involved in the evaluation of new antiepileptic drugs, the assessment of new formulations of antiepileptic drugs, the evaluation of drug-drug interactions with antiepileptic drugs, the assessment of side effects with antiepileptic drugs, and determination of quality of life in patients with epilepsy. Garnett has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and 50 book chapters. He has made more than 1000 presentations at local, state, and national meetings.

Steven C. Schachter, MD

Steven Schachter is Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Director, Clinical Trials, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. His specialties are clinical evaluation and management of intractable epilepsy, interpretation of electroencephalographs, anticonvulsant development and testing, and biological associations of handedness. Schachter was graduated from Western Reserve College and earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. His board certifications include the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology. Schachter has been a leader and member of numerous professional boards, including a term as President of the Epilepsy Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, chair of the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation, and is currently a member of the Foundation's board of directors. In 1996, he was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.

Patricia Dean, ARNP, MSN

Ms. Dean is Clinical Coordinator of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Miami Children’s Hospital. She received her B.A. in Psychology at the State University of New York and her B.S. and Masters of Nursing at the University of Miami. Ms. Dean is nationally recognized for her work with children who have epilepsy. She is a member of the board of the Epilepsy Foundation and serves on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation of South Florida. She served on the Governor’s Task Force on Epilepsy and is a recipient of the Medical Achievement Award from the Epilepsy Foundation of South Florida. Ms. Dean is a highly sought-after lecturer and has published numerous articles. Her research interests are on the antecedents of developmental pathology in intractable epilepsy and self-management skills in epilepsy.