A word from our new Executive Director. . . Kathy Stewart

I would like to introduce myself to those of you who do not know me. I have been with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Cincinnati for almost 15 years.

Previously, I was the Director of Residential Services and also started and directed the Mardi Gras Gala (which was originated by the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Pennsylvania) for the past 3 years. So, while I am not new to the Foundation, I am very new to the position of Executive Director.

                  I cannot believe it has been 3 months since I started in the position of Executive Director. It is an exciting time for me as I learn more and more about everything the position of Executive Director entails. I feel very fortunate to work with such a wonderful group of people who are willing to help and are very accommodating to the changes that have taken place.

We have just completed two of our three major fundraisers with great success. The 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Gala held on February 20, 2007, featured Thom Brennaman as Master of Ceremonies and Mr. Jack Cassidy, CEO of Cincinnati Bell, as our “King of Mardi Gras.” Through Mardi Gras, we have developed some wonderful relationships with some area companies who have taken an interest in working with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.

Our 7th Annual Emerald Miles 5K Run/Walk was held on March 17, 2007. It was a beautiful day and we had a fantastic turnout of runners and walkers. The event was a huge success!

Both of these events involve a tremendous amount of volunteers and I would like to send a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped with each. Your time and talents are greatly appreciated.

Advocacy is a very important service that we provide to individuals and families dealing with epilepsy. As a member of the Epilepsy Services Network of Ohio, we participated in a Legislative Day on March 13, 2007, in Columbus, Ohio. We are advocating for the passage of the “Epilepsy Patient’s Right to Know Bill” (HB 99, SB 114). This bill would simply require a pharmacist to notify and get consent from the patient and the prescribing physician if the drug dispensed is in any way different from the way it was prescribed. This is an extremely important bill for individuals with epilepsy as any slight variation in the drug can cause breakthrough seizures. The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Cincinnati was represented by 4 staff members and 5 individuals who are affected by epilepsy. Each individual had an opportunity to meet with their State Representatives and Senators to advocate for this bill.

There are so many exciting things happening in our agency and this is a very exciting time, not only for me, but for the entire agency. I am thrilled to be part of this wonderful agency and am looking forward to becoming more visible in the Cincinnati community. We offer so many services to individuals with epilepsy that by partnering with other entities, we can reach more people and provide more services to those in need.